As a receptionist, I hear all kinds of interesting uses of the English language. The name of my employer is not a word that the average American encounters on a daily basis but the calls I receive are from customers. Customers who OWN our products. Of all people, I would expect them to be able to pronounce the name of our company and the names of our products. The following is a list of some of the creative variations I have heard.

Correct:
SPECTRASONICS [spek-truh-son-iks]

Incorrect:
SPECTRATRONICS
SPECTRONICS
SPECTERSONICS




Correct:
STYLUS R.M.X.
ATMOSPHERE
TRILOGY

Incorrect:
STYLUS REMIX
SPECTRASONICS R.M.X.
STYLUS R.M.S.
STYLUX
ATMOSPHERES
ATMOSPHERIC
TRINITY
TRI-OLOGY

The names of our products are not cryptic or unusual words. Anyone who has lived since the advent of the Palm Pilot should know the word stylus. Anyone who has ever taken a science class in their life should know the word atmosphere. Anyone who has ever heard any of the following film trilogies; Star Wars, The Godfather, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings, The Santa Clause, Shrek, Spider Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, or The Bourne Trilogy, (just to name a few) or is acquainted with the number 3 should understand the word trilogy. Oh well.

The thing that really makes me laugh is that even if I correct them, they still say it wrong. For example,



me- "Good afternoon, Spectrasonics"

customer- "Hi spectraTRonics, I need help with my trinity"

me- "Ok, your Trilogy?"

customer- "yeah, my trinity from spectraTRonics"

me- "I'll transfer you...sigh"

Useless.....