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

Are you trying to spell "haiku" using Japanese syllables (ie the sounds in katakana/hiragana)?

NOt explicitly, the main point I was making was what a groovy word it is in english, as people pronounce it in two different ways, with a varying number of syllables, which makes it kinda groovy to haiku with .

Is this dual prononciation something to do with the fact that its mispronounced all the time? My knowledge of japanese is almost, but not entirely, nill.

What..? "high-ah-ku" and "high-ku"? It's definitely pronounced "high-ku". Two syllables, and Two Syllables ALONE!

Well, I know very little Japanese, but I'm pretty sure that it's spelled using the symbols for "ha", "i", and "ku", where the "i" is pronounced "ee", only short so it's kind of like "y" in "your". Since that's three symbols, it might count as being three syllables. I have no idea, actually.

Well I have definitely heard people saying it with something approaching three syllables - we have to accept both, ot I shall have to change the end of my name to 5 syllables..

Huh? I think the "ot" threw me off...

hmm, strange, how did I abreviate otherwise with ot?

What sort of typo is that, just forgetting more than 75 pe of a word?

I think you meant "or", which is often used as "otherwise", albeit a bit incorrectly.

"pe" indeed...

But I still don't get it. Change the last part of your name to five syllables? Huh? Now I'm probably just tired from practicing hiragana...

vogonpoetry,
Keeper of Balls in the Air,
hi-ah-ku/hi-ku

If we only allow one version of haiku, whats a guy to do?

As it is, the whole last line is subject to topical change, so it doesnt really matter that much.

Same goes for last syllable in first line, as my name is actualy vogonpoet, but a bit of poetic license had to be used...

Ah..

. Yes indeed, it was only after I noticed that I had inadvertently (or maybe it was a subconcious thing what with the huge amount of postings I have made to the haiku threads these last few weeks) applied to be a Keeper that involved the title, including keeper, to have 7 syllables.

After that I just couldnt resist

*thinks back to long ago read backlog* Your name is pronounced with 2 syllables didnt you say?

Yes, I tend to pronounce it eye-oth or yah-oth. I'm currently favouring yah-oth because it sounds cooler.

You could apply for a really short professorship. Professor of Gits, or something...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A542729

"Poems" has one syllable does it not ?

I'm not sure I qualify for a proffesorship though - I only do lymericks and haiku at the moment, and altough I do do a lot of them, would have to diversify to feel I was poetic enough to warrant being Proffesor of Poems.

Groovy idea though

Hmmmm... That depends. It can be pronounced like "poe" with an 'm' tacked on, "poe-um", or "poe-em", or even "paw-M" (like the French "poème").

I suggest "verse".

So verse is out of the question as well?

Simulpost, sorry

Wow, verse is perfect: Main objection to application was actually the fact that I couldnt use poems anyway as I already have poetry in my title, and it didnt scan right, but using verse is perfect - why the hell didnt I think abou that?

Alll that practice using my thesaurus like brain to write haiku, and I could only think of one "single" syllable word for poems.

maybe I apply despite this ommision - haiku name is very deep ambition for me

I think you should. Since I'm one of the mice over at the University of Mice, you can have your title in no time! Just follow the link above and apply in the "Apply for..." thread!