Written by Mabuyane Mabuza
This year things have not been easy for most of us, Covid 19 did an injustice to our country and the rest of the world. Politicians also keep on outdoing each other with scandals. It is on this note that I thought we should let our hair down as we enter the festive season. So this week, we are having it light.
This article aims to have fun while also learning and re-learning not to laugh at each other. Life is already tough as it is for that.
We have also entered the light festive season, that on its own calls for lightness. There is no better time to unwind than the start of the festive season to cleanse ourselves of the darkness currently consuming our political landscape.
In my many years as a motoring journalist, I have seen many new cars being introduced into the market. I have also seen many automotive words and abbreviations come into play.
So, I thought it would be great fun to delve into some of these words that we often butcher (no fault of our own).
Just like you, I also did not go to a posh private school and didn’t know how some car brand names were pronounced but learned when I joined the industry.
French car names are particularly tricky for most of us. For instance, the names that end with the letter T. The T is silent. Let’s start, Renault pronounced Renau, Peugeot but pronounced Peugeo. Then there is Chevrolet pronounced Chevrole.
Yes, I know Chevrolet is an American brand but there is a back story to it. You see the two Swiss-American men, Arthur and Louis Chevrolet, and American William Durant.
While we were still dealing with the French confusing us the Koreans also joined the mess with Hyundai. I have heard people pronounce it Hundai but it is actually pronounced Hunday.
There are also active safety abbreviations such as ABS (anti-brake system), and ESP (Electronic stability control).
Remember when Nissan Qashqai was introduced into the market?
Some were convinced it was a Xhosa name. Nissan names the Qashqai (pronounced kashkhai) after a semi-nomadic Iranian tribe situated in the Southern part of the country.
The Germans were lucky enough to have names that aren’t an issue to pronounce, well except Audi because we all have that one friend that calls it Oddi. VW and BMW are not only fan faves, but they have their own identities on the streets, not just the brand itself but certain models like your gusheshes, ithemba la magumusha, basically what happens when SAns fall in love.
