10-20-2006, 11:58 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Zune Drops an F-Bomb?
"Microsoft’s forthcoming digital music player, dubbed Zune, may make some Hebrew speakers gasp. The name for the device -- which will take on the Apple iPod when released later this year -- sounds like a vulgarity, specifically the "f" word, in Hebrew... Hebrew linguists are divided over Zune. Tsila Ratner, the head of Hebrew courses in the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at University College London, says Zune is an unsuitable name for a product. However, Haggit Inbar-Littas, a 30-year veteran Hebrew teacher with the London Jewish Cultural Center, says while the name is "ridiculous" and close to the bad word, it’s unlikely to be mistaken."
I guess it's never easy coming up with a product name. As hard as a company may try to catch any unwanted interpretations, something always slips through the cracks.
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10-20-2006, 01:17 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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It's close in Hebrew, but it's a hell of a lot worse if you're French-Canadian:
A SHORT EMAIL from a French-Canadian friend of ours, Antoine, has pointed out that the Zune brand isn't as globally acceptable as Microsoft might like to think.
Unfortunately in French-Canadian slang, Zune is used to describe parts of the male anatomy. You know, your pecker, big-joe, schlong, etc, etc.
We're not sure this is a wise move on Microsoft's part (hehe), albeit its probably better than naming your device after what comes out of it. Take note Nintendo.
Source
A little too clever for their own good, I guess.
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10-20-2006, 02:19 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Bah. Much ado about nothing - Microsoft did their due diligence with the product name, they can't filter against dictionary words in multiple languages AND slang that isn't written down anywhere...
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10-20-2006, 02:48 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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I don't think anyone's losing sleep over it, per se, but damn if it ain't funny. 
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10-20-2006, 03:39 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,053
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Yeah, I agree with Jason. If the word isn't in the dictionary then people are making a big deal about nothing.
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