I’ve recently begun thinking that we should take everyday verbs and create proper-name oriented slang for them.
It’s a nod to Buffyspeak and also provides corporate naming opportunities, like those that already exist for things like arenas and potentially, subway stations.
We could call it Kvetchese (or Baby Fish Mouth, since I’m sure it will be sweeping the nation).
For instance:
On Sunday morning, I Tropicanaed and Quaker Oated. A little while later, I Niked out of my apartment, and Starbucked over to 81st Street for a meeting. Since there were no seats, I Metrocarded up to the store on 101st, where I finally managed to Sumatra Decaf my way through a grande java bev. After Carrie Bradshawing my way through my column, I returned home for some righteous Netflixing.
I thought I was looking hot but this girl in the deli totally Esthered me and everybody laughed.
ReplyDeleteI think you're onto something. Call it millenium 'E'-bonics?
ReplyDeleteFor the record, whatever the linguistic or literary merits of this trend, it represents the ultimate nightmare for trademark owners. If enough people widely use trademarks as verbs or as generic references to a general type of product (as opposed to a specific line of products), such trademarks essentially die (e.g., Xerox, Band Aid, Jeep, Kleenex). I'm not taking a particular position, BTW. Just something to consider.
ReplyDelete-- Daniel
Don't make me come over there and Louisville Slugger you.
ReplyDeleteThis is weird. I only read this post because I saw "baby fish mouth," which is a song by my favorite band His Name Is Alive.
ReplyDelete