The pronunciation of the word 'meme'

[strange_complex]

I know where I stand on this, but I want to find out what the majority of the people on my friends list think.

I also haven't yet done a poll since getting a paid account, so it's about time I tried it out.

[Poll #374257]

Comments

[hyzenflay.livejournal.com]

I know it is supposed to be pronounced as the first one, but I actually pronounce it "mem"

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Oh, bugger, I didn't know to include this as an option! Sorry!

[hyzenflay.livejournal.com]

It's ok, I ponounce it that way, as that is how the word is pronounced in French I suppose, maybe I just like to be different.

[sir-didymus.livejournal.com]

I'm in a minority :(

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yes, interestingly, you are not actually alone.

[stompyboots.livejournal.com]

However, saying that, I pronounce it mehme. Not much of an emphasis on the 'h', I was just trying to find a way of indicating that (for me) the first 'e' is short, and the second is long(er). Like memmy.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I never thought there could be so many different options for a word of only four letters!

[stompyboots.livejournal.com]

By the end of the day, there'll probably be hundreds! But that's because the only thing as silly and as illogical as goths is the English language.

[captainlucy.livejournal.com]

The origination of these, as I have been told it, was as a quick way of posting up prsonal information about a variety of subjects. The title originally given to these was "Me Me" (as in Me talking about Me), which became condensed to "MeMe". It should properly be pronounced as two separate syllables.

Just my two-bob worth. :)

[angeoverhere.livejournal.com]

I always assumed it was 'meme' as in the Richard Dawkins sense!? (i.e. like genes, but cultural).. Not sure which book he coined it in, but it's covered in more depth in Susan Blackmore's 'The Meme Machine'.

In general, I think the idea of memes is a pretty dodgy concept, but it does seem to work pretty well on LJ (stuff can be copied more reliably than in culture normally).

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Actually, I suppose on this basis, any LJ entry qualifies as a meme, because they are all us talking about ourselves. It doesn't really do enough to indicate what is actually different about a meme as compared to a normal entry.

I was getting to like the 'me on me' idea, but having this thought has put me off again a bit now. I guess I only like it if it is subsumed within my preferred theory of the Dawkins origin.

[ladyguinevere83.livejournal.com]

I actually pronounce it 'meh-may' for some bizarre reason!

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Larks alive, not another one! ;)

I suppose you are quite close to stompyboots's 'memmy', but subtly different all the same.

[firefish.livejournal.com]

I always said meme and I always supposed that it came from the idea that it was something about yourself, like a child shouting "Me! Me!" I seem to be completely off track though!