Sunday, 29 June 2008

creme egg #4

Note: please read previous parts (#1, #2, #3) first!


From: Jane Potts [***@csplc.com]
To: chris***@***.com
Date: 12/12/2006 15:57

Subject: Re: How do you MISPRONOUNCE yours?



Thank you very much for your further email. The brand manager for Creme Egg has kindly provided the following response:

Dear Chris,

Many thanks for your email, you raise a very interesting question! We've looked into it, and unfortunately we haven't been able to uncover an answer as to why its spelt French and pronounced English. At this stage in the game, with Cadbury Creme Egg celebrating it's 83rd birthday this year, it's too late to change it, and I'm not sure we'll ever have a full resolution!

If I was to give my personal thoughts:

---
I've done some further digging on the subject of "creme" vs. "cream", and stumbled upon this handy resource:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/creme

...which appears to suggest that "creme" may be pronounced:

[krem, kreem; Fr. krem]

The middle of which would be the one chosen for Cadbury Creme Egg, if I am correct in thinking? Unless I am completely missing out the vital matter of the accent above the first "e", which "Cadbury Creme Egg" does not contain but may have an absolutely invaluable role to play in this conundrum. If so, then this leaves me completely stumped!

---

On the matter of the Amazin Raisin bar - unfortunately at this stage I know of no plans to resurrect the bar. In the mean time, I'd invite you to try some of our brand new Dairy Milk Melts, which (although they don't contain any fruit per se) are scrumptuous. Available from all good shops now.

I hope this gives you our perspective on the matter for you, and that you have a truly Merry Christmas.

Many thanks,
Ross

P.S. - Please pass on my regards to Pickles and your genuine living French colleague.

creme egg #3

Note: please read previous parts (#1, #2) first!


From: chris***@***.com
To: ***@csplc.com
Date: 23/11/2006 11:26

Subject: Re: How do you MISPRONOUNCE yours?



Dear Charlie

Thank you for your kind response.

With regard to the "creme" debate, I am afeared that we are "pulling from opposite ends of the dog" as it were. To quote your fine reply directly:

" .. Cadbury chose the French pronunciation of Creme .. "

But you do not! And this is precisely my point. If you were to choose the French pronunciation all of this MADNESS would end.

I am lucky enough to have a genuine living French person as a colleague, and they have given me their personal guarantee that there is no way the word "creme" can be pronounced like "cream" without changing the spelling.

Please understand that I agree wholeheartedly with the notion that the Creme egg is "Creme" and not "Cream" as it contains no cream. And yes, I also acknowledge that "Cadbury's Fondant Egg" hardly rolls off the tongue. But this apparent disregard for the rules of pronunciation disturbs me immensely.

On the matter of a "fruit and fruit" bar, I am greatly heartened to discover Cadbury's have "been there" on no less than three occasions. Is there any news on a fourth venture? You could even reuse the name "Amazin Raisin", about which my friend Pickles is still laughing in the porcine manner he has come to make his own.

In conclusion Charlie, I entreat you - why is a creme egg spelt French and pronounced English? And when might I expect advertisements for the *all-new* Amazin Raisin bar to grace my telescreen?

You have been so helpful thus far, I am confident together we can bring this matter to a swift conclusion.

Yours,
Chris

PS Please note I haven't commented on the lack of an apostrophe in the name "Amazin Raisin". That would be a level of pedantry inappropriate to level at a manufacturer of confection.

Next...

creme egg #2

Note: please read part #1 first!


From: ***@csplc.com
To: chris***@***.com
Date: 23/11/2006 10:00

Subject: Re: How do you MISPRONOUNCE yours?



Thank you for your e-mail, Cadbury chose the french pronunciation of Creme as the centre of a Creme Egg is a rich fondant rather than a Cream centre. with reference to a fruit only bar. Cadbury's have made a fruit only bar three times in its history. The first time was a bar called Amazin Raisin from 1971 to 1978 and then Sultana bar from 1982 to 1988 and then California Dream which was discontinued in 2001

Charlie

Next...

creme egg #1

From: chris***@***.com
To: cadburycouk@csplc.com
Date: 21/11/2006 13:46

Subject: How do you MISPRONOUNCE yours?



Glad tidings of the season!

Ordinarily this would be the time of year for casting aside one's problems but alas! I find I cannot. A query is gnawing belligerently at my braincase, and only the good people of Cadbury's can help.

Why is the (otherwise delectable) Creme Egg mispronounced so? Surely it should be pronounced "cremm egg" or be spelt "cream egg"?

The modern era is one of jolly European relations - surely you should move with the times and update the pronounciation? We even pronounce "Nestle" correctly. Indeed, in my village anyone caught pronouncing it "nessel" is immediately put in stocks and pelted with milky bars. Other pronounciation crimes include the words "cremm brully" and "cremm fraitch". Laughable I'm sure you'll agree!

I also have another, smaller, query - a "microquery" if you will. If there is a fruit and nut bar, and a whole nut bar, why is there not a whole fruit (or "fruit and fruit") bar? You could replace those hideous caramel ones with it, no-one likes them.

Thank you for your time, I await your reply with not inconsiderable apprehension and intaking of breath.

Yours,
Chris Russell

Next...