FRIGIDAIRE and KLEENEX (was ICE BOX)

[Alice Faber]

Peter A. McGraw wrote:
> --On Monday, February 28, 2005 10:34 PM -0500 RonButters at AOL.COM wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 2/28/05 8:40:55 PM, sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM writes:
>>
>
>> Neither "Frigidaire" nor "Kleenex" is "the generic." "Refrigerator" is
>> clearly "the generic" and has a shorthand form, "fridge" (cf. "televison"
>> and  "telly"). "Frigidaire" is a brand name that is found on all manner
>> of major  appliances, not just those that keep things cold.
>>
>> "Kleenex" is a trademark, not a "generic," though people do indeed use it
>> as  a shorthand for the generic "(paper) tissue." Surely there are very
>> few people  who would not understand a request for a "tissue," or would
>> be mystified  about such phrases and sentences as "a box of tissues" or
>> "She used a tissue to  dry her eyes." Likewise, few people would be
>> confused if asked to purchase  "Kleenex rubber panties" or "Kleenex
>> cocktail napkins."
>
>
> All this is true only if you ignore popular usage.  And why would a
> linguist do that?
>
> If I heard someone ask for "a tissue," I would think they were being either
> affected or perhaps pathologically conscious of trademark law.

When I was in high school, the officially sanctioned response when
someone asked for a tissue (instead of a Kleenex) was "tissue? I hardly
know you".

--

Alice Faber