Microphone versus Macrophone: Let's Clarify.
 

I was thinking about microphones today, and I think they have the wrong name. Let's break down the word, using definitions from the Merriam-Webster (online) dictionary:

"Phone" - : sound <homophone> —often in names of musical instruments and sound-transmitting devices <radiophone> <xylophone>

"Micro" - very small

So "microphone" translates to "very small sound".

According to this site: http://inventors.about.com/od/wstart...Wheatstone.htm, Sir Charles Wheaton invented the term "microphone" in 1827.

My thinking is that the object we currently call a microphone should actually be called a macrophone. This isn't to fault Sir Charles because the term "macro-" apparently didn't come into being until 1923.

Let's define "macro", again according to Merriam-Webster:

"Macro" - of, involving, or intended for use with relatively large quantities or on a large scale


So...

"Macrophone" = large quantity of sound.

"Microphone" = very small sound

It's pretty obvious to me that we need to start making this transition.

The large sound doesn't come out of the microphone...

Its not about the sound at all, the Microphone doesn't even produce the sound. Its about the actual item in your hand.

I'm guessing that whatever they used to pick up sound waves and transmit it to some kind of speaker or phonograph or something a long time ago was rather large.

It comes out of the macrofier, but the truth is that the macrophone is part of the macrofication system.

No macro before 1923!

I think it's more of a microphone because the device goes from large to small as to funnel the sound so it can be transmitted and either recorded or amplified.

With that said...
While a lot of words used for ambiguous concepts are sacred, this one's not. I'll let it change if people want to change it.

I will only call it a macrophone, if everyone else does it. I do not want to look and sound stupid when I refer my friends to my fancy new macrophone.

Macros aren't getting enough carries.

While we are at it, let's rename microwaves, micro-machines,and microbursts.

While we're at it, let's make sure that Herm=suck.

Micro and Mega...

http://seedmagazine.com/images/uploads/megaphone.jpg