What an interesting suggestion. I had thought the use of acronyms was a sufficiently worrying matter for some people without injection of the new science ‘Priority of Acronyms’. Ah well, if we are back on what people should or should not say ...
My earliest recollection of ‘STD’ (for ‘standard’) was on record turntables of the 1950s, where it was used to distinguish the lever position for ‘78’ records from that for the exciting new ‘LP’ products.
Then came the even more exciting technology that enabled direct long-distance dialling (within Australia) instead of having to place a call through an operator. That kind of ‘STD’ remains the primary meaning of the abbreviation in my Macquarie. The disease-related use came later. Without conducting research on the matter, I assume it was adopted to get away from the pejorative associations of ‘VD’. In time, STD will no doubt acquire similar associations and go the same way.
There never was a ‘Spotted Turtle Dove’ in general use. The RAOU inserted the upper-case ‘D’ (‘Turtle-Dove’) for doctrinal reasons. ‘Spotted Dove’ is now the recommended form. Not that this will conclude the matter from the viewpoint of dove-rage. The long-recommended ‘Common Myna’ has not prevented popularisation of ‘Indian Myna’ for the purpose of the elimination project. Indeed I think a new name for this unloved dove is overdue. My suggestion is ‘Indian Syphilis Dove’. This conveys the desired message that this species is really unwelcome, retains a useful connection with ‘STD’, and furthermore gives us ‘ISD’ which rather neatly continues the traditional telecom association.
From: Margaret Leggoe [
Sent: Tuesday, 8 March 2011 7:48 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] The danger of acronyms
Can we please find another acronym for Spotted Turtle Dove.
For those who are not aware, it is a widely accepted acronym for infectious diseases transmitted by a certain kind of social behaviour.
Margaret Leggoe
