The naming of the Ka

[matgb]

So, the purchase of the Ka has provoked much discussion here and elsewhere^[1] (bunch of petrolheads and weirdoes), and Jennie has decided that she wants to name it^[2]. She has a preferred option^[3]. I'm not too keen^[4]. So I thought I'd enlist some help from you lot^[5]. There now follows a poll^[6]:
[Poll #1231865]
I mean, seriously, why would you want to give your car a name, let alone a silly pun? Oh, wait, I'm in Yorkshire, it's Jennie. Combine the two and I'm doomed, aren't I?

Oh, the other scary thing? She went to the post office today to pay her wage in, and I met her at Sainsbury's to do some shopping. She'd bought a copy of the Highway Code and some L plates. Be afraid...

---

[1] A friends locked post at her personal journal.
[2] It's a really stupid idea of a name.
[3] I mean it, really really stupid.
[4] I hate it.
[5] Help me oh friends list, you're my only hope.
[6] As always, non-LJers will need to login with an OpenID or create an LJ account to vote.

Comments

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

McGruder wants to put extra ticks next to Barney = bad, evil and wrong.

[eccles.livejournal.com]

I never really named any of my cars though my last one had a nice number plate name "ABE".

[matgb]

My first was bought from my sister—-B43 SAD

Yes, that one was fun.

[yuxonomei.livejournal.com]

She'd bought a copy of the Highway Code and some L plates. Be afraid...

*cries laughing*

Come on, she won't be that bad. She can ride a motorbike, yes.

[matgb]

I'm not sure you're understanding my position here.

I have to teach her.

[yuxonomei.livejournal.com]

Oh.

I see your point very clearly.

My ex-husband made me get out and walk home after the one and only time he gave me a lesson.

[bibliophile1887.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you have my sympathies. I tried to teach my sister how to drive my car several years ago (she never learned how to drive a manual transmission) and when she pulled up to stop, my clutch was smoking.

And now I get to teach my fiancé how to drive a manual transmission, too. Joy.

[cosmolinguist]

My mom still can't drive a stick (manual, which I know is standard here but it's not in the US) and swears this is because my dad tried to teach her. My dad insists she can't drive it because she thinks it's okay to go straight from third to first gear...

Mom says married people shouldn't try to teach each other anything. :) I'm kind of amazed I didn't end up with even weirder ideas about things like marriage than I have.

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

You're doomed - you know that don't you?

[matgb]

Oh yes, this is very clear to me.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes he is >:D

[pickwick.livejournal.com]

Ka-9, perhaps. I would have fun going "Ulrika-Ka-Ka-Ka-Ka!" for about three days and then get annoyed. Starbug would have been great if it was green, but Just Wrong for a purple car.

What's "drut"? I've only seen it as a username on a forum, and never knew what it meant. Is it another Yorkshire thing? ;)

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

I have no clue about Drut, nothing to do with me.

And yeah, Starbug would be great if it was green.

[diblemming.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Drut is the spider from The Trap Door, and you sir are a philistine for not knowing!

It also spells turd backwards. Yoj!

[pickwick.livejournal.com]

DOH! I knew I should know that.

[springhazsprung.livejournal.com]

It's perfectly normal to name cars/other objects. I was going to NOT name my car, but pressure from my sister and friends pulled me over to the dark side, I guess. Mine is now called Edward/Eddie. It's better than my laptop's name.

[springhazsprung.livejournal.com]

PS. I'm the only one who likes Ka-dbury?? I think it works! It's the right colour too...

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, but I am allergic to chocolate, and thus naming it after a chocolate company would be a bad omen.

[springhazsprung.livejournal.com]

Allergic to chocolate?! Oh you poor, poor woman :(

[freddiefraggles.livejournal.com]

Just shurrup and get on with it. That's another Yorkshire thing you'll have to get used to as well.

/needs a Yorkshire icon

[davegodfrey.livejournal.com]

Why is Ka-aaaahn!!! not on this list?

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

OMG!!! You're so right!! How did I not think of THAT?

* flagellates self *

[tyrell.livejournal.com]

Awesome :)

[sylo-tode.livejournal.com]

In Boston, they're all called Kahs.

[cosmolinguist]

That's what I was thinking (specially of the beginning of Jaws where the guy says "It's in the yahd not fah from de kah"); in some accents there'd be no difference between Mat's two options!

[matgb]

in some accents there'd be no difference between Mat's two options!

I was under the impression that in most accents there's little to no difference, which is why Ford chose it. There would be a slightly different intonation in the way I said it, but if you wanted clarity you'd need to confirm it, etc.

Hence the meaningless poll options...

