h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I somewhat disagree with your wee rant about multi-media as I think what the term is actually trying to imply is the mixing of different types of media ie. using multi types of media for one application.

the word media is already a mix of different media.

multi media is made up term by marketting people to make more intresting. remember yuppies (young urban proffesionals) also a marketing idea! multi media was to get yups to use computer than a w*rk thing

Re your dictonary - get a new one!
Definition of M-M in mine is;

Of or relating to the combined use of several media.

Of or relating to an application that can combine text, graphics, full-motion video, and sound into an intergrated package.

The combined use of media, such as movies, music, lighting, CD-ROMs, and the Internet, as for education or entertainment.

The combined use of media, such as television, radio, print, and the Internet, as for advertising or publicity.

Alji

I am not sure if read own text, but you talk about

"..combined use of several media.."
and
"..combine text, graphics, full-motion video, and sound into an intergrated package.."
and
"..combined use of media.."

do you realise that you are already using "MEDIA" as PLURAL and not SINGLE word?

do you realise that you did not use in your explainations MULTI, but COMBINE use of....?

an observation:
"do you do go multi musea or several musea?"

You say multi is plural. Where did you get this from?
In my dictionary it gives the following

multi-
pref.
Many; much; multiple: multicolored.

More than one: multiparous.
More than two: multilateral.

multi- \Mul"ti-\, Mult- \Mult-\ [L. multus much.] A prefix signifying much or many; several; more than one; as, multiaxial, multocular.

multi adj : (prefix) consisting of more than one; "`multi' is a prefix in words like `multimillionaire' and `multistory house'"

Alji

media is plural for medium.

look up medium in you dictionairy.

would you says?

colours of a rainbow
- colours is plural so you would not use multi

a multicoloured rainbow
- colours need mutli rainbows have more than one colours

p.s. I used Brittish English: colours

I know media is plural.
I'm talking about multi which is not plural but is a prefix meaning many.

Alji

How about this then;

There are many multinational companies operating in our area.

Alji

multi media is double plural!

multi is more than one!
media is more than one medium!

example:
the news spread thru the media.

wich means:
the news spread thru radio, tv, teletext, newspapers, magazines and internet (name a medium)

would you say?
the news spread thru multi media.

multinational companies are companies that branches in many nations
(countries)

national is not plural. it comes from nation.

many is plural from of something

There are a multiplicity of meanings for madia and medium

me·di·um (md-m)
n. pl. me·di·a (-d-) or me·di·ums
Something, such as an intermediate course of action, that occupies a position or represents a condition midway between extremes.
An intervening substance through which something else is transmitted or carried on.
An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred: The train was the usual medium of transportation in those days.
pl. media Usage Problem.
A means of mass communication, such as newpapers, magazines, radio, or television.
media (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The group of journalists and others who constitute the communications industry and profession.
pl. media Computer Science. An object or device, such as a disk, on which data is stored.
pl. mediums A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension. Also called psychic.
pl. media
A surrounding environment in which something functions and thrives.
The substance in which a specific organism lives and thrives.
A culture medium.

A specific kind of artistic technique or means of expression as determined by the materials used or the creative methods involved: the medium of lithography.
The materials used in a specific artistic technique: oils as a medium.
A solvent with which paint is thinned to the proper consistency.
Chemistry. A filtering substance, such as filter paper.
A size of paper, usually 18 × 23 inches or 17 1/2 × 22 inches.

Alji

mediacomputer is capable of doing the same as multi-media computer,
only less letter, less chique and marketing people presure!

we are talking about multi media.

in this case media is radio, tv, writen media on paper and electronic and any other way entertain or tell each other news

radio is a medium so is each separate part of media.

computers are capable of combining more than one medium.
you watch and hear computers. (you do not medium, person who talk to the death)

the term multi media makes medi overcomplete and is not neccary.

So you are telling me you can't have many midia or many mediums.
meany is not a plural, it can be a noun, a pronoun or an adjective.

e.g.

Many were called but few are chosen.
A good meny men were caled but few were chosen.
Meny a man was called but few were chosen.

Alji

My spelling is going haywire.

Alji

you can use anything...you and I live in democratic countries

we can have this discussion, because of medium called internet.

internet is a digital written medium wich can be added with sound and vision. you created a media computer, because then you can use with more than one medium.

I am Dutch ..I can still understand you haywired spelling

I remember when the medium used for comnputer input was punched cards and the output was punched tape. Then they moved on to paper and CRT.
For a long time there was only mono output, then came colour with chunky graphics. I've used a computer with a 4 digit hex display and a thermal printer witn a one and a half inch wide roll. Now we have text, sound and picture (still and moving) output to crt, printer, disk, cd or video tape (my video card has tv output). Each one is a medium and together they are media ; multi midia!

Alji