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When English sounds Japanese



 
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When English sounds Japanese Thu Aug 28, 2008 16:54 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

It's not unusual for foreigners to coin trade names in English, with varying degrees of success or failure. Very often a native English speaker can immediately tell from hearing a trade name that foreigners made it up, especially if the Japanese created it. (The name Walkman sounded very bizarre and Japanese to us when it was first used.)

However, occasionally Americans will make up a trade name that sounds vaguely Japanese. A couple of days ago I was given a sample tube of toothpaste from a very old American company. The company name was quite familiar, but the name of the toothpaste (at least that variety of it) was "Brilliant Sparkle". It sounded to me like a name that the Japanese or Chinese had made up.
Jamie (K)
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When English sounds Japanese Thu Aug 28, 2008 17:53 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

What about these:

Nissan Murano
Nissan Fairlady (I love this baby, woohoo!)
Mazda Roadster (This too!)
Nissan Note (pronounced No-to)
Nissan March
Honda Fit

etc, etc.

They look good though.
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When English sounds Japanese Thu Aug 28, 2008 17:56 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

Oh, by the way, I didn't think they sound weird until my American friend told me so. I am too used to it already. Come to think of it, when I first came to Japan I did think the names of the cars unique. Weirdly enough, in Malaysia, they have different names for the same model.
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When English sounds Japanese Thu Aug 28, 2008 18:09 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

NinaZara wrote:
What about these:

Nissan Murano
Nissan Fairlady (I love this baby, woohoo!)
Mazda Roadster (This too!)
Nissan Note (pronounced No-to)
Nissan March
Honda Fit

etc, etc.

They look good though.

It would be nice to know if the name Nissan Fairlady was first introduced in the States but rejected because it sounded too 'feminine' for the American automobile consumer. Maybe your American friend could confirm this story or is it just hearsay. Rolling Eyes
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When English sounds Japanese Thu Aug 28, 2008 18:15 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

Yes, that was the reason. Smile
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NinaZara
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When English sounds Japanese Thu Aug 28, 2008 18:16 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

Does it sell well in Britain?
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When English sounds Japanese Thu Aug 28, 2008 18:22 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

Would YOU, buy it, Tom? Laughing

Come on, look at it, isn't it just sensational?
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When English sounds Japanese Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:55 am  When English sounds Japanese
 

NinaZara wrote:
Nissan Fairlady (I love this baby, woohoo!)
Mazda Roadster (This too!)
Your taste in cars is similar to mine, Nina. Laughing

I guess in the US those two are called the Nissan Z and the Mazda Miata.
.
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When English sounds Japanese Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:05 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

NinaZara wrote:
Nissan Fairlady (I love this baby, woohoo!)
Mazda Roadster (This too!)

The Fairlady is called the Z in the US (starting a long time ago as the 240Z, then 280Z, and now just Z).

The Mazda Roadster appears to be the Mazda Miata in the US.
Jamie (K)
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When English sounds Japanese Sat Aug 30, 2008 23:29 pm  When English sounds Japanese
 

A similar phenomenon is "English characters with not-quite-right names", in foreign fiction – e.g. "Johnny Thunderstorm" in Buddenbrooks.

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