Re: HUMOUR: interesting tidbits from the marketing world

On Fri, 29 Sep 2000, Jörg Rhiemeier wrote:

>Jonathan Chang wrote:
>>
>>     Some of you may have seen these before...
>> but some of you probably have not seen all of these.
>>     I think this is interesting in regards to translation (and
>> cultural sensibilities/sensitivities...)
>>     OBCONLANG: Any similar humourous ConLang items like these?
>> Any unfortunate Coca-Cola ad campaigns in your conculture, hehe?
>>
>> TOP TEN MARKETING GOOFS
>
>[snip]
>
>Not a marketing goof, but a funny coincidence is the following:
>
>In the east of Kemr (the country in alternative history Britain where
>Brithenig, Nur-ellen and several other conlangs are spoken), there is
>a city named Tavrob`l (Tafrobl in Brithenig spelling),
>which is Nur-ellen and means "forest town".
>According to Padraic Brown, the name means "handsome bull" in Kerno
>(another language spoken in Kemr).
>
>Both conlangs were designed completely independently from each other.
>I didn't know about Kerno when inventing Nur-ellen, and Padraic didn't
>know about Nur-ellen when inventing Kerno.
>Neither of the two conlangs was designed a priori: Kerno is Romance,
>while Nur-ellen is based on Sindarin.
Right enough!

One source of humour enjoyed by Kerno speakers at the expence of
Brithenig and English speakers is that the word "resaurant"
(rhestawrant, I think, in Brithenig; rhestaurant, I think, in Kerno)
does not mean a cheap place to eat. The Kernow have il pub or la
tawerna for that. Rather, they get a cheap giggle when tourists ask
for a good restaurant, on account of the fact that in Kerno it means a
sexual revitaliser (a la Viagra, etc.) So everyone gets a laugh out of
Longshanks Takeaway adverts on BBC's Brithenig language radio, where
the fellow says: "So, what did you think of _that_ restaurant, dear?"
And she answers: "Well, it didn't do much for me, luv. Next time,
let's try Longshank's!"

As far as Coca cola is concerned, there's always the possibility of
calling it "caca cola" in Kerno: shite coke.

Padraic.

>
>Jörg.
>