Search upstarts storm Google's gates

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Ford Nova / Google it

A lot of what consumers use is in the NAME of a product. When Chevy tried to sell its Chevy Nova to Central/South America, it did NOT go over well. "No va" translates to "Doesn't go".
When you hear the car make 'Oldsmobile', you can't HELP but think "old". Like it's for Old People. VERY few oldsmobiles were bought by people under 50 in the 1990's.

The word "Google" use to belong to mathematicians, but is now an everyday word for the common people. "Well Bob, did you Google it?" is heard instead of "search for it".

Few products have their NAME become the generic term for that product.
Ex: "Get me a Kleenex." instead of 'facial tissue'.
Ex: "Xerox this for me." instead of 'photocopy'.
Ex: "I need a Q-Tip." instead of 'cotton swab'.

Google has become one of these things.

P.S. - Is there a word for this... when a company's product name sort of becomes the name for the product in general?

Posted by: SC-man   Posted on: 03/12/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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