COSC or C.O.S.C

Discuss Christopher Ward watches
User avatar
senna2000
Junior
Junior
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 2:00 pm
CW-watches: 4

COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by senna2000 »

Hi, can anyone settle an arguement?

I recently bought a watch from Mallroy's in Bath and I was wearing my 2015 C70 GB1926 Chronometer, in British Racing Green.

I showed it to the salesguy and I said it was a C.O.S.C and he mentioned/pronounced it 'COSC", as in a word, not pronouncing the letters individually.

So which is it?

COSC or C-O-S-C?

Thanks in advance! :?
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33784
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Tomayto or Tomarto?

CONtroversy or conTROVersy?

Eether (or Eyether) is acceptable, I think.

I say KOSK as a word but I know at least one other forum moderator who says SEE-OH-ESS-SEE! :D

Oh and by the way CW, it’s still deployant clasp, not deployment! :lol:
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
jimbo
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1793
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:36 pm
CW-watches: 3
Location: New Forest, England (Earth)

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by jimbo »

We are English old boy it's a Tomarto ! :)
Remember...your left hand has the thumb on the right hand side
User avatar
strapline
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2328
Joined: Tue May 07, 2019 3:00 pm
CW-watches: 0
Location: SW Ireland

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by strapline »

You could just refer to it as a chronometer...or even a c.h.r.o.n.o.m.e.t.e.r :lol: :lol:
Does melancholy count as two of your five daily servings?
User avatar
senna2000
Junior
Junior
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 2:00 pm
CW-watches: 4

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by senna2000 »

Ok, well I think I'll sway towards KOSK! Quicker to say. Less to remember too! THANKS!!!!

But if I say Chronometer, do I Chro-NOMator or Chron-o-metre? ;-)
User avatar
jkbarnes
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 7851
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 8:39 pm
CW-watches: 3
Location: Virginia, USA

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by jkbarnes »

My first wife and I went round and round about pronunciations. She pronounced it "MAR-iage."

But I pronounced it "you-evil-harpee-you-ruined-my-life." She just couldn't get past our difference on that one.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I'll show myself out.... :escape:

For the record, I've always said "kosk" rather than pronounce the letters individually (while wondering if that was correct)
Drew
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 35154
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
CW-watches: 34
LE-three: 1
LE-foura: 1
LE-fourb: 1
LE-six: 1
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

As COSC is an acronym for the organization's French language name, Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres I reckon it ought to be pronounced as C-O-S-C.

After all we, here in UK (pronounced U-K, not uk), always refer to the N-H-S or the R-A-F not raf.

Several of our Stateside friends are former US Marines, pronounced U-S Marines not us Marines; as opposed to them Marines. :lol:

Enough? That said I often in discussion use 'kosk'. :-#

Oh, the nuances of the English language.

Guy
In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33784
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

I assume you pronounce NASA like the former Egyptian president and NATO as a two syllable word?
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
Thegreyman
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 12065
Joined: Sat May 21, 2016 3:45 pm
CW-watches: 6
Location: Edinburgh

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by Thegreyman »

Do you pronounce an acronym as if it were a word or spell out the individual letters P-O-T-U-S or POTUS (other five letter words are available :silent: ). A bit of a moot point really, isn't it :?
Patrick

C60 Pro 300, C60 Sunrise, C63 Sealander Lucerne blue LE, C65 Dartmouth, W11 Amelia (wife), C63 Sealander (son)

Some others + a few on the way
User avatar
senna2000
Junior
Junior
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 2:00 pm
CW-watches: 4

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by senna2000 »

Ok, well I can see both sides, so perhaps I was correct when I said C.O.S.C. originally. But I am lazy, so COSC is the easy way out! :thumbup:

Sorry for throwing this grenade! :escape:
User avatar
tikkathree
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 7362
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:21 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: East Anglia - arr 'aas right buh

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by tikkathree »

I think you should allow the sales guy to use his version: and you use yours. Whichever way round it was.

Next time you see him, ask him what the acronym stands for and when he says the words, you say "No, no, the -4/+6 tolerance"!

Or you could pick him up on his French pronunciation Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres?

Me? Oh the one syllable version every time hahahaha
C60 MKI, MKII, MKIII: "some",
C6 & C60 Kingfishers,
C600 Tritechs,
C63 "some",
C65 "some",
C4, C40, C8, C9, C3, C5, C20 & 23FLE
Some other brands
albionphoto
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2390
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2015 11:07 pm
CW-watches: 10
Location: New Jersey

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by albionphoto »

I would say kosk but know it is a proper acronym and not an abbreviation. Perhaps someone should be brave enough to "do a Scottish Watches" and phone them up and see how they answer the phone. I suspect the official version will be Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres but let's face it there's no way I'm saying that every time.
Mark
Bremont, Casio, Citizen, Christopher Ward, Chronotechna, Mido, Omega and Oris
User avatar
Clach77
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 2510
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:40 am
CW-watches: 24
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-fourb: yes
Location: Wasting time on here.

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by Clach77 »

senna2000 wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:33 pm Ok, well I can see both sides, so perhaps I was correct when I said C.O.S.C. originally. But I am lazy, so COSC is the easy way out! :thumbup:

Sorry for throwing this grenade! :escape:
This is an interesting thread. As something I’d only ever seen written down, I’d no idea how others referred to it.
Trying not to buy any more watches...
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33784
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

I think it depends to some extent on whether or not it CAN sound like a word. COSC can, NATO can and so on. Something like GBH, NHS etc. can't really.

USA, UK? They would sound silly, though "UCK" might be a good description especially when considering the weather. IWC would be a bit creepy too (EEOOK?). Though a German speaker would say "Ivécé" which sounds OK. (Or is it OCK?)

US States? I sometimes have to stop and think when I see abbreviations (on here at times). TX, CA, NY etc. no problem. I assume that any American would look at Austin, TX and say Texas rather than "TKS"? MA and ME always confuse me if I don't recognise the city (i.e. if it's not Boston or Bangor :lol:)

UK counties: we used to use some weird abbreviations but they are seen less frequently these days: Oxon, Beds, Bucks, Berks, Lancs, Middx, etc.

Syllabic Acronyms: think Geheime StaatsPolizei (Gestapo) ; KriminalPolizei (Kripo)...and of course the communist Politburo.

It's starting to creep in here with the dreaded government offices: OFSTED, OFTEL, OFWAT etc. I really hate those with a passion!
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
H0rati0
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2314
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2018 7:49 am
CW-watches: 4
Location: Alpenvorland

Re: COSC or C.O.S.C

Post by H0rati0 »

IMHO both are totally acceptable, nothing to trigger the "OCD" :lol: Pays yer money....
"There is no beginning to enlightenment and no end to training" - Dogen Zenji (1200-1253)
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post