| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Off topic: Sony cracks me up: Use your **** as a case Thread poster: Claudia Alvis
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Sony's marketing department is epic. How would you translate the name of this product?
This is a real product:
Soft Leather Carrying Case LCS-TWA/T Draw envious looks when you carry your Cyber-shot® W and T Series digital camera in the understated and elegant LCS-TWA/T carrying case.  The quiet elegance and understated portfolio design of the LCS-TWA/T carrying case will keep your Cyber-shot® W and T Series digital camera safe from bumps and scratches. There is an integrated belt loop for your convenience as well as a strong magnetic closure for quick access. The LCS-TWA is available in brown, black and red. Soft leather case for W series and T series Cyber-shot® Elegance design Leather case with belt loop
| | | | Marsha Way 
Mexico
Local time: 14:40
Spanish to English
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I can't believe someone didn't catch that! I guess upon translating either the letters would change, or even if it stayed the same, it wouldn't get the same reaction.
I guess we can put it up there with the "Nova" car that was not successful in Latin America, the "Bimbo" bread, but this is just so much more laughable!
| | | | Gerard de Noord
France
Local time: 22:40
Member (2003)
English to Dutch
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| Only available in brown, black and red? | Nov 6, 2007 |
No matching LCS-TWA/T for blondes?
Gerard
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 14:40
English to Spanish
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In memoriam
Which do you like best, American Airlines coffee or TWA tea?
Yet Bimbo bread remains very popular in both Mexico and the USA, and I recall Nova gasoline (Pemex) that was only 78 octane, but my old pickup ran fine on it (not so much power, but it was cheap!)
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Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 16:40
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
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| Oh my goodness... | Nov 7, 2007 |
It's been getting a fair amount of attention of blogs so I figured a swift name change would occur.
But I just checked the Sonystyle web site and it's still there.
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Marsha Way wrote:
I can't believe someone didn't catch that! I guess upon translating either the letters would change, or even if it stayed the same, it wouldn't get the same reaction.
I guess we can put it up there with the "Nova" car that was not successful in Latin America, the "Bimbo" bread, but this is just so much more laughable!
Marsha, please could you explain to someone with NSOH why Nova was funny in Latin America? (Or is it too rude for these columns?) I'm about to visit Mexico for the first time and feel I need to know.
Regards,
Jenny.
| | | | Claudia Alvis
Peru
Local time: 15:40
Member
Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Nova sounds like 'no va', which means 'it doesn't/won't go', and cars are supposed to go places
| | | | | Some examples | Nov 7, 2007 |
Japanese companies strike again. Other examples would be the Mazda Laputa, and the Nissan MOCO (which fortunately, as far as I now, where not sold in Spanish-speaking countries), and the best, the Mitshubishi Pajero, which had to be renamed as Mitsubishi Montero in Spain.
And then you have SANRIO (Hello Kitty) that according to the company is supposed to mean "Saint River" in Spanish (it should be "río santo", of course).
Narcis
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:40
Russian to English
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In memoriam | A useful present | Nov 7, 2007 |
There used to be a German brand of toilet paper called "BUM". Some friends visiting us in Germany bought several packs to give as presents to their friends.
| | | | | Sports gear shop in Strasbourg | Nov 7, 2007 |
Jack Doughty wrote:
There used to be a German brand of toilet paper called "BUM". Some friends visiting us in Germany bought several packs to give as presents to their friends.
Lovely! That reminds me, there's a smart sports gear shop in Strasbourg called "Athlete's Foot". Don't know whether it's still there.
Regards,
Jenny.
| | | | | There's a popular brand of smoked sausage in Italy called Wudy... | Nov 7, 2007 |
Unfortunately, they don't use Stiffi hauliers to deliver them!
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Claudia Alvis wrote: Nova sounds like 'no va', which means 'it doesn't/won't go', and cars are supposed to go places
In fact, the Chevy Nova sold quite well in Mexico and Venezuela. The occasional Nova can still be seen on the road here in Mexico City, more than 30 years after they stopped selling them; another piece of evidence supporting the claim that they were a popular car in their day.
The article linked above also includes a linguistic explanation of why Spanish speakers probably wouldn't associate "Nova" with "no va".
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| Athlete's Foot | Nov 7, 2007 |
Jenny Forbes wrote:
Lovely! That reminds me, there's a smart sports gear shop in Strasbourg called "Athlete's Foot". Don't know whether it's still there.
Regards,
Jenny.
Well, we are more lucky in Poland. Actually, Athlete's Foot is the name of a sports gear retail chain including 40 - 50 stores in 18 towns all over Poland. And the brand owners have not yet discovered the real meaning of the two words, I'm afraid.
Nevertheless, happy shopping!
Andrzej Mierzejewski
| | | | | On the contrary | Nov 8, 2007 |
Andrzej Mierzejewski wrote: Jenny Forbes wrote:
Lovely! That reminds me, there's a smart sports gear shop in Strasbourg called "Athlete's Foot". Don't know whether it's still there.
Regards,
Jenny. Well, we are more lucky in Poland. Actually, Athlete's Foot is the name of a sports gear retail chain including 40 - 50 stores in 18 towns all over Poland. And the brand owners have not yet discovered the real meaning of the two words, I'm afraid .
Well, in this case I think the name was chosen on purpose - as a play on words, a marketing tool, whatever. It's a US chain with corporate headquarters in Norcross, GA and stores in almost every major shopping mall on the East coast (and probably all over the country) and I'm sure the founders knew the actual meaning of athlete's foot... In this case it didn't stop the chain from branching/franchising out all over the world.
Best,
Barbara
| | | | Maciek Drobka
Poland
Local time: 22:40
Member (2006)
English to Polish
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| Funny bulb name... | Nov 8, 2007 |
Here's one more from Poland.
The light bulb brand name Osram sounds funny in Polish, as it sound exactly the same as the Polish for 'I will s**t on [sth]'.
There's even a joke about it. (Which I suppose will not be nearly as funny when translated into English.)
A man walks into an electric shop and asks, 'Got any light bulbs?' The shop assistant says, 'Yes. Will Osram do?' [Bear in mind, in Polish it sounds 'Will "I will s**t on it" do?'] To which the custo... See more Here's one more from Poland.
The light bulb brand name Osram sounds funny in Polish, as it sound exactly the same as the Polish for 'I will s**t on [sth]'.
There's even a joke about it. (Which I suppose will not be nearly as funny when translated into English.)
A man walks into an electric shop and asks, 'Got any light bulbs?' The shop assistant says, 'Yes. Will Osram do?' [Bear in mind, in Polish it sounds 'Will "I will s**t on it" do?'] To which the customer responds, 'No, give me a regular bulb, I will s**t on it myself.'
No, it doesn't sound funny.
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