Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2021 July 12

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July 12

Pronunciation of Viking XPRS

How is the name of Viking XPRS supposed to be pronounced? I've always pronounced each letter separately, but I have heard some people pronouncing it as "Express". JIP | Talk 01:48, 12 July 2021 (UTC)

Probably "Viking Express". But I will join you in pronouncing it as separate letters (like "HSBC", "IMF", and "BBC") in a vain attempt to expunge such imbecilic marketing innovations to the waste-bin of history. Bazza (talk) 10:19, 12 July 2021 (UTC)

I'd be sorely tempted to pronounce it as an acronym – but then I can't help reading flypgs.com – the website address of Pegasus Airlines proudly displayed on both flanks of each aircraft of its fleet – as the exhortation to "fly pigs". The answer may depend on the language of the speaker as well. In English, the difference in pronunciation as an acronym and a quickly enunciated initialism is relatively small: /ɪkˈspiɑɹɛs/. The closest to an authority on how this is "supposed" to be pronounced are the people at Viking Line.  --Lambiam 20:19, 12 July 2021 (UTC)

I've been unable to find an ad with the name stated - but given the nature of its route, it would almost certainly be intended to be spoken "express". Kind of like with "xcel" which is pronounced "excel"; or "SQL" which is pronounced "sequel". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 02:59, 13 July 2021 (UTC)

The name of the database query language is pronounced /ˌɛs.kjuːˈɛl/ in introductory videos,^[1][2][3] which is also the first pronunciation given at Wiktionary.  --Lambiam 07:31, 14 July 2021 (UTC)

I've heard it as "sequel" at least as often as "S Q L". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 09:19, 14 July 2021 (UTC)

This cabin tour video pronounces it "express": [4] --Amble (talk) 20:52, 13 July 2021 (UTC)