Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2008 April 12

= April 12 =

Synonym problem (AGAIN, please help)!
All right guys; I'm stuck again. Having consulted two thesauri (also with no avail), I need a synonym for "synthesis." Context: Physical modeling synthesis is the synthesis of sound by using a set of equations and algorithms to simulate a physical source of sound.

Beyond that, of course, as a side quest you could help me fix the obvious convolution here. =) -- La Pianísta!  03:13, 12 April 2008 (UTC)


 * "combination" or "process of combining"? --ChokinBako (talk) 07:43, 12 April 2008 (UTC)


 * http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/synthesis has amalgam, amalgamation, blend, coalescence, combination, composite, compound, constructing, construction, entirety, forming, fusion, integrating, integration, making one, organism, organization, structure, unification, union, unit, welding, whole.
 * Suggestion: PMS uses a set of equations and algorithms to simulate the components, the physical properties and the playing of a musical instrument.
 * Cave: I know nothing about the subject matter of the article, so the above could be a Physical modeling synthesis of BS, an instrument where my virtuosity is unchallenged. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 10:47, 12 April 2008 (UTC)


 * I've rewritten the first paragraph of the article; did that help? --Lambiam 13:11, 12 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks, all! I've copypasted your contributions to my notebook for future reference. =) -- La Pianísta!  15:52, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Noun
Is there noun related to the adjective facile?71.142.208.226 (talk) 19:00, 12 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven


 * Since "facile" just means "easy", then "ease" would work. Or if you want to stick with the Latin root, then "facility", although that doesn't usually mean "ease" in English. Adam Bishop (talk) 19:03, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Thank you so much. Ease sounds better especially for what I am doing.71.142.208.226 (talk) 19:18, 12 April 2008 (UTC)Cardinal Raven


 * "Simplicity" would be an option. The choice will largely depend on the context and the readers / audience.  As always, --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 20:09, 12 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Context would certainly be important. I doubt whether "facile" means "easy": it seems to me it is nearly always used with quite a negative connotation ("a facile remark, a facile victory") and would then be roughly equivalent to "gratuitous". There is no such connotation in "facility" ("She has a great facility for skating"). Rather than "simplicity", I would opt for "simplification". But then again, if CR is satisfied with "ease", who is one to quarrel? Bessel Dekker (talk) 20:31, 12 April 2008 (UTC)
 * The OED has facileness. No quotes since the 18th century though. Algebraist 11:22, 13 April 2008 (UTC)
 * A quick Google confirms my hunch that 'facility' is often applied to Mozart's apparent ease of composition. William Avery (talk) 11:53, 14 April 2008 (UTC)