atw: Re: Program vs. Programme

As taken from the Online Etymology Dictionary
(http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=program)

"program (n.)  
1633, "public notice," from L.L. programma "proclamation, edict," from
Gk. programma (gen. programmatos) "a written public notice," from stem
of prographein "to write publicly," from pro- "forth" + graphein "to
write." General sense of "a definite plan or scheme" is recorded from
1837. Meaning "list of pieces at a concert, playbill" first recorded
1805 and retains the original sense. That of "objects or events
suggested by music" is from 1854. Sense of "broadcasting presentation"
is from 1923. Computer sense (n.,v.) is from 1945; hence programmer
"person who programs computers," attested from 1948. Spelling programme,
sometimes preferred in Britain, is from French and began to be used
early 19c. The verb in the fig. sense of "to train to behave in a
predetermined way" is from 1963." 

Programme was originally a French affectation but has been mainstream
English since the early 20th Century by the look of it (it was certainly
the way I was taught the language). As such, programme was correct in
all instances but after the Gates-ian revolution, 'program' come into
the language to describe a computer program. Similar to how disc became
disk I guess. :)

As such I currently use programme as before EXCEPT when talking about
computer programs.

Cheers,

Bruce Ashley

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Virtue [mailto:cvlists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 9:46 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Program vs. Programme

Programme is a French affectation and program is always correct.

Jessica Kloiber-Deane wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I need help: what is the difference between 'program' and 'programme' 
> in Australian English?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Jessica.
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.3/423 - Release Date:
8/18/2006
>   
**************************************************
To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to
austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to
austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject
field.

To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field.

To search the austechwriter archives, go to
www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter

To contact the list administrator, send a message to
austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
**************************************************


**************************************************
To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to 
austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to 
austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject field.

To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 
"unsubscribe" in the Subject field.

To search the austechwriter archives, go to 
www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter

To contact the list administrator, send a message to 
austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
**************************************************

Other related posts: