• Some arguments that people keep bringing up that are all wrong and carry zero weight in this discussion:

    • The creator says it’s JIF
    • It’s like Gift, but without the T
    • It’s like Giraffe, but without the raffe
    • It stands for “Graphics Interchange Format” so it’s GIF
    • My dictionary says it’s GIF
    • My dictionary says it’s JIF
    • Obama says it’s GIF
    • Giphy says it’s GIF

    Ultimately, language is very dynamic and changes all the time. Words change their spelling, their meaning and their pronunciation too. Dictionaries tend to lag behind a little bit, but the fact that they publish a new version every year signifies how much languages change. The creator of a word can coin a pronunciation, but ultimately has zero control over whether it will be adopted or not.

    So therefore whichever way most people actually pronounce it is by definition the correct pronunciation. And the polls done on this subject are pretty clear, showing that GIF is the preferred pronunciation, chosen by up to 70% in North America and over 80% in Australia and the UK. This depends on which poll you use, but in general the split is at least 2:1 in favour of GIF, and over time the usage of GIF tends to trend up over time.

    So ultimately, the one true pronunciation is GIF, as decided by the people as a whole. However, most dictionaries do list JIF as an accepted alternative pronunciation, due to the not insignificant minority pronouncing it that way.

    In other words, just choose which pronunciation you prefer, and use that. And try to avoid the pointless debates people like to have on the subject, filled with arguments that don’t carry any weight whatsoever.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      210 months ago

      It’s funny reading this with the soft-g pronunciation and imagining you arguing with yourself saying, “it’s gif! No, gif! No, gif!”

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      -1
      edit-2
      10 months ago

      I wouldn’t say the arguments are all wrong and carry zero weight. How are you so sure that these arguments haven’t swayed the majority towards one side or the other? These arguments are happening between actual people (I’ve heard normal people discuss this outside of online communities), possibly shaping their opinions, and could be what’s shaping those 70/80% numbers.

      • @Coehl
        link
        English
        4
        edit-2
        10 months ago

        deleted by creator

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          410 months ago

          No view lost lol what are you talking about, both ways are correct, but it’s fun to give the others shit about it, it’s just like rooting for your basketball team

          • @Coehl
            link
            English
            4
            edit-2
            10 months ago

            deleted by creator