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jot

English translation: j

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:jot
English translation:j

12:08 Aug 23, 2001
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
German term or phrase: jot
i am processing some german maps from WWII into the map collection at the University of Iowa. maps usually have a letter/number code that identifies them on a gridded index. in "j"s case, the term "jot" is used instead. (e.g. jot/34; k/25) i am curious about the rationale for using "jot" rather than simply "j".
effe
"jot" is how "J" is pronounced as a single letter in German
Explanation:
Depending on the character set(s) used, as well as to avoid misreading the map under wartime conditions (imagine badly lit areas in a hide-out, close to enemy lines, no lights allowed, since you do not want to give away your position, moonlight must provide sufficient light to read the map and provide the artillery with targetting information - you're in i/24, the enemy is in j/24 - and you for some odd reason would prefer your own artillery hitting the enemy, rather than you). Almost all other letters are sufficiently distinct and also sufficiently separated in the alphabet, but i and j are next to each other, thus making it too risky in a war to end up with false information.

HTH
Selected response from:

Roland Grefer
Local time: 04:53
Grading comment
Your examples and situational context were greatly appreciated! I feel as if I myself am searching over maps by moonlight...not only informational but poetic as well. thanks again! Sorry also for not grading on time...the accept button was in a different language so i thought that it spelled out disagree.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
na +2Jot is German "j"
Parrot
na"jot" is how "J" is pronounced as a single letter in German
Roland Grefer


  

Answers


25 mins peer agreement (net): +2
Jot is German "j"


Explanation:
and was also used for the initials of persons (Kommandant "Jot" Tuinman). Apart from that, I don't see the mystery...

Parrot
Spain
Local time: 10:53
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 315

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  lkoch99: possibly also so it wouldn't be confused with I, which sometimes was written with a J-like curve to it
2 mins
agree  Jenniclair: Like Lawrence, I would say so it wasn't confused with I
2 hrs
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3 hrs
"jot" is how "J" is pronounced as a single letter in German


Explanation:
Depending on the character set(s) used, as well as to avoid misreading the map under wartime conditions (imagine badly lit areas in a hide-out, close to enemy lines, no lights allowed, since you do not want to give away your position, moonlight must provide sufficient light to read the map and provide the artillery with targetting information - you're in i/24, the enemy is in j/24 - and you for some odd reason would prefer your own artillery hitting the enemy, rather than you). Almost all other letters are sufficiently distinct and also sufficiently separated in the alphabet, but i and j are next to each other, thus making it too risky in a war to end up with false information.

HTH

Roland Grefer
Local time: 04:53
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 231
Grading comment
Your examples and situational context were greatly appreciated! I feel as if I myself am searching over maps by moonlight...not only informational but poetic as well. thanks again! Sorry also for not grading on time...the accept button was in a different language so i thought that it spelled out disagree.
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