In these confusing times, we know how important it is to let the little things go. But it can still be challenging to focus on the big picture unless you actively cut stuff out of your life that really doesn’t matter. If it causes unnecessary stress, confusion, or frustration, maybe it shouldn’t stick around.
The Pen Chalet Name Confusion: How Do You Pronounce That Again?
For instance, since the very first day we took up the grandiose task of providing fountain pen world fans with their favorite products at great prices, our customers have experienced untold amounts of confusion over the correct pronunciation of the Pen Chalet name. No one tends to have a problem with the first ½ of the company name. Pen (/pen/) meaning an instrument for writing or drawing with ink, or to write or compose, enjoys almost 100% pronunciation accuracy. However, the pronunciation of the 2nd half of the company name, Chalet, varies greatly.
Common Mispronunciations of Pen Chalet (spelled phonetically):
- Pen Kalut
- Pen Kolit
- Pen Chalit
- Pen Cholit
- Pen Kalay
- Pen Chalee
- Pen Sell It
- Pen Shallot
- Pen Shelly
- The list could go on, but we think that’s enough, don’t you?
Why Can’t Anyone Pronounce Chalet: It IS an Actual Word in the English Language
Don’t worry; we don’t blame any of you. A lot of everyday English words are hard to pronounce (or badly pronounced even by native English speakers). We’re not complaining (even though making fun of other peoples’ pronunciation seems to be an accepted form of social entertainment). Complaining about someone else’s pronunciation is a bit of a fallacy when you consider two crucial facts.
We Can Blame the Frequent Mispronunciation of Chalet on the Spelling System:
One, English has no strict pronunciation rules, so it’s a bit more flexible than some other languages. For instance, different words often have different acceptable pronunciations in different regions. Two, the English spelling system operates irregularly, so the system itself is the most logical scapegoat for mispronunciation. The peculiar properties of English spelling usually lead people to mispronounce words they read. In all seriousness, the spelling system is to blame. The same letters and letter combinations frequently have different sounds in different words. When it comes to the Chalet in Pen Chalet, mispronunciations are often inspired by the fact that the “ch” letter combination often sounds like a “k” and that words borrowed from French (like chalet) have a silent “t.”
Cutting Out Unnecessary Confusion in One Sweeping Move:
The point was to simplify by cutting things out of life that cause unnecessary confusion and frustration, right? So, we’ll cut straight to the point. After much consideration and a lot of brainstorming and deliberation, our entire team is in agreement that we have the power to give you one less thing to worry about during these trying times. We’re going to solve the problem right here, right now…with a simple (but complete) re-brand of the entire company.
The Re-brand: How Pen Chalet Became Pen Shallot
There were many choices when it came to choosing a new (easier to pronounce) name for the company, but one of the most common mispronunciations was Pen Shallot. (Maybe this indicates some type of connection between fountain pens and cooking skills, or maybe people involved in the analog world are also drawn to shallots instead of their more common, mundane cousins, the onions). But we’ll save these questions for another day. Once we decided on the company’s new name, the re-brand evolved naturally.
What Did We Include in the Pen Shallot Re-Brand?
You’ll notice that our website is already sporting our new look. The re-brand, based around the company’s new name of Pen Shallot, began with a new logo design. Previously the logo featured a graphic representation of a chalet, but as the difficult to pronounce chalet is no more, our designer replaced the chalet with a shallot. The new logo inspired an entire brand color update (that you’ll see reflected throughout the site).
The Perfect Day for a Complete Re-Brand of the Company:
Pen Shallot Sticker
We hope that by undergoing this re-brand and reintroducing the company as Pen Shallot that we’ve created an opportunity for you to cut out one of the annoying things that cause you daily stress and frustration. We’re just doing our part to lighten your load, cut out the stressors and give you something to chuckle about once you remember that today is April 1st, and this is our version of the traditional April Fool’s joke. A joke we consider to be FOR you rather than on you. So much so, that we’ll be including a Pen Shallot sticker with every order placed today (while supplies last). We hope you enjoy it. And happy April Fool’s Day, everyone.
