Talk:Phi

Phi in First-order Logic

This Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predicate_calculus shows Phi being used to represent a sentance. I was just reading about it, so someone more knowledgable should fix the entry. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.180.204.245 (talk) 17:25, 29 July 2011 (UTC)

Pronunciation

The article says it's pronouced fee, but every lecturer and school teacher I've ever had (in Physics, Maths and Computer Science) has pronounced it fie. Does anyone know why this is? Is it an English vs. Greek vs. American difference in pronunciation? -- Karl Naylor 14:35, 23 May 2004 (UTC)

I have researched this pronunciation over the last several weeks pretty extensively (because somehow I have an itch that just must be scratched). The references I have found are distributed fairly evenly across three groups: 'fee', 'fie', and 'both'. Generally, those references that claim authority in a scientific or mathematical context generally claim 'fee'. Those references that are authoritative in Greek language studies claim either 'fie' or 'both'. In my college experience (math, physics, computer science), most instructors or professors used 'fee'. However, and curiously, many times the same instructors would pronounce the names of certain Greek association houses as 'fie', as in Phi Beta Kappa. Personally, I prefer 'fie' although in any case, I think the article should mention both pronunciations as being acceptable, depending upon context. -- Jim Richins, 29 June 2004

Everyone I know says fee, except my older brother who says fie, but hes a loser, so dont mind him. Fie as in pi & chi &c., but fee to be cool and know what you're talking about. daesotho 20:25, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)

"Fee" is the actual Greek pronunciation (written φι, I believe). I've heard it pronounced both ways, but probably more commonly as "fee" in an academic setting. For what it's worth, the American Heritage Dictionary gives both pronunciations. Merriam-Webster gives only "fye". Personally, I say "fee", but to each one's own. Caesura 02:42, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC)

"Fie" is more common in .uk/.au/.nz English (in particular in mathematics, engineering and science done there). Don't remember what they say in .ca. Actually going by national stereotypes, koowoos would pronounce it "Foo" and Canadians "Feh?", but that's another story. Andrew Kepert 05:53, 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Anyone who doesn't know where 'fie' comes from should read about the Great Vowel Shift. ፈቃደ (ውይይት) 17:04, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

Maybe the source of confusion is that a word spelled "fie" or "fye" or "f'eye" (or whatever else) could be pronounced in a number of ways. Using IPA might clear things up a bit.

This dispute can be settled by noting the visual similarity between phi and theta; as the former resembles the latter turned sideways, it's known to some students as "gangsta theta". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.95.38.204 (talk) 03:52, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

I generally associate the "fie" people with mathematics and comp. sci., while "fee" with classicists. As a person who did a significant amount of stradling between those two worlds, I actually pronounce them differently depending on whether I am reciting the alphabet (fee), or reading about the golden ratio (fie). I also pronounce ξ, ψ, χ and π as "ksee", "psee", "khee" and "pee". VI_WS ^talk 03:39, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

Orphan question

i Have a question what are the unusual relationships to moderm times? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kimon (talk • contribs) 17:26, 29 July 2011 (UTC)