Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2009 May 3

= May 3 =

What is cardex or kardex?
At one of my previous jobs as a secretary, I kept employees' records (attendance, salary -- any change in status) on a sort of card file. We called it a "kardex" (or "cardex") record. I want to add it to my resume, but I can't find either word in any dictionary. Is either a real word, and what's the correct spelling? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.152.165.101 (talk) 16:33, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Was it anything like a rolodex? Seegoon (talk) 16:38, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Both Cardex and Kardex are registered trademarks - see Cardex, Kardex and Kardex. I doubt that's what you mean. "Cardex" is also sometimes used as a contraction of "card index" - this is an example and this is another one (which uses virtual "cards"). This image while called "cardex.jpg" is of a generic card index. I suggest you just call it a "card index". Tonywalton Talk 16:46, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * The thing that's important for your resumé is that you maintained employees' attendance, salary, and employment records, and not specifically that they were kept in a card index. So you should leave Cardex off, and just say what records you originated and maintained. - Nunh-huh 00:38, 5 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Hmmm ... every time I see that word, I am reminded of the one-time football team in the National Football League. — Michael J  21:37, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Please do elucidate (I'm a few thousand miles too far East to have the first idea what you mean &#9786; ). Tonywalton Talk 21:55, 4 May 2009 (UTC) Ah, got it. I thought "football team" was a single wikilink above. Tonywalton Talk 21:58, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Yes, Americans don't call football 'football'. That is a name for a game they have which uses helmets and body armour. Similar to rugby, but not involving people getting their teeth smashed.--KageTora (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 00:23, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

Foreign "u" in French
In unassimilated foreign words with "u", like "Jaipur" or "Kuala Lumpur", would French speakers generally pronounce those with /u/ or with /y/? --Lazar Taxon (talk) 22:02, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Instinctively, a native French speaker would pronounce the sound /y/ if entirely unfamiliar with the word or its origin. If that persons knows the word is foreign and likely originates from one of the languages where the sound is pronounced /u/, he may use that pronunciation, but it's not certain. For example, the Italian-origin car make "Bugatti" is commonly prononced with the /y/ sound in French. --Xuxl (talk) 15:16, 4 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Maybe there is variation from one word to another, in the same way that there is variation with English-derived words ending in ing (shampooing [ʃɑ̃pwɛ̃], footing [futiŋ]) and also those ending in er (bulldozer [buldozœr], pull-over [pylɔvɛr]). (I tried to put the tildes above the vocoids.) -- Wavelength (talk) 16:34, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Depends on your English. In en_GB both bulldozer and pullover sound to me to end with a schwa. Tonywalton Talk 22:00, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * That depends on where in GB your en_GB comes from - they don't end with a schwa in Devon or Scotland! —Angr 06:19, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I don't think it depends on your English, because Wavelength is talking about the pronunciation in French. --Maltelauridsbrigge (talk) 11:29, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * D'accord. Tonywalton Talk 21:07, 5 May 2009 (UTC)


 * See Category:Wikipedians by language, Category:User fr, Category:Wikipedians by location, Category:Wikipedians by profession, Category:Wikipedians by ethnicity and nationality, French language, French phonology, fr:Accueil, fr:Wikipédia:Oracle, fr:Prononciation du français, http://www.radio-locator.com/, http://www.forvo.com/. -- Wavelength (talk) 00:38, 6 May 2009 (UTC)