Remove FAQ reference to "basil" (the herb)

[geary]

The FAQ entry "How do you pronounce 'Bazel'" says it's pronounced the same as "basil" (the herb), and then gives the "BAY-zel" pronunciation.

This makes things hopelessly confusing, as basil can be correctly pronounced either to rhyme with "hazel" or to rhyme with "frazzle". In fact, many dictionaries list the "rhymes with frazzle" pronunciation first, with "rhymes with hazel" as a secondary pronunciation:

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/basil

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basil

So I removed the "basil" reference entirely to avoid this confusion.

[philwo]

Thank you for noticing and clearing up this confusion! 😊

[aiuto]

The question we have to ask ourselves is if the tongue in cheek meaning was intentional or not. I personally pronounce it both ways almost every time I talk about it.

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On Wed, Sep 1, 2021 at 2:05 PM Michael Geary ***@***.***> wrote: @geary <https://github.com/geary> requested your review on: #323 <#323> Remove FAQ reference to "basil" (the herb) as a code owner. — You are receiving this because your review was requested. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#323 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAXHHHALLLWYEN7CVA63YRTT7ZTPDANCNFSM5DHBFEVQ> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[aiuto]

The more I think about it, the more I think "basil" is appropriate. We used a basil leaf as our logo. There was a push to call Starlark Pesto. We pronounce bazelisk like the mythical creature, which as the frazzle use of the 'a'.
Perhaps we change it to
"It is pronounced however you would pronounce the herb, basil."
And leave it for the reader to decide.

[philwo]

We pronounce bazelisk like the mythical creature, which as the frazzle use of the 'a'.

Wait, ... I thought it's pronounced "BAY-zelisk". 🤣

[jin]

I propose to keep the basil reference, for its heritage:

Although I agree with adding the IPA reference!

[larsrc-google]

I agree on keeping the basil reference for historical reasons. As long as we don't reference Basil from Faulty Towers.

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-Lars

On Fri, 3 Sept 2021 at 11:47, Jin ***@***.***> wrote: I propose to keep the basil reference, for its heritage: [image: image] <https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/347918/131985835-1a772027-6ad5-424b-a180-df6eb03c55c8.png> Although I agree with adding the IPA reference! — You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#323 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABXTMK4XLR3GGTXFCPJNGMDUACKR3ANCNFSM5DHBFEVQ> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[geary]

In a funny coincidence, we made a nice fresh basil tomato sauce with spaghetti for dinner tonight.

You all got me thinking: we should have some fun with this. I generally favor a serious - or at least not too frivolous - tone in software documentation. But you have to admit that "how do you pronounce Bazel" is a rather frivolous question - and I mean that in a good way.

Being the last entry in the FAQ, it's a perfect place to add a touch of humor, and a mouthwatering photo. See how you feel (not how you think!) about this...

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How do you pronounce “Bazel”?

Some call it BAY-zul,
And rhyme it with hazel.
Others say BAA-zul,
And rhyme it with dazzle.

Basil's delicious,
With pasta or fishes.
However you say it,
You have our best wishes.

It's great with to-MAY-to.
Or is it to-MAH-to?

[geary]

If that poem wasn't bad enough, I have a few more ideas for you, some poetic, some prosaic.

We have a long weekend here, so will get back to you on them as I can. A couple of quick thoughts...

Isn't that a great photo of the basil and tomatoes? And it has has the most open license I've seen on a photography site. I linked it to the original photo, which links to the license page.

Putting my money where my mouth is, if we do use that photo, I will personally make a donation to the photographer.

Next, it is definitely not a given that someone would pronounce Bazel and basil the same. You may pronounce the herb BAY-zul but pronounce the build system BAA-zul because that's how you've heard all your coworkers say it. Or vice versa!

Some even use a soft "s" in "basil", whichever way they pronounce the "a".

As an anecdotal data point, I pronounce both basil and Bazel "BAY-zul", but I pronounce Roko's eternal nightmare "BASS-uh-lisk".

Go figure!