Down here, we all say band-aid, but anyone asking for "Kleenex" would be un-utterably weird. And if you asked for a "Xerox", no-one would know what you meant. They're tissues and photocopies.
But that's interesting that you do say band-aid but don't say Kleenex. I loooove etymology.
It's always fascinating to me when words fall into public domain--like Kleenex or Band-Aid or escalator. At this point, I feel like the only word that is still trademarked by a company but that's also used as a sort of generic name is Dobro, and the legal battles surrounding that have been interesting to say the least. Do you even know what that is?
My growing-up-BFF works for Otis Elevator Company (yes. He is an elevator salesman). So I know all about escalators. ;D
It's an instrument. A resonator guitar. I want desperately to learn how to play it, but alas, I am too lazy.
If you have ever listened to Allison Krauss and Union Station, you've heard it. Jerry Douglas is so famous (he is to the Dobro what Hendrix, Clapton, and Jimmy Page are to the electric guitar combined) that when he tours with them, they change the name of the band to Allison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas. No lie.
Check him out here! He's awesome! Towards the end his fingers are moving so fast you wouldn't believe it!
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no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 02:21 am (UTC)...but I don't. :)
Down here, we all say band-aid, but anyone asking for "Kleenex" would be un-utterably weird. And if you asked for a "Xerox", no-one would know what you meant. They're tissues and photocopies.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 02:31 am (UTC)But that's interesting that you do say band-aid but don't say Kleenex. I loooove etymology.
It's always fascinating to me when words fall into public domain--like Kleenex or Band-Aid or escalator. At this point, I feel like the only word that is still trademarked by a company but that's also used as a sort of generic name is Dobro, and the legal battles surrounding that have been interesting to say the least. Do you even know what that is?
no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 02:34 am (UTC)And escalator was a brand name? Huh.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-22 02:46 am (UTC)It's an instrument. A resonator guitar. I want desperately to learn how to play it, but alas, I am too lazy.
If you have ever listened to Allison Krauss and Union Station, you've heard it. Jerry Douglas is so famous (he is to the Dobro what Hendrix, Clapton, and Jimmy Page are to the electric guitar combined) that when he tours with them, they change the name of the band to Allison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas. No lie.
Check him out here! He's awesome! Towards the end his fingers are moving so fast you wouldn't believe it!
Also! He explains the instrument here.
I love American folk music.