Proposal to modify GL 3.1 L3 SC3 - including definitions

Team B would like to propose a change to the wording of  GL 3.1 L3 SC3, A 
mechanism for finding the expanded form of acronyms and abbreviations is 
available [1].  Please review and provide comments.  We hope to discuss 
this proposal at the September 22, 2005 Working Group call (preferably in 
the first hour as I have to leave early). 

The current proposal is to remove the word acronym from the SC text since 
an acronym is a subset of abbreviation and to provide updated definitions 
of abbreviation, acronym and initialisms. 
<proposal for GL 3.1 L3 SC3>
A mechanism for finding the expanded form of abbreviations is available.
</proposal>

Based on the lengthy discussions of acronym and abbreviation on the list 
the following definitions are proposed.
<proposed definitions>
abbreviation -The shortened form of a word.  For example, "est." may be 
the abbreviation for the English words "established" or "estimate."  "Cie" 
is the abbreviation for the French word "compagnie" (company). 
Note: Acronyms and initialisms are types of abbreviations.

acronym -  An abbreviation made from the initial letters of a name that 
contains several words. Defined differently in different languages.  For 
example, NOAA is an abbreviation made from the initial letters of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States.

initialism - an unpronounceable abbreviation made from the initial letters 
of a name that contains several words.  Not defined in all languages. SNCF 
is a French initialism that contains the initial letters of the Societe 
National des Chemins de Fer, the French national railroad. 
</proposed definitions>

The definition of abbreviation is not changed from my original proposal 
[2] except for the addition of the note.  I did not know how to 
incorporate Christophe's two part definition from [3] since it did not 
seem appropriate to use the word "abbreviated" in the definition of 
"abbreviation".  The definition of acronym was  changed to state that it 
is defined differently in different languages and I replace the term 
"word" with abbreviation.   I added a definition for initialisms.


thanks,
-becky

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/#meaning-located
[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-gl/2005JulSep/0811.html
[3] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-gl/2005JulSep/0847.html

Becky Gibson
Web Accessibility Architect
                                                       
IBM Emerging Internet Technologies
5 Technology Park Drive
Westford, MA 01886
Voice: 978 399-6101; t/l 333-6101
Email: gibsonb@us.ibm.com

Received on Wednesday, 21 September 2005 21:24:16 UTC