Language focus 1: Acronyms

(Initialisms)
1. Definition and pronunciation of acronyms
An acronym is an abbreviated form of a phrase that consists of first
(initial) letters of words that make up a phrase, for example DVD-ROM is
an acronym for digital versatile disc read only memory'. Although the
term acronym originally referred only to abbreviations pronounced as
words, such as LASER or RADAR, initialisms and acronyms are now often
used synonymously regardless of the pronunciation. Lots of acronyms are
frequently used as independent lexical items, e.g. as nouns and as such
can be used in plural (e.g. MP3s, DVDs).
To be able to pronounce English acronyms, you must know the English
alphabet well.

2. Some frequently used acronyms

1. Consider the acronyms in the table on the following page.
a. Which are pronounced as one syllable (word)?
b. In which acronyms is each letter pronounced separately?
c. Which acronyms are combination of a. and b.?

Handout 1b, Engleski jezik 1-PITUP (NP)

IT

IMF

IS

PDA

ATM

AOB

DB

EPOS

URL

CV

GDP

PA

B2B

SME

C2C

LCD

AKA

ISP

ICT

ECTS

HQ

ECDL

S&T

TBD

VAT

EDP

USB

CPU

OCR

IQ

p.a.

BS&IS-

BT

HDTV

EU

OS

M
WTO

Cc.

CEO

R&D

ROM
MSDO
S

GUI
WLAN

CAD
JPEG

CAM
PIN
CD-ROM LDAP

2.1. Phrases behind acronyms

1. How many phrases that are related to acronyms in the table above can
you identify in the following sequence of letters?

ANYOTHERBUSINESSSMALLANDMEDIUMENTERPRISESPER
SONALDIGITALASSISTANTTOBEDONEGRAPHICALUSERINT
ERFACEBUSINESSTOBUSINESSCUSTOMERTOCUSTOMEREX
CESSIVEDEFICITPROCEDUREELECTRONICPOINTOFSALECH
IEFEXECUTIVEOFFICEROPTICALCHARACTERRECOGNITION
PERANNUMVALUEADDEDTAXPERSONALIDENTIFICATIONN
Handout 1b, Engleski jezik 1-PITUP (NP)

UMBEREUROPEANCOMPUTERDRIVINGLICENSEBRITISHTEL
ECOMGROSSDOMESTICPRODUCTCURRICULUMVITAEWORL
DTRADEORGANIZATION

3. Interpreting acronyms
In interpreting an acronym, you can use the phrases below.
IT stands for information technology.
liquid crystal display.

LCD refers to

3.1. Complete the phrases in the list with the missing word/s and match
them with the appropriate acronym from page 13. Some examples have
been done.
1. Information ______________ = IS
2. Universal Serial _____________ = USB
3. Database / data base = DB
4. Internet ________________

P_______________

5. _________________ Resource Locator =

6. Computer-Aided __________________ / Design =
/
7. ____________quarters =
8. ________________ assistant =
9. Read-Only ____________ =
10.

Intelligence ________________ =

11.

Operating _______________

12.

Central _____________ Unit =

13.

_________________

Handout 1b, Engleski jezik 1-PITUP (NP)

___________________ = EU
10

14.

(Wireless) Local _____________ Network =

15.

_____________________ and Development =

16.

International __________________ Fund =

17.

Also __________________ as =

18.

European __________________ Transfer System =

19.

High-Definition ____________________ =

20.

____________________ Teller Machine =

21.

________________ and Communications ____________________ =

22.
____________________ System and ____________________ System
Modelling =
23.

______________ Copy = Cc.

24.

__________________ and _________________ = S&T

25.

_________________ Monetary _______________ =

Handout 1b, Engleski jezik 1-PITUP (NP)

11