EPMD- Van syckel, John wrote:
>
> On 17 Dec Rick Feibusch wrote:
>
> > Dear Listers -
> >
> > Here is a look at how shrewd American business people translate their
> > slogans into foreign languages. The process could use some Process
> > Improvement...<snip>
> >
> > When Vicks first introduce its cough drops on the German
> > market, they were chagrined to learn that the German
> > pronunciation of "v" is "f," which in German is the guttural
> > equivalent of "sexual penetration."
> >
> > Not to be outdone, Puffs tissues tried later to introduce
> > its product, only to learn that "Puff" in German is a
> > colloquial term for a whorehouse.
> <snip>
> > Can any of our non-American listers verify these for us?
> > See you on the Funway! Rick Feibusch - Venice, CA
> >
> Yes, Rick
>
> "Fick" in German is the equivalent of the English "F" word that
> means exactly what you said it does. Vicks is now spelled "Wicks" in
> Germany.
>
> You are right about "Puff" as well. Prostitution is legal in
> Germany (although there are illegal "Puffs" as I imagine they are more
> profitable).
> I was driving past the legal one in Heidleberg last summer in my
> MGB (OLBCC) and there was a truck parked in front. The driver and his
> helper were unloading PALLETS of paper towels (yes, plural - pallets).
> Don't know what brand they were, and, no, I don't know the answer to the
> obvious question.
>
> "Jay"
> 1971 MGB (BRG, no PO)
> AMGBA #78-568
> MG Car Club Deutschland, e.V.
Not sure whether I need something explained here or whether I can explain.
A 'pallet' in the UK is a wooden tray that has goods stacked upon it for the
purposes of transporation. The pallet is designed to be picked up and moved
around by a fork-lift truck together with its contents.
PaulH.
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