Inserting our Greek letters into words

[ree-Xi]

I might be on the other side...I don't like seeing the misappopriation of Greek letters (though the Phi Mu "Home" is cute).

For example, look at the name of television show GREEK, where the "E"s are Sigmas.

Maybe it bugs me because people refer to Alpha Xi Delta as AZD (in writing, they use a Z, because the English pronunciation of the letter Xi is pronounced "zee" when following a vowel. In Greek it's pronounced "ksi" as the "x" is pronounced in "box"). I usually write it out AXiD, but I have seen other members write out AXD.

[GTAlphaPhi]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I might be on the other side...I don't like seeing the misappopriation of Greek letters (though the Phi Mu "Home" is cute).

For example, look at the name of television show GREEK, where the "E"s are Sigmas.

Maybe it bugs me because people refer to Alpha Xi Delta as AZD (in writing, they use a Z, because the English pronunciation of the letter Xi is pronounced "zee" when following a vowel. In Greek it's pronounced "ksi" as the "x" is pronounced in "box"). I usually write it out AXiD, but I have seen other members write out AXD.

Oh, I agree, I hate seeing sigmas used as e's (probably the most common Greek-for-English/Latin substitution). I like "HΦME" because it keeps the GLO's abbreviation intact.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Maybe it bugs me because people refer to Alpha Xi Delta as AZD (in writing, they use a Z, because the English pronunciation of the letter Xi is pronounced "zee" when following a vowel. In Greek it's pronounced "ksi" as the "x" is pronounced in "box").

Sorry, but I have to say it -- I'm sure some at GC expect me to say it: It has nothing to do with following a vowel. That's a Greek urban legend.

The Greek pronunciation of the name of the letter X (Xi) is ksee. (In Greek, X = ks and i always = ee.)

Because in English we don't typically start a word with an x sound and instead substitute a z sound (xylophone, Xavier, Xerox) the anglicized pronunciation of the name of the letter X is zee.

But because we also tend in English not to pronounce a single i in a one syllable word as ee, the Americanized pronunciation of the name of the letter X is zeye. (We do the same thing with P, F, C and Y.)

It has nothing to do with what letter comes before it. It's simply that Alpha Xi Delta chose to use the pronunciation of the name of the letter X closer to the Greek (like Alpha Phi did with the pronunciation of the name of the letter F). That's all.

That said, as a general rule, I'm with you on substituting Greek letters for English ones -- it looks like we don't know what the letters really are.

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

During recruitment we always see the Phi Mu "HΦME" and that made us start thinking what in the world could you do with Gamma Phi Beta?

Well it did not take long to come up with "ΓΦΒBING boys hearts since 1874". My point being, you may have to think up a phase instead of just one word.

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaGPhiB

During recruitment we always see the Phi Mu "HΦME" and that made us start thinking what in the world could you do with Gamma Phi Beta?

Well it did not take long to come up with "ΓΦΒBING boys hearts since 1874". My point being, you may have to think up a phase instead of just one word.

the Gamma Phi one is cute!

[Fatal1913]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Sorry, but I have to say it -- I'm sure some at GC expect me to say it: It has nothing to do with following a vowel. That's a Greek urban legend.

The Greek pronunciation of the name of the letter X (Xi) is ksee. (In Greek, X = ks and i always = ee.)

Because in English we don't typically start a word with an x sound and instead substitute a z sound (xylophone, Xavier, Xerox) the anglicized pronunciation of the name of the letter X is zee.

But because we also tend in English not to pronounce a single i in a one syllable word as ee, the Americanized pronunciation of the name of the letter X is zeye. (We do the same thing with P, F, C and Y.)

It has nothing to do with what letter comes before it. It's simply that Alpha Xi Delta chose to use the pronunciation of the name of the letter X closer to the Greek (like Alpha Phi did with the pronunciation of the name of the letter F). That's all.

That said, as a general rule, I'm with you on substituting Greek letters for English ones -- it looks like we don't know what the letters really are.