[cosmolinguist]

In most British accents, sure, but most, say, USian ones are rhotic so there'd be a big difference. I would wager that's why people are saying it sounds Bostonian; that's practically the only USian accent where Ka and car would sound similar.

[caseytalk.livejournal.com]

1) If, as you say, SB has a preferred choice, this poll is a waste of time. She has a history of having polls when she already has made up her mind.

2) Be grateful my daughter isn't taking part in the naming. She named our car 'Vanderstyne'. It stuck, too.

3) There is no 3.

4) Perhaps SB's dad can teach her?

[matgb]

1) She has made up her mind, but a) it's ammo for me to ignore it, b) it's made for a fun post and conversation and c) I like messing around with poll results (and I like Preference Revealing polls with good/bad lists, makes for fun stats)

2) Ouch.

3) Yes there is

4) I asked him earlier, he didn't look too keen on the idea, but will consider it.

[beach-girl01.livejournal.com]

I am reminded of a clip on youtube starring a precious girl in an amusement park car going "Get out of my way! Get out of my way!" I learned to drive in a cemetery. The irony never escaped me.

[matgb]

I don't think I've seen that vid, but a cemetary must've been different—I learnt in fields, frequently with cows in. That was interesting...

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

He has seen the video, he just has the memory of a goldfish.

[alex-wilcock.livejournal.com]

Obviously, it’s Ka-Ligula (wot, no Ka-Tarina?).

But then I love I, Claudius and Judge Cal, and was the guy who got his local NUS Area to rename itself the Confederation of Hertfordshire and Essex Establishments of Students in Education.

Double but – as Jennie has already made up her mind, sorry, Mat, you’re doomed. Your chances are probably even less than those of Richard and Millennium not naming our next car (or of Millennium or me driving it).

[matgb]

C.H.E.E.S.E? You sad sad man. Oh, wait, I knew this already ;-)

For the last point? See my answer to KC directly above.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Judge Cal is ace.

[curlywhirly.livejournal.com]

All of my cars/my family's cars have had female names, hence me voting against male names. The exception being my dad's red pick-up truck, called BURT - Big Ugly Red Truck.

But we have always named our cars, and we're posh southerners, dontcha know? Well, now weird Americans... whatev...

This is why I shouldn't reply to posts when I'm tired *foreheaddesk*

[curlywhirly.livejournal.com]

PS - calling it "The Ka" - just makes you sound like you are from Boston. hehehe.

[theoldcatlady.livejournal.com]

Right. My current caaah; a gold SUV is called, what else? Goldie.

Hubby's caaah is called Buzz Bomb.

The car I drove when our now 10 yo son was wee and which had been my mother's was called Mommy Car.

Our 1984 lumbering hulk of a tan van which seats 12 is called Thumper on account of the noise it makes though it is in good running condition; just passed inspection a fortnight ago.

[spiral-solution.livejournal.com]

Ka-Ligula! Someone deserves a medal.

Matt, get used to it, women are right and inanimate objects need naming. Did you have a teddy as a child? Did it have a name? Even "Bear" counts. I rest my case.

[anisiriusmagus.livejournal.com]

I only suggested Ka-dbury because I know that shade of purple is SB's favourite :( I did wonder about the chocolate allergy, but there are far better names on the list.

I've never named any of my cars, but that's mostly due to lack of inspiration. Daddy-Ani always calls his Volvos something Swedish. The first one was Ingrid, the second (a gold one) was Ulrika and the current one is Agnetha (after the blonde one in Abba).

[strangefrontier.livejournal.com]

I GIVE INANIMATE OBJECTS NAMES BECAUSE THEY ARE MY FRIENDS.

[spiral-solution.livejournal.com]

Crap I can't add an answer! I didn't vote for a bad name but Matt pointed out Barney that I had somehow missed. Nooooooooo!!!!!!FAIL!!!!!!!!!

[matgb]

Sure you can:
http://www.livejournal.com/poll/?id=1231865&mode=enter

(click the poll link with the number in, it takes you to a page that links to the above link)

So you can tick as many bad things as you like. Like Ka-ligula, which is a stupid name for a car.

[spiral-solution.livejournal.com]

It's the best name! I vote for that! But then, I like I,Claudius so what do I know?

[js84.livejournal.com]

(http://cad-comic.com/sillies.php?d=20080711)

I'd call it the car. I wouldn't even capitalise the T in 'the'.

It's not a Yorkshire thing. Loads of people at uni named their cars. All girls I might add.

[matgb]

All girls

I am noticing this trend—I might do another poll later.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Cars shouldn't have names; although my grandfather did have a Rover when I was a kid, which of course was called Rover.

And shouldn't that have been UlriKa-Ka-Ka?