Microsoft (Japan) Drops One Way for Another to Write "Computer"

朝日新聞（電子版）によると、マイクロソフトの日本法人が「computer」のカタカナ表記を「コンピュータ」から「コンピューター」に変更するという。歓迎する。エンジニアリング系翻訳者たちの日本語は、どの文章も取説風で読みにくいことが多いだけでなく、用語表記が特異。「普通の日本語として読める文章」が書けない人もいらっしゃる。自分のように、仕事上、産業翻訳に半分足をつっこんでいた者にとって、大きな不満の種だったので、この変更はうれしいことだ。「アップル・コンピュータ」が、社名変更ですでに「アップル」になっており、「コンピュータ」の命は短い。

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Today (Friday), I went over to the ICA for a stay extension as there had been no answer on my EP application. At the enquiry counter, my information was checked and I was told that I needed to go to the Ministry of Manpower for my request. It seems the ICA shares information with MOM and certainly knows my status, but I was rounded to Havelock. At MOM, I was given a two-week extension. I may have to visit MOM again before I get any answer from the ICA.

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I brought home a DVD of Verdi’ s “Messa Da Requiem” (Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Alla Scala, conducted by Herbert von Karajan). In this 1967 recording, Luciano Pavarotti is shaven, and his hairstyle is, as the Japanese would say, divided “seven-to-three.”