On 18/08/07, Wade Guidry <wade_at_beachbooks.org> wrote:
> Seems like the stickiest new terms, some of them quite good, are "brand"
> names.
>
> I like "LibraryThing", "WorldCat", and even "iTunes", as they seem
> self-descriptive and catchy, but they are still proper names.
>
> If such services become overwhelmingly popular, maybe the names of one
> or two will become established in the way of xerox or kleenex. ("Did
> you look in the amazon?")
Andrew Gray responds: Almost there already, I suspect. Google...
I add: I'd say so. In the process of trying to teach myself Italian, and
(making an attempt at) reading Italian newpapers on the Web, I have been
amused to see the Italian verbs: clickare (to click on) and googlare (to
Google). Googlare seems to be as generic in Italian as it already is in
English (where "Googling" merely means to search on the Web, without any
conscious restriction to doing it via Google. People probably think they
are "googling" on "Ask Jeeves" or whatever other search engine they tend to
use).
janet
Janet Swan Hill, Professor
Associate Director for Technical Services
University of Colorado Libraries, CB184
Boulder, CO 80309
janet.hill_at_colorado.edu
*****
"The thing about democracy, beloveds is that it is not neat, orderly, or
quiet. It requires a certain relish for confusion." Molly Ivins
--
- Andrew Gray
andrew.gray_at_dunelm.org.uk
Received on Mon Aug 20 2007 - 08:47:02 EDT