RTE usgae of the term "Astronomist"

I've experienced RTE using this term before - and it annoys me.

If we wish to market our intellectual portfolio then I suggest that RTE is letting us down.

What is an "astronomist"?

www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0514/media-3286480.html#

Mark C (very angry)

[Sorry posted to wrong group - not immediately sure how to correct]

Apparently the term "astronomist" is occasionally used, though additional terminology is rarely a good thing. Perhaps the guy they were describing in the news item styles himself as an astonomist?

Mike

mykc wrote: Apparently the term "astronomist" is occasionally used, though additional terminology is rarely a good thing. Perhaps the guy they were describing in the news item styles himself as an astonomist?

Mike

It may be a product of the early days of the psuedosciences of astrology and economics, both fields rarely predicting the future. Take an "Astrologer" and combine it with an " Economist" and hey presto you have an Astronomist.

I was called an "Astronomist" on RTE radio 1 once. But I didn't have the heart to correct them.

It's pretty poor form for the nation's broadcaster to get that kind of terminology wrong. Next, it'll be Geographists and Economers...

Language evolves. In my day job I used to be a Broadcast Engineer, but I'm now a Broadcast Technologist! However there's a reason for that in that I do IT stuff as well as Broadcast stuff. Unless there's a difference between an Astronomer and an Astronomist then I don't see the need for a new word.

Paul.

haha, what will they come up with next , an astronomologist or astronomiser maybe ? :lol: :lol: