This week, I asked around campus to see which pronunciation is correct; .GIF or .GIF? The .GIF is an image format that was developed by computer scientist Steve Wilhite and released on June 15, 1987. The pronunciation has been debated by internet users since the early 90’s and is still relevant nearly 30 years later. While some people could understand why someone would pronounce this differently, for others the wrong pronunciation could get you shunned. Elizabethtown College students had varying ideas of how to say .GIF, and many were very vocal about their choice.
“It’s .GIF,” said fourth-year professional writing major Kyle Mclaughlin. “And if you think otherwise, you’re a tomfool with horrible internet skills.”
Fourth-year professional writing major and Etownian Copy Editor Mahli Rupp seemed to agree, saying, “As the prophecy foretold, it is .GIF. If you think it’s .GIF and not .GIF, you’re probably a millennial.”
“Or a boomer,” Mclaughlin added.
But is the pronunciation really dependent on your internet literacy, or is it based on your thought process?
Fourth-year computer science major Matt Sutton’s reasoning for his pronunciation lies with the moving image’s creator: “I normally say .GIF. The guy who made it says it that way.”
However, third-year public health major and Campus Life writer Cassidy Rohrman chose her pronunciation based on her peers: “I’d say .GIF because that’s all I ever hear people saying.”
But which is correct? How most people pronounce it, or how the creator pronounces it? Some dictionaries list .GIF, others use .GIF and some even list both as alternative pronunciations for people to choose from. A strong case could be made for either, but most people aren’t looking for a middle ground. It’s one or the other. Some say the pronunciation that feels right, and makes the most sense for themselves, while others take a more logical approach.
“I think it’s .GIF. It just makes sense with English pronunciations,” said third-year professional writing major and Assistant Campus Life Editor Natalie Meyer.
Personally, I’ve always pronounced it .GIF for a variety of reasons, first of which is that it is just absolutely correct. Yes, I think it’s .GIF because of the structure of the English language, but it’s really just because it’s the only logical answer. You can call me biased if you want, but is it really biased if I’m just 100% correct? I can’t even begin to understand why anyone would pronounce it .GIF, when they could just say .GIF instead. I don’t even think that you have a valid reason to pronounce it .GIF, and anyone who does so should be canceled.
How do you pronounce .GIF, and why? Email us at campuslifeeditor@etown.edu.
