I can't believe people still believe the myth about the Chevy Nova

[mb]

Book: Organizational Behavior: Managing People and organizations (8th edition - published January 30, 2006)

Chapter 11, page 289:

Differences in languages are compunded by the fact that the same word can mean different things in different cultures. ... Chevrolet once tried to export a line of cars to Latin America that it called the Nova in the United States, but then found out that "no va" means "doesn't go" in Spanish - not the best name for an automobile!"

You mean to tell me that the writers and editors of this book still don't know the truth?


BTW - ranch.

 

[Raduque]

I want a ranch-colored 67 Nova.

 

[Shawn]

snopes always has to go and take the fun out of everything.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Raduque
I want a ranch-flavored 67 Nova.

fixed

 

[VTHodge]

I love the part about the "Notable" cafe. Kind of sums up the argument.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Shawn
snopes always has to go and take the fun out of everything.

Some fun survives. Apparently, when Perdue had their slogan, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken" translated into Spanish, it came out a bit . . . obscene! :laugh:

 

[daveshel]

Even so, IIRC the front-wheel drive GM-Toyota that was sold as a GEO and later a Nova in the US had a different name in Mexico.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Shawn
snopes always has to go and take the fun out of everything.

Some fun survives. Apparently, when Perdue had their slogan, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken" translated into Spanish, it came out a bit . . . obscene! :laugh:

Same happened with the got milk campaign. When they translated it the resulting phrase was asking if you were lactating.

 

[Kelemvor]

Email the publishers and let them know that your are a professor and are boycotting their materials since one obvious lie probably means lots of other lies in their books.

 

[DrPizza]

Grrr, I hated that course...

I wish I had actually read the textbook... if that was in it (and that sounds like the same title, different edition though, IIRC) and I had seen it, I'd have confronted the prof about it and his incredible reliance on material in the textbook. (Quizzes were open book; all I had to do was use the index to find the appropriate section.)

Then again, I was forced to take an undergraduate level course which was a pre-requisite for one of my master's courses... the text was FULL of errors. The quizzes were full of errors as a result. I answered the questions correctly, but incorrectly according to the book and answer key. Then, I badgered the prof for weeks about it.