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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2009Meaning of "initializing"
Could anyone please tell me the meaning of "initializing" in the following sentence: "World map is initializing". The text is about online airline ticketing. Thanks in advance. Suyash > Could anyone please tell me the meaning of "initializing" in the > following sentence: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Thanks in advance. I imagine you'll find that the definition here of "initialize" suits your needs: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/  SignatureBest wishes -- Donna Richoux > > "World map is initializing". > > > The text is about online airline ticketing. If it is an application called World Map it looks ok, but would be capitalised: World Map [is] initialising. If the application isn't called World Map, but is loading the world map data or something similar, it would be better as something like: "Loading world map data" or "Initialising world map" or, even better: "Please wait, [etc.]". -- JGH > Could anyone please tell me the meaning of "initializing" in the > following sentence: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Suyash It means that the machine is preparing the map to be shown. --Iain In message <40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, Iain <iain_inkster@hotmail.com> writes >> Could anyone please tell me the meaning of "initializing" in the >> following sentence: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >--Iain Wouldn't it be nice if, instead of unnecessary (and often meaningless) computerbabble, people used plain English instead? What would be wrong with saying simply "World map is being prepared"? SignatureIan >In message ><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >computerbabble, people used plain English instead? What would be wrong >with saying simply "World map is being prepared"? "Initializing", being jargon, has the specific meaning intended. The way you put it, it might mean something else, such as that the feature is unavailable because the map hasn't been programmed yet. SignatureJohn >>In message >><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >way you put it, it might mean something else, such as that the feature >is unavailable because the map hasn't been programmed yet. If (as I believe) that Suyash is an 'end user', possibly trying to book an airline ticket online, "initializing" is not an appropriate word to use. It is simply computerbabble jargon which someone has not had the sense to translate into everyday English. Having got that off my chest, I'm off to initialize breakfast. SignatureIan > It is simply computerbabble jargon which someone has not had the > sense to translate into everyday English. It *is* everyday English, which someone should have the sense to know. SignatureMark Brader, Toronto | English is just getting used to the telephone. msb@vex.net | -- John Lawler >> It is simply computerbabble jargon which someone has not had the >> sense to translate into everyday English. > >It *is* everyday English, which someone should have the sense to know. I think you mean "It IS everyday English, if only the speakers of Everyday English knew it". SignatureIan >>>In message >>><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > >Having got that off my chest, I'm off to initialize breakfast. In Windows, when you go to Add/Remove Programs, you have to wait while the list of currently installed programs is being "populated". I have this fleeting vision of a bunch of moving vans (removal vans?) heading towards the list. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>>>In message >>>><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] >this fleeting vision of a bunch of moving vans (removal vans?) heading >towards the list. Indeed. I'll never think of "populate" in the same way again! I can accept computerbabble words being used for computery things, but I don't like it when they creep unnecessarily into everyday life. While "populate" is not too confusing, everyman's English would be "fill in". SignatureIan >>>In message >>><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > >Having got that off my chest, I'm off to initialize breakfast. That is babble; initializing the variables in an equation or in a computer program is not. The phrase is straightforward English which means a number of variables are being set to their initial values. Easy-peasy. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland >>>>In message >>>><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > computer program is not. The phrase is straightforward English which > means a number of variables are being set to their initial values. The program initializes its variables. So the program is doing the intializing. How does one get from there to "the variables are intitializing"? And then to "the map is initializing"? A map is not a variable. > Easy-peasy. Not for a non-native speaker. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. >>>>>In message >>>>><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >How does one get from there to "the variables are intitializing"? And then >to "the map is initializing"? A map is not a variable. No, but the map can only be plotted after certain variables are initialized, and even that explanation leaves out some steps. Note that no explanation can be complete. >> Easy-peasy. > >Not for a non-native speaker. Most non-natives over the age of ten can take a joke, I think you'll agree. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland >>>>>>In message >>>>>><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > Most non-natives over the age of ten can take a joke, I think you'll > agree. Sure, but they have to get the joke first. The switcharoo between transitive and sorta-middle-voicey intransative meanings of the same verb can be confusing -- sometimes even to native speakers. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. >>>>>>>In message >>>>>>><40a2aeb6-ce40-47f8-9f31-e2c26afa4c94@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] >transitive and sorta-middle-voicey intransative meanings of the same verb >can be confusing -- sometimes even to native speakers. I know I'm confused by the above, for example, and I've been speaking English for over sixty years. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland >>> Most non-natives over the age of ten can take a joke, I think you'll >>> agree. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I know I'm confused by the above, for example, and I've been speaking > English for over sixty years. I rest my case. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. |
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