Google ",which takes the valley as a song, symbolizes the joy of harvest, and also expresses a diligent and realistic attitude and longing for returning to nature. It also wants to convey China people's hope for luck.
"Joy of Harvest"-the story behind the birth of "Google"
"Google", which takes the grain as a song, symbolizes the joy of harvest, and also expresses a diligent and realistic attitude and longing for returning to simplicity. It also wants to convey China people's hope for luck.
"Google" is a song of sowing and expectation, as well as a song of harvest and joy.
In this season when everything is reviving and the grass is green and willow leaves are new, Google is announcing the Chinese name for Chinese language users all over the world, which is the only non-English name of Google in the world.
"Google", a seemingly simple word, has pinned Google's dreams and hopes. To trace the origin of "Google", the ship of time will drift to four years ago.
"A project in which all China people participate in Google"
In p>22, Mountain View, the headquarters of Google, was joined by another employee from China, and "Should we give Google a Chinese name" once again caused waves among China employees in Google. In fact, since Google recruited its first employee from China, giving Google a nice, memorable and interesting Chinese name has become a common project for all employees in China around the world.
"Giving Google a Chinese name has become a rare project in which all Google China people * * * participate. Everyone cares about such a thing. It can be said that in recent years, every Google China person has participated in the discussion of Chinese names to some extent, and this may be the only project in which all China people participate. Most employees of Google are full of affection for the Google brand. Just like naming your children, everyone wants to give Google a unique and creative name. " Zhang Jing, marketing manager of Google Asia Pacific, said. "Just like there are many moms and dads, everyone's interpretation and expectation of the Google brand are slightly different. Coupled with other reasons, in the past four years, the idea of Chinese names has stayed in the discussion of Google engineers or marketers and has not been officially put on the agenda. "
However, with the development of users' needs, