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Got lacteal secretions from healthy cows? The FDA, the DAIRY Pride Act, and “milk” in food names

Alex Kelley and Erin Milnes
April 4, 2017
We all remember the California Milk Processor Board's famous question. But before we can ask ourselves if we've got milk, we need to agree on what milk is. A fellowship of US Congresspeople is pushing a bill (the DAIRY Pride...
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By |April 4th, 2017|CatchThis News, In-the-News, Language Use, Product Naming|Comments Off on Got lacteal secretions from healthy cows? The FDA, the DAIRY Pride Act, and “milk” in food names
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The Politics of Names, part 2 – Kasich, Crapo, and Trump v Clinton

Erin Milnes
November 8, 2016
As we learned last time, onomastics is the linguistic study of names. The impact of names in the political realm is a topic of recent studies and is right up our alley at Catchword. Kaysitch? Kahsick? Pronounceability of candidate names...
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By |November 8th, 2016|CatchThis News, In-the-News, Language Use|Comments Off on The Politics of Names, part 2 – Kasich, Crapo, and Trump v Clinton
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The Politics of Names – Onomastics and Elections, part 1

Erin Milnes
November 4, 2016
Onomastics is the branch of linguistics that deals with names. (Yes, “onomastics” -- slip that one into your next cocktail party conversation!) But the influence of names in the political arena has an effect far beyond that of linguistic observation. Studies of...
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By |November 4th, 2016|CatchThis News, In-the-News, Language Use|Comments Off on The Politics of Names – Onomastics and Elections, part 1
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Heritage starts with one’s name: Hispanic personal names

Erin Milnes
September 15, 2016
Today is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, during which we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. The first step in recognizing someone’s achievements is to know what to call him or her, and using...
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By |September 15th, 2016|CatchThis News, Language Use|Comments Off on Heritage starts with one’s name: Hispanic personal names
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Was Ist in an English Name?

Erin Milnes
May 9, 2016
*Guest post by Werner Brandl, Munich* For an English speaker from the United States, a visit to Germany can be an exciting as well as amusing experience. Most items found in a US supermarket are branded with English words and...
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By |May 9th, 2016|Brand Naming, Branding, Language Use, Product Naming|Comments Off on Was Ist in an English Name?
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Tiers of Pain: Many Companies Mess Up Product Naming Hierarchies

Alex Kelley
December 3, 2015
Many companies offer tiers of products for the customers, but creating a coherent product naming scheme for the various tiers is difficult. The names of a hierarchical product line have to be distinct so as not to be confused, and...
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By |December 3rd, 2015|Branding, Language Use, Naming Tips, Product Naming|Comments Off on Tiers of Pain: Many Companies Mess Up Product Naming Hierarchies
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I’m Blushing A Light Shade of YouTube Red

Alex Kelley
October 22, 2015
YouTube just revealed the name of their new ad-free, paid subscription service: YouTube Red.  Eponymous of their eminently recognizable color scheme, I presume. But this namer who shall remain nameless couldn't help but observe that, well, YouTube Red bears a...
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By |October 22nd, 2015|Brand Naming, Fun Stuff, In-the-News, Language Use|Comments Off on I’m Blushing A Light Shade of YouTube Red
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Denali is Beautiful

Alex Kelley
September 1, 2015
President Obama officially reinstated Denali as the primary name for the highest peak in North America. In several Native Alaskan dialects, Denali means “the tall one” or “big mountain.” The people who have lived in its shadow for thousands of...
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By |September 1st, 2015|Catchword, In-the-News, Language Use|Comments Off on Denali is Beautiful
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The Strange Case of Strange Fruit

Laurel Sutton
December 26, 2014
Originally published on Duetsblog on December 18, 2014   Of all the marketing people in the biz, you’d think a PR firm would have the best instincts for names that appeal, rather than repel, the public at large. A firm...
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By |December 26th, 2014|Branding, Language Use, Naming Tips|Comments Off on The Strange Case of Strange Fruit
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It’s Anaan not Allen: Personal Names and Cultural Identity

Mark Skoultchi
May 28, 2014
As naming consultants, when we're naming products or companies we generally recommend a name that's easy and intuitive for target audiences to say and spell. But when naming babies? Well, ease of pronunciation can often take a second seat to...
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By |May 28th, 2014|Catchword, In-the-News, Language Use|Comments Off on It’s Anaan not Allen: Personal Names and Cultural Identity
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