词汇学 Rapid growth of acronyms and initialisms.pptVIP

* * Rapid growth of acronyms and initialisms Frequently used Causes Origin Many are informal Origin (1). Acronyms and initialisms in writing and other forms of recorded speech are as old as language itself. Roman soldiers carried standard engraved with the letters SPQR , meaning “the Senate and the Roman people”, a phrase which expressed the democratic conception of their state. (2).Both initialisms and acronyms have become extremely popular since WWII, especially within the past few years. Some of them are short-lived. Eg. SHAPE = Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe 欧