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Perhaps even more pedantically, SQL is actually an abbreviation of an acronym. It was originally conceived as SEQUEL for Structured English QUEry Language[0], only being abbreviated to SQL for legal purposes (SEQUEL was already trademarked).

For this, and sheer convenience, I take the stance that it should always be pronounced as "sequel" rather than pronouncing each letter.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL#History



So, on top of this, they have since decided SQL is no longer Structured Query Language--it's just SQL.


Who's that? ANSI or ISO or someone else?

I skimmed the Wikipedia article and didn't notice any mention of removing the initialism. I did find a note that the original language standard did define the "es queue el" pronunciation, but since no one is standards compliant anyway, I think I'll still stick with "sequel" (:


I actually can't find a source. My professor told me back in the day, and that's all I have.

The talk page on Wikipedia has a lot of discussion, including a citation of a book, but I don't have the book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3ASQL#SQL_Acronym

Someone there also keeps saying that the second reference on the article explicitly says it's not an acronym, but the current second source explicitly says it is, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


I'm forced to disagree with you here. I take the stance that it should always be pronounced as "squirrel", because seriously, who doesn't like squirrels? :)


Tree rats. :-P


Thanks. That's my TIL for today.




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