5 ms·

> then romanticize it You mean romanize? And not just on the surface (latin alphabet), but even using the actual word from latin (which is already romanized gr

by szemet 7y ago

> then romanticize it You mean romanize? And not just on the surface (latin alphabet), but even using the actual word from latin (which is already romanized greek I guess) and of course all the related living languages... edit: I always felt strange naming a software exactly the same name (in many language) as the field it operates in. Like naming a music creation software Music, or a biology related software Biology, etc. It is like equates the software with the whole field, suggesting that there is no difference between the software and its disclipine. It is a marketing trick that have a bit of bragging side, but of course it is common pattern, e.g: https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Am-Football-Zlatan-Ibrahimovic/dp/024129715X https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Am-Football-Zlatan-Ibrahimovic/dp...

pdabbadabba 7y ago
I'm not sure what you're getting it. I think GP meant "romanticize," i.e., "deal with or describe in an idealized or unrealistic fashion; make (something) seem better or more appealing than it really is." (Though in this case the intended meaning is probably a little closer to "build mystique surrounding.") I agree with your point about naming a product to cover the whole field. It does seem off-putting--although I think examples of it are pretty rare. (In fact, I can't think of any off hand...) In this case, "Mathematica" is far enough from anyone's ordinary English usage that it doesn't fall into that category for me. I don't believe I've ever heard anyone say the word "Mathematica" to refer to anything other than the product. It would be a different story, of course, if it were just called "Math."
- szemet 7y ago
  Mathematica" is far enough from anyone's ordinary English Ok, I see. But it is not true for a large(not english speeking) part of the world. It is like calling your "pineapple" software Ananas[1], you just romanticize it in a small region while interfere with traditional word usage in the other part. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/2pp0s6/pineapple_piña_or_ananas_1425x625/ https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/2pp0s6/pineapple_p...
  - pdabbadabba 7y ago
    Ah! Yes, I wondered if part of the disconnect was that we speak different native languages, but I did not want to assume. (Though perhaps I should have just asked.)
weinzierl 7y ago
When the Swiss designer Max Miedinger created a new typeface in the late fifties, his client Stempel AG wanted to call it Helvetia, which is another name for Switzerland. Max Miedinger found it silly to name a typeface after a country and suggested Helvetica - the Swiss. That's what we've got Helvetica.
Gaelan 7y ago
> I always felt strange naming a software exactly the same name (in many language) as the field it operates in. Like naming a music creation software Music, or a biology related software Biology, etc. IIRC Microsoft did this (Word, Windows) with hope that the press would feel the need to use “Microsoft” to disambiguate, improving brand recognition.

by szemet 7y ago

pdabbadabba 7y ago

I'm not sure what you're getting it. I think GP meant "romanticize," i.e., "deal with or describe in an idealized or unrealistic fashion; make (something) seem better or more appealing than it really is." (Though in this case the intended meaning is probably a little closer to "build mystique surrounding.") I agree with your point about naming a product to cover the whole field. It does seem off-putting--although I think examples of it are pretty rare. (In fact, I can't think of any off hand...) In this case, "Mathematica" is far enough from anyone's ordinary English usage that it doesn't fall into that category for me. I don't believe I've ever heard anyone say the word "Mathematica" to refer to anything other than the product. It would be a different story, of course, if it were just called "Math."

szemet 7y ago
Mathematica" is far enough from anyone's ordinary English Ok, I see. But it is not true for a large(not english speeking) part of the world. It is like calling your "pineapple" software Ananas[1], you just romanticize it in a small region while interfere with traditional word usage in the other part. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/2pp0s6/pineapple_piña_or_ananas_1425x625/ https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/2pp0s6/pineapple_p...
- pdabbadabba 7y ago
  Ah! Yes, I wondered if part of the disconnect was that we speak different native languages, but I did not want to assume. (Though perhaps I should have just asked.)

weinzierl 7y ago

When the Swiss designer Max Miedinger created a new typeface in the late fifties, his client Stempel AG wanted to call it Helvetia, which is another name for Switzerland. Max Miedinger found it silly to name a typeface after a country and suggested Helvetica - the Swiss. That's what we've got Helvetica.

Gaelan 7y ago

> I always felt strange naming a software exactly the same name (in many language) as the field it operates in. Like naming a music creation software Music, or a biology related software Biology, etc. IIRC Microsoft did this (Word, Windows) with hope that the press would feel the need to use “Microsoft” to disambiguate, improving brand recognition.