Google became a verb on blogs three years ago, if not earlier. Now, Paul Allen has written a nice article called Will Google Netscape Microsoft?
My wondering is more about the title of the article than the contents of it: What companies have done something such spectacularly that they become verbs or generally accepted terms? (Xerox, for instance) Why? Who's up next?
I know many company nouns, kleenex is an example -- that's a company name, not the actual tissue. Levi's used to be a common one, but it has lost it's branding over the years by not catering to younger styles and crowds. Some people say 'clorox' when they mean bleach.
I do say 'googled' in terms of search already at work -- just google.
Apple could fit slightly in the area of it's 'i' creations - ipod, imac -- everythings i, they created a computer phrase.
I do tell clients to 'pdf the file over' sometimes, or 'just pdf me' instead of actually sending me the hard file. 'pdf it' is specifically a file type, but it's become a verb in the print industry.
Sometimes I use file terms in the same way as pdf, in a verb form -- 'jpeg it real quick'.
god, I'm a geek...
There's a really good book that talks of branding culture and how these company titles become ingrained in modern culture. It's a good design read, called 'No Logo' by Naomi Klein -- you can read about (relevant to your fast food comment sad69) fast food branding as well in 'Fast Food Nation' by Eric Schlosser - talks about their marketing and labeling tactics... but, after I read that book I haven't ate at a fast food restaurant in over a year and a half. Be warned, he goes undercover with the actual production, habits, culture and theories of these companies. The employee sections are outrageous, and the meat section, well, is not pleasant
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Well, I dont' know about everybody else, but just last night I was working on a document, typing away when my computer microsofted. I was so microsofted. I microsoft that microsfting company. I mean first the microsoft you for every penny you've got, then they microsoft their support, and in the end, microsoft their entire customer base.
Ok, all joking aside, does anyone remeber the smurfs? They used to smurf up a smurf on every smurfing thing!
Well, I dont' know about everybody else, but just last night I was working on a document, typing away when my computer microsofted. I was so microsofted. I microsoft that microsfting company. I mean first the microsoft you for every penny you've got, then they microsoft their support, and in the end, microsoft their entire customer base.
Ok, all joking aside, does anyone remeber the smurfs? They used to smurf up a smurf on every smurfing thing!
As many people have noted already, the "Why?" is quite simple: certain proprietary products or methods become so prevalent that the brand becomes interchangeable with the object or service. I don't especially approve of this, which is why I would like to note that while I say "Google" as a verb, it is not because I have unconsciously replaced it with "search", but rather it's because I see no reason to use any other search engine over it at this point. It's more of an advocation.
I know for ceratin I've said "Kleenex" when referring to a tissue, like Brady said. That just happened, and at one point I actually started making a concerted effort to stop it.
Slightly related, but not really: pop vs. soda. I spent eight months in CA after growing up in the Midwest United States, and gave up "pop" simply because nobody ever knew what I was talking about. Since I've moved back to Minnesota, I still keep up soda because I think "pop" sounds ridiculous.
Here's one I've been using to avoid explaining what interpolation is: JPEGGED; "That pic's no good, it's been jpegged beyond recognition."
Quote:
Originally Posted by ]|V|[agnus
Since I've moved back to Minnesota, I still keep up soda because I think "pop" sounds ridiculous.
How about "Soft-drink"? That's all it's called in Australia. (We shouldn't start this discussion, I saw a 4 page pop vs. soda thread on a nother forum recently )
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