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...

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[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

[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.