name "silicon" is so stupid

[Stephen.R]

I find Apple's pronunciation of "silicon" very strange. I've always heard everyone say "silicon" like they say "silicon valley."

I just went and re-watched the start of the "Apple Silicon" segment, to hear Tim say it again.

FYI, his pronunciation of "silicon" is as neutral as you can get in the English language IMO. I grew up in Australia with first-generation British parents, have worked with North Americans, Europeans and Asians plus a few others (Africans, South Americans) for a decade and a half, and currently live in S.E. Asia - I've heard a good number of accents on the English language.

I'd imagine most British would probably put slightly more emphasis on the "o" so it's "silli-kon" whereas Tim just de-emphasises the "o" a lot - but either way it's a short 'o' sound (like in off or orange or orangutan vs a long o sound like "oh" or "only"). Of course if you add an "e" (to become silicone) I'd expect the brits at least to pronounce it with a long O, line in "phone".

So the normal pronunciation would be "Sill-eh-Kahn," making it 3 syllables long.

Here comes Tim with "Sill-eh-Kun," spoken rapidly, as if it were one syllable.

I'm not sure you're qualified to disparage others pronunciation when you're suggesting there are "a" or "u" sounds in the word "silicon".

It's bizarre and odd, especially when they should just call them "Apple Processors," which is what they are.

And how would that pronounced? "PRUH-cessor?" Or "PRU-CESS-ER". Have you by chance heard the way the word "potato" is said in the game Exploding Kittens (i.e. in the iPhone game, it doesn't make sense in the card game version) and thought "yeah that sounds right"?

 

[Waragainstsleep]

As a brit, its Sill-e-kon. The O is indeed short because if you pronounce it silicone, that's a different thing entirely. Said fast it might sound a bit like "silicun" but the second syllable is short otherwise you're relying entirely on context to avoid confusion.

 

[PickUrPoison]

It must be regional. I hadn't noticed anyone saying "silicon" with the stress on the first syllable until the WWDC keynote. It struck me as odd every time they said it. I definitely say sili*con*, with more stress on the final syllable.

Dictionaries list both pronunciations.

You say sil-i-CON’ instead of SIL’-i-con?

I’ve been here since the 70s and always hear the stress on the first syllable, like in “genuine” or “relevant”. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone stress only the final syllable. There’s a dictionary entry where the last syllable is stressed instead of the first syllable? Yikes.

If you’re talking about the vowel sound of the final syllable, I hear it cut-off/truncated as in “continue” or “container” often, but also as in “consulate” and “context”. Like a lot of spoken English, it can also depend on the word that follows, if any.
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So the normal pronunciation would be "Sill-eh-Kahn," making it 3 syllables long.

Here comes Tim with "Sill-eh-Kun," spoken rapidly, as if it were one syllable.
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No matter how rapidly it’s pronounced—and whether it’s “kun” or “kahn” at the end—it’s still three syllables. The vowel sound of the final syllable varies as I mention in my previous post, but it still has three syllables.

 

[jhfenton]

You say sil-i-CON’ instead of SIL’-i-con?

I’ve been here since the 70s and always hear the stress on the first syllable, like in “genuine” or “relevant”. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone stress only the final syllable. There’s a dictionary entry where the last syllable is stressed instead of the first syllable? Yikes.

If you’re talking about the vowel sound of the final syllable, I hear it cut-off/truncated as in “continue” or “container” often, but also as in “consulate” and “context”. Like a lot of spoken English, it can also depend on the word that follows, if any.

You're right. I do stress the first syllable, but there is a secondary stress on the last syllable. I do not reduce the last syllable to a schwa. The extreme reduction of the last syllable by the Apple folks struck me as odd, but it's not an unusual pattern either.

 

[PickUrPoison]

You're right. I do stress the first syllable, but there is a secondary stress on the last syllable. I do not reduce the last syllable to a schwa. The extreme reduction of the last syllable by the Apple folks struck me as odd, but it's not an unusual pattern either.

Interesting. I’m a “kahn”-er, not a “schwa”-er. If I’m just saying silicon, I don’t put a secondary stress on the third syllable.

But if I’m saying Silicon Valley, like you I do secondarily stress the third syllable, and I also somewhat elongate the “n” sound before Valley. Not saying it’s right or anything, it’s just what I happen to do ? When speaking quickly, the Apple way is easier though, no doubt.

And of course we Americans are pretty lazy in our speech, so the short “i” sound in the second syllable I typically pronounce as a schwa. (Short i is pretty typical with the “Apple” pronunciation though, it’s easier lol.)

 

[Ethosik]

The way it's pronounced is almost as annoying as Al-ooh-Min-ey-umm. I just can't stand hearing it anymore. Perhaps it's from hearing all the new age fanboys spewing it out constantly. I think some people secretly get a kick out of saying them out loud. It makes them feel über cool. I'd rather just read about it.

