Web 2.0 pronunciation guide

I was chastised yesterday by the team at Geni (a Webware 100 winner), because I pronounced the company name wrong on a video. It's "Genie," not "Jenny," I was told. Because the product is a geneaology service.

Say what?

Makes sense. But, dear entrepreneurs, if you want people to pronounce your company a certain way, you shouldn't have to ship a user's manual with your logo. Many products these days are easily mispronounced: Jaiku, for example (the CEO says like "haiku") and the same with Viiv and Wii.

Mispronunciation is not just an annoyance, it's a potential marketing problem. Brand reinforcement doesn't work when people are calling one product different things.

And wacky Web 2.0 spelling doesn't even have to get in the way. Case in point: Zooomr. Even with its imbalance of vowels, it can only be spoken one way.

[caroline.mccarthy]

Krazit told me that Viiv rhymes with live

See: http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9668269-1.html

[Josh.Lowensohn]

So Wii is the Why then yes?

Under those specifications the Wii would be pronounced like "Why."

See also unoriginal and/or problematic product namesake ambiguity:
http://www.kashi.com/ourfood/Vive/Default.aspx
http://www.vivepro.com/
http://www.vivemagazine.com/

[caroline.mccarthy]

Krazit told me that Viiv rhymes with live

See: http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9668269-1.html

[Josh.Lowensohn]

So Wii is the Why then yes?

Under those specifications the Wii would be pronounced like "Why."

See also unoriginal and/or problematic product namesake ambiguity:
http://www.kashi.com/ourfood/Vive/Default.aspx
http://www.vivepro.com/
http://www.vivemagazine.com/

[Fotki]

A rose by any other name would SPELL the same...

... and then there are companies like mine that beg pretty risque mispronunciations ;)

[Fotki]

A rose by any other name would SPELL the same...

... and then there are companies like mine that beg pretty risque mispronunciations ;)

[molzymcd]

I totally agree

It's really annoying sometimes. I had the same problem with Jaiku, although I guessed right, and since I make screencasts and talk about the services, I often find myself wondering if the creators are sitting back laughing - "What did she just call us?". Explain what your name means and how to say it on your about page people!

[molzymcd]

I totally agree

It's really annoying sometimes. I had the same problem with Jaiku, although I guessed right, and since I make screencasts and talk about the services, I often find myself wondering if the creators are sitting back laughing - "What did she just call us?". Explain what your name means and how to say it on your about page people!

[toddjana]

Genea, Genie

I certainly agree with the point of the post. On the other hand, Geni is not the best example of a name with an obscure pronunciation. I make no claim to understanding the appeal of web 2.0 names, but I'm guessing that the pronunciation puzzle is a part of it. Specifically, understanding how the name relates to the type of service is often a clue to pronunciation. Here, the service does give a specific clue, plus you have the double play with Genie. For this particular name, when you make those connections, there's a certain satisfaction at having arrived at the correct pronunciation that makes you feel like one of the clever insiders, creating a certain bond between you and the service...

Well, I think I've gone a little too far.

[toddjana]

Genea, Genie

I certainly agree with the point of the post. On the other hand, Geni is not the best example of a name with an obscure pronunciation. I make no claim to understanding the appeal of web 2.0 names, but I'm guessing that the pronunciation puzzle is a part of it. Specifically, understanding how the name relates to the type of service is often a clue to pronunciation. Here, the service does give a specific clue, plus you have the double play with Genie. For this particular name, when you make those connections, there's a certain satisfaction at having arrived at the correct pronunciation that makes you feel like one of the clever insiders, creating a certain bond between you and the service...

Well, I think I've gone a little too far.

[zetra001]

Photo 2 Text

see http://photo2text.com/

[zetra001]

Photo 2 Text

see http://photo2text.com/