I think it just looks like we are trying to be creative with our letters... why try to make it more than it is... most people, atleast Greeks, know what it is you are doing/saying. I have even seen ppl insert their line numbers in to their line name like "In2ative"

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Fatal1913

I think it just looks like we are trying to be creative with our letters... why try to make it more than it is... most people, atleast Greeks, know what it is you are doing/saying. I have even seen ppl insert their line numbers in to their line name like "In2ative"

Well, Prince does that too.

If you're going to do anything with phrases, use what the Greek letters ACTUALLY STAND FOR. The Sigmas used as Es thing irritates the crap out of me too...and it can have the bad effect of being translated backward the same way. I have actually had members of other sororities (looking at a paper with our letters on it in Greek) refer to my sorority as "Alpha Epsilon Alpha."

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, Prince does that too.

If you're going to do anything with phrases, use what the Greek letters ACTUALLY STAND FOR. The Sigmas used as Es thing irritates the crap out of me too...and it can have the bad effect of being translated backward the same way. I have actually had members of other sororities (looking at a paper with our letters on it in Greek) refer to my sorority as "Alpha Epsilon Alpha."

Don't worry. A girl walked up to be before, looked at my letters and said, "OMG! Sigma Alpha Epsilon?!?!"

I figured most people knew Alpha from Phi... or just Alpha in general.

I've seen I LOVΣ CΦLLEGΕ, TAKΣ ΦVΕR, and ROLΣ MΦDΕL for us on T-shirts. We don't usually incorporate our letters into anything.

We do use the term SigEpic a good amount, though.

[AXiDMeesh]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Don't worry. A girl walked up to be before, looked at my letters and said, "OMG! Sigma Alpha Epsilon?!?!"

I figured most people knew Alpha from Phi... or just Alpha in general.

Lol!!
That's hilarious

[Scully]

The Delta Gamma chapter on our campus had recruitment shirts reading "GLΔMOΓOUS" and I believe Sigma Delta Tau had something like " ΣΔT Your Heart Out.”

[pomplemousse12]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Don't worry. A girl walked up to be before, looked at my letters and said, "OMG! Sigma Alpha Epsilon?!?!"

I figured most people knew Alpha from Phi... or just Alpha in general.

I've seen I LOVΣ CΦLLEGΕ, TAKΣ ΦVΕR, and ROLΣ MΦDΕL for us on T-shirts. We don't usually incorporate our letters into anything.

We do use the term SigEpic a good amount, though.

The SigEps here have a shirt that says REΣΦΕCT on them.

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by pomplemousse12

The SigEps here have a shirt that says REΣΦΕCT on them.

That's pretty cool using SPE that way (even though it's really SFE but most SigEps don't say that). From an outsider's point of view, though, it'd look like REEOEECT.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaGPhiB

Well it did not take long to come up with "ΓΦΒBING boys hearts since 1874". My point being, you may have to think up a phase instead of just one word.

Is it supposed to be robbing? It took me a ridicilously long time to figure this one out -- I kept wondering if "Gobbing" was some slang term I'm too old to know. Then finally it occured to me that maybe the G was supposed to be a lower case R. The fact that everything else was upper case threw me.

Originally Posted by lovespink88

Thanks to GC (and probably you, actually) I know this. I've tried to tell my chapter sisters this but they look at me like

Originally Posted by AXiDMeesh

I know about the whole "ksee" thing because of MysticCat too lol.

LOL. At least I've accomplished something in my life.

Originally Posted by lovespink88

And ree-Xi, when I see AXD or AZD, I die a little inside.

I understand how you feel. I'm the same way when I see PMA for Phi Mu Alpha. P =/= F.

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Sorry, but I have to say it -- I'm sure some at GC expect me to say it: It has nothing to do with following a vowel. That's a Greek urban legend.

Thanks to GC (and probably you, actually) I know this. I've tried to tell my chapter sisters this but they look at me like

And ree-Xi, when I see AXD or AZD, I die a little inside.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by lovespink88

Thanks to GC (and probably you, actually) I know this. I've tried to tell my chapter sisters this but they look at me like

And ree-Xi, when I see AXD or AZD, I die a little inside.

I know how you feel. I'm the same way when I see somebody write my letters as YU.