Murphy's Law

We’ve all read the salutary lessons on corporate naming projects. Particularly the famous examples of when certain brand-names have different meanings when translated into different languages.

There are loads of examples.

I think I’ve just spotted my first potential Web 2.0 naming mistake (well in Ireland at any rate).

I pronounce the term Wiki, as Wick-ey. In fact that’s the only way I’ve ever heard it pronounced – though I note Wikipedia does provide alternatives.

Now [via Mike Manuel] SocialText have released a Wiki for mobile devices and they’ve called it Miki.

Now that’s fine unless you pronounce that word Mick-ey. In Ireland (and I think the UK) that’s a slang term for a man’s genitals.

I certainly won’t tell anyone that I’ve been writing on my Miki….

Footnote:
Ross you’re OK it seems it’s an Irish only thing so that’s not a very big deal! There’s some funny comments below, so thanks to Kevin, Philip, Mike and Phil who made me laugh this morning.

Elliot: People can easily differentiate between the slang “Mickey” and Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mantle etc. the usage is quite different!