Why Does BBC Radio UK Insist on Calling Zero as if It Were a Letter?

Have you ever listened to the song 'Pennsylvania 6-5000' by Glenn Miller? At the fourth recitation, the number is pronounced as 'Six Five Oh Oh Oh' instead of 'Six Five Zero Zero Zero'. This is not unique to the British; American colleagues have never used 'zero' in place of 'O' when discussing phone numbers.

Why Use Two Syllables When One Is Sufficient?

One might ask, why use two syllables when 'O' would suffice? While it's possible to use 'nought' as an alternative, the use of 'O' instead of 'zero' or 'nought' seems redundant.

Examples and Context

Typically, saying a phone number like '020 7123 4567' sounds quite odd, as it’s more common to say 'Oh' for each '0'. For instance, the famous spy code '007' in James Bond's introduction would have a different charm if he used 'Zero Zero Seven' instead, which could impact the mystique associated with the character.

The comparison can be drawn with another example: a dog's name spelled as 'd0g' using the letter 'O' instead of zero. The term zero is used for the digit, whereas 'O' is used for the alphabetic letter. Despite the interchangeability, the use of 'O' for zero can come across as unintelligent in a prestigious organization like the BBC UK.

BBC's Practices and Broadcasting Standards

It is observed that the BBC follows a specific practice of using the correct term for numbers when broadcasting numbers on its regular channels in the UK, but switches to using 'O' for zero in its World Service broadcasts. For example, a phone number like 020 7123 4567 was once heard on Radio 4's The World at One but was corrected to 'O', not 'zero'.

One might wonder if the BBC is catering to the ordinary British by using the incorrect spoken term for the integer zero on its regular channels. It could be argued that the preference for mediocrity in language usage is due to the avoidance of z, a letter associated with Nazi Germany, which might still stir memories of World War I and II among many English people.

Impact on Linguistic Accuracy

The use of 'O' in place of zero, the Arabic numeral, when quoting a number remains incorrect. Similarly, the use of terms like FM, AM, and LW for radio frequencies are also imprecise. The term AM means Amplitude Modulation, which is an inclusive term for medium wave, long wave, and several short wave bands. People often mean the medium wave band when they use the term amplitude modulation.

These linguistic practices in UK media can contribute to the degradation of the English language. It is imperative to avoid linguistic laziness and ensure precision in the language used, especially from organizations like the BBC, which sets a standard for the nation.

Conclusion

The choice of pronunciation for numbers by BBC Radio is not just about clarity but also about cultural and linguistic standards. While the use of 'O' in place of zero might seem harmless, it can contribute to a decline in linguistic accuracy. It is important for broadcasters and other media organizations to maintain the highest standards of linguistic correctness to preserve the richness and precision of the English language.