A telecommunications device that compresses audio signals during transmission and expands them upon reception to improve signal quality.
A portmanteau of 'compress' and 'expander,' created in the mid-20th century as electronics terminology. The device literally compresses, then expands—the word structure mirrors its function perfectly.
Compander is a modern technical word that shows how English creates new vocabulary by blending old words—similar to 'brunch' or 'smog,' companders were essential for early phone systems, allowing voices to travel further without distortion.
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