[Allan Herriman]

Hi Laszlo,

At 12:28 19/01/00 MET, you wrote:
>On Wed, 19 Jan 2000, Allan Herriman wrote:
>
>> Probably won't do much, as the signal is a buzz, not a hum.  
>> 
>A-ha, sorry for my weak English. I wasn't aware that these words have
>different meanings. Is it "official", I mean, is this a widely accepted
>different usage of the two words in the DSP community?
>In fact, I've just opened the "Concise Oxford Dictionary" and it says:
>"Buzz: make humming sound"
>
>(it's not intended to be a nagging, I'm asking it seriously...)

If that's what the dictionary says, then I guess that's the standard usage.

*I* tend to use the word "hum" to describe 50Hz signals without much
harmonic content, and "buzz" to describe 50Hz signals with lots of harmonic
content.

I'm not quite sure if other native English speakers (*) make the same
subtle distinction.

Say both words out aloud (like hummmmm and buzzzzzz), and you'll hear where
my meaning comes from.

(*) I'm Australian, so you could argue I'm not a native English speaker :)

Regards,
Allan.
--
Allan Herriman                        Senior Design Engineer
mailto:allan.herriman at fujitsu.com.au  Fujitsu Australia
Tel: (+61 3) 9845 4341                5 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East
Fax: (+61 3) 9845 4572                Victoria, 3151, AUSTRALIA
"Thirty five dollars and a six pack to my name."

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