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Discussion on: I am a web developer, hard of hearing, and an a11y advocate, Ask Me Anything!

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cookrdan profile image
Dan

Not a joke question. I’ve only seen the term a11y online and have never heard it pronounced. How does one say it?

“Eh one one wai”?
“Eh eleven wai”?

Thanks for the post. Important stuff! I have a friend whose parents are both deaf and a great amount of things in their life revolve around using the internet well.

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ashleemboyer profile image
Ashlee (she/her)

Dan, I have no idea to be completely honest. 🤣 I say it like the word "ally". That makes it have a double meaning, I think.

I'm glad you have been around people that were able to give you some insight into the world of being disabled. A lot of people just don't know until they're told about things. It's so easy to take things for granted.

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mikesherov profile image
Mike Sherov

I think because i18n is “eye-eighteen-en” and l10n is “ell-ten-en”, I’ve always said it as “Ay-eleven-why”

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ashleemboyer profile image
Ashlee (she/her)

Hmmm good points. Who is the expert on this? Hahaha.

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cookrdan profile image
Dan

Maybe no one is...not even the people that made the word up!

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wrenbjor profile image
Wayne

So just like the other acronyms it would be "Eh Eleven why" but whenever used in conversation I as at Ally or just Accessibility.

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citguy profile image
Ryan Johnson

Fun Fact: it's called a "numeronym" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numeronym)

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cookrdan profile image
Dan

I didn’t know of this!! Thank you!

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cookrdan profile image
Dan • Edited

I think in my head when I read a11y I’m going to stick with “alevenie” from now on. With the a being like in a in Apple. (Until someone informs me otherwise lol)

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duttaoindril profile image
Oindril Dutta

It stands for accessibility. That's how you say it. Count the letters.

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ashleemboyer profile image
Ashlee (she/her)

We know what it stands for. It’s not uncommon for people to say and use shortened versions of words.

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duttaoindril profile image
Oindril Dutta

Oh ok sorry, I've never said "ally" or "I 18 N", so I thought everybody just said accessibility and Internationalization (god that's a long word) out loud.

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ashleemboyer profile image
Ashlee (she/her)

I’ve definitely heard people say “eye-18-en”, so that’s why we’re all confused! It looks like the word “ally”, but “aye-11-why” also seems like it works too. We need an expert here haha!

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ashleemboyer profile image
Ashlee (she/her)

I found a thing! If you scroll about halfway down this page, it tells you how "a11y" is pronounced.

a11yproject.com/posts/a11y-and-oth...

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cookrdan profile image
Dan

:O
The plot thickens!

This is informative! Thank you!