Mysteries of Marketing

Nutella - Commercial for Nutella
Canada
May 26, 2011 4:58pm CST
I live in the province of Quebec in Canada. Where I live, its bilingual English and French. So I watch tv in French and in English and im wondering thy the commercials arent the same in both language. Imagine a commercial for Nutella. A kid had been building the biggest thing out of wooden leggo and when his parents stand in front of him, looking at the huge tower he built in the house, they are speechless. Now in French: The kid says "DONT TOUCH" Now in English: The kid says "Hello mom, hello dad" I mean its NOT the same, it doesnt mean the same its completely different. Most commercials that are bilingual are like this. It changes. I mean it would have been easy to have the french kid say " Hello mom, hello dad". Does anyone know why they change the meaning of a commercial depending on the language its in when its for the same product?
3 responses
MsTickle
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
31 May 11
It seems that kids are kids no matter where they come from and I think the comment in French is the most likely. Perhaps they are aiming at cultural differences...in this case i reckon they got it wrong.
1 person likes this
MagicalBubbles
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
31 May 11
They sure did, I cant imagine why they think so though. Maybe some new kind of marketing lol. Thanks for sharing!
1 person likes this
bounce58
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
26 May 11
That is very interesting to know! I would have thought that it could be how the sentence would sound in French. Like it would be easier to say, and easier for the audience to hear. But, if you say that it's easier to do the English translation, then that is really weird. I love useless facts like these!
1 person likes this
MagicalBubbles
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
30 May 11
Im not sure its "useless facts". We all use marketing one way or another, because we're all selling something in a way. So thinking that even in a commercial where the person is NOT talking, they have them do different things depending if its on French tv or English tv....does it mean the human brain is not the same for everybody? So depending what language you speak, you have a different understanding or your brain is wired differently? Now Im starting to pay attention to how I talk to people depending if they're French or English to find out if there IS a difference haha. Thanks!!
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169603)
• United States
26 May 11
Is it perhaps what is socially acceptable? Or what is common. That just does not make sense to me.
1 person likes this
MagicalBubbles
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
30 May 11
Same for me.....doesnt make any sense at all and I speak both languages! Thanks for saying so!!