You do realize that other than United States and Canada, Aluminium is correct.

 

[Royksöpp]

You do realize that other than United States and Canada, Aluminium is correct.

I’m talking about Americans that unnaturally pronounce it that way.

 

[brzy25]

I don't know why lots of people out there keep calling it Apple 'silicone' instead of Silicon, unless they're thinking that Apple is also branching out into breast implant and sealant manufacturing...

Every time I try to type Apple Silicon it tries to autocorrect it to silicone. That alone should be reason enough for apple to change the name.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Every time I try to type Apple Silicon it tries to autocorrect it to silicone. That alone should be reason enough for apple to change the name.

I don’t think Apple’s worried about that, but I’m sure they appreciate your concern ?

 

[Kostask]

I call it A14Z (or whatever letter Apple chooses to put on the end). Maybe the letter will be an or a C for the low end (as in A14C) consumer SoCs, A14M for mainstream/midrange SoCs, and A14P/14R/A14Z for the pro level SoCs. The A14 part gives the generation (14th generation in this case), and the final letter lets you know the intended market space.

And for the record, there is nothing silly about silicon, either as a material or as a name. Siiicon is the material of which over 90% of the ICs on the planet are made of.

 

[MevetS]

"name "silicon" is so stupid"

I know, right?

And don't even get me started on "Praseodymium" or "Ytterbium"! I mean, how do you even pronounce them?

 

[Kostask]

Every time I try to type Apple Silicon it tries to autocorrect it to silicone. That alone should be reason enough for apple to change the name.

Just add "silicon" to whatever dictionary your spell checker uses. Not rocket science.

 

[Jimmy James]

I agree silicon is lame. It’s “got no legs”.

 

[Waragainstsleep]

Whats the alternative? Apple Semiconductor is even longer...

 

[Dranix]

Well again all this problems with English: The correct name is of course Silicium (after Silica).

 

[jerwin]

Just add "silicon" to whatever dictionary your spell checker uses. Not rocket science.

It's chemistry. But, on a more serious note, any english dictionary that doesn't include the names of the elements is not worth using.

 

[Jimmy James]

Silicon is what it is. Silicon Valley?

It’s like when you get new tires for your car. You put on new rubbers.

 

[theorist9]

I love the name.

First, unlike most marketing names, it's clear and straightforward, and nicely communicates what it's referring to. Apple silicon is, indeed, silicon designed by Apple. I find that very refreshing. Yes, technically, it's not literally Apple silicon (it's of course not a version of the element silicon specific to Apple). But everyone understands the shorthand.

Second, Apple needed a way to clearly distinguish these chips from other devices using the ARM ISA. "Apple silicon" accomplishes that.

Third, it reminds me of "Detroit Iron" (referring to cars made in that city).

 

[theorist9]

Well again all this problems with English: The correct name is of course Silicium (after Silica).

The issue here isn't the English language, it's the history of chemistry. In 1808, Humphry Davy proposed the name "silicium", because he thought it was a metal. However, in 1817, Thomas Thompson gave it the name "silicon", because he thought it was a non-metal. By the time Berzelius isolated it in 1823–24, "silicon" had become established, so that's the one that stuck historically.

In fact, silicon is a metalloid (aka semimetal), because it shares properties with both metals and non-metals (that's what makes it a semiconductor, and thus so important in the computer industry). Hence silicon and silicium would have been equally correct.

 

[hallux]

I love the name.

I wouldn't get too attached to it as the name. If the transition to Intel were happening this year they'd be saying "Intel silicon" to refer to the upcoming chips if they hadn't yet landed on the exact chips being used. It's simply a placeholder.

 

[dogslobber]

Apple might not have TM approval to use the ARM name in its ARM based CPUs. This is just the marketing buzz as internally they're referred to as ARM chips in RADAR.

 

[triptolemus]

I feel dumber having read this thread...

 

[Waragainstsleep]

I wouldn't get too attached to it as the name. If the transition to Intel were happening this year they'd be saying "Intel silicon" to refer to the upcoming chips if they hadn't yet landed on the exact chips being used. It's simply a placeholder.

Why does the year matter? They didn't say "Intel Silicon" in 2005 because they didn't need to. "Intel Macs" was enough to differentiate from "PowerPC Macs". "Apple Macs" doesn't work because all Macs are Apple. Except the clones or mackintoshes but lets not go there.
"Apple CPU Macs" or "Apple Processor Macs" are too long said out loud. What other word could they conceivably had thrown in there?

 

[theorist9]

iSilicon?

 

[UBS28]

Apple Silicone sounds sexy.