Normalize or normalise?

OpenGL Development
#1

In package org.lwjgl.vector, the abstract class Vector defines:

public final Vector normalize();

Each child then defines:

public Vectorf normalise(Vectorf dest);

I understand the difference (one normalizes itself, while the other puts the result in a different object), but the naming difference is dreadful. Trying to remember that one is with an ‘s’ and the other with a ‘z’ is just silly. Couldn’t we perhaps change the name of the second version to createNormal or generateNormal? This would not only allow the methods to co-exist by having differnt names, but would clearly identify what the second method is doing.

Paul

#2

Er, that’s an accident.

Vote please for S or Z.

Technically both are correct, even in British English. (See New Scientist Feedback section some time ago, I forget which issue exactly, which details the history of Z and S in -ise endings)

Cas :slight_smile:

#3

I vote Z. That’s how I normally see it.

#4

I vote Z too.

#5

z

#6

Then Z it shall be.

Cas :slight_smile:

#7

Ah, and here I thought there was a technical reason they had to have different names, not that it was just a foolish spelling mistake. :slight_smile:

Looks like I might be a Johnny-come-lately here, but I would also vote Z.

-Paul

#8

S ;D

#9

use whatever opengl defines :wink:

I guess that’d be a z then :frowning:

oh well - the bastardisation of the english language by America continues ::slight_smile:

#10

Think of it as global evolution, society is weeding out the weak words. Unfortunately, for you Brits, they tend to be yours. :stuck_out_tongue:

#11

You tell him Mojo. After all, we homies need to get down with our fly speakin! Word? :wink:

Besides, the Brits were screwing up the English language long before Webster ever started. “Old English” was perhaps more verbose, but it didn’t have oddities like french words or double negatives. Oh, and it used a smaller alphabet. Never a question about spelling. Americans are just trying to correct Oxford’s mistakes. ;D

#12

Oh please, let’s not derail this topic into a rediculous argument about British English vs. American English. That’s way too big of a flame magnet.

Besides, being an American anglophile, I would find it too conflicting. :slight_smile:

Paul

#13

[quote]Oh please, let’s not derail this topic into a rediculous argument about British English vs. American English.
[/quote]
Oh why not? With the Licensing turned TP thread such a smashing success, Abuse and I figured we’d try it again with languages. :wink:

Just for interest, here’s a quick American -> British translation guide:
[i]
It’s chips, not fries.

The thing that goes up is a lift, not an elevator.

Biscuits are sweetened crackers you have with tea, not a heavy bread you pour gravy over.

Americans are lovingly referred to as “yanks”.

Blood saugage is not just a fancy name.[/i]

See? You learn something new every day. :slight_smile:

Back on topic, dictionary.com tells me that normalise is a Medical term, while normalize is “To make normal”. My vote goes for “normalize”.

P.S. Don’t feel too bad Cas. In my first revision of GAGE, I cosistently mispelled “missile” as “missle”.

#14

“American English” is a term made up by microsoft to allow them to get away with putting spelling mistakes in their spellchecker :stuck_out_tongue:

Oh, and while you’re at it, how about changing all those GL calls to colour*() :wink:

#15

Oh, and while you’re at it, how about changing all those
GL calls to colour*()

I’m starting to have flashbacks to translating Spectrum and BBC Micro BASIC programs to PC-BASIC and GW-BASIC. Oh, the horror!

This does bring up a good point tho. The GL APIs consitently use American spelling. In order to make LWJGL consistent, shouldn’t the remainder of the API use American spelling?

#16

As I alluded to earlier in the thread, the actual correct British version would be spelled with a Z, which turns out was the original common way of spelling such words. In very recent times, S has become more prevalent, as a deliberate attempt to distinguish the language from American English.

But Z is in fact still a valid and correct English spelling in either dictionary.

Cas :slight_smile: