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Re^3: Ressources for Acme namespace cultural implicationsby afoken (Chancellor) |
on Jan 10, 2021 at 17:02 UTC ( [id://11126710]=note: print w/replies, xml ) | Need Help?? |
in the same way nowadays we can address to a fast car as a Ferrari, or to a genial people as an Einstein. Not so much in my enviroment. But there are other examples for what I think is the same effect:
The Fön brand is a little bit unusual in my list. All other examples are still recognized as brand names, but Fön is not. It became a common word like radio or bread. Only experts still know it is a brand name that may get you in trouble when using it for hairdryers. The Fön / Foen brand was registered in 1909, bought in 1957 by AEG, sold including AEG in 1996 to Electrolux. While it is still in use, it is no longer aggressively used in marketing. Asking for a Kärcher in a shop will get you a Kärcher machine, and nothing else. Asking for a Walkman will very likely get you a Sony machine. Asking for a Tempo might get you some cheap clone, especially outside shops. Asking for a Fön will get you any hair dryer, rarely one made by Electrolux. The German orthography reform of 1996 changed the official spelling from Fön (the brand) to Föhn (like the wind Fön was named after). This might avoid brand name issues, and the context usually is so clear that you won't confuse the wind with the hair dryer. Alexander
-- Today I will gladly share my knowledge and experience, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so". ;-)
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