Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id OAA19269 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 10 Apr 2001 14:59:31 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745D87@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: The Demise of a Meaning... maybe a thread Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 14:55:58 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Maybe I replied in the wrong strand, but Kenneth wrote-
<...or jif- jaf, a kind of bird etc.>
.... talking about etymology and onomatopoeia.
It's quite funny to hear Jif is a foodstuff in the US. Until very recently
Jif was a brand of bleach/kitchen cleaner stuff in the UK. It's changed its
name to Cif now- to come into line with the global brand presumably. The
British ads announcing the name change actually say that it has changed its
name because many European can't pronounce 'J's, and shows some helpless
Iberian trying to say Jif and coming out with 'hif'. I kid you not. Simple
offensive stereotypes of nationality are alive and well in UK advertising.
I should add of course that Brits particularly dislike Americans for forcing
the change of the much loved 'Marathon' bar, to the ridiculous name
'Snickers', a fair few years ago now. A kind of cultural imperialism people
didn't like. Marathon, you see went very well with another popular
chocolate, the 'Mars' bar.. do you see? A similar feud has emerged over the
renaming of Opal Fruits as Starburst (I bet that's an American thing also).
Very memetic catchline associated with Opal Fruits- 'made to make your mouth
water'. "starburst" doesn't scan.
I blather... apologies.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Wade T.Smith
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 1:27 pm
> To: memetics list
> Subject: The Demise of a Meaning... maybe a thread
>
> On 04/10/01 07:17, Vincent Campbell said this-
>
> >You have jif-jaf. I wonder if that's the same as the Chiff-Chaff in
> >English?
>
> Who has 'jif-jaf'? Never heard of it. Jif is a peanut butter brand....
> Jibba-Jabba was a noisy toy a few years back.... What's Chiff-Chaff? Some
> ointment? The sound wipers make on a windshield? Windscreen, for youse
> limeys....
>
> I'll admit I'm lost....
>
> - Wade
>
> ===============================================================
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This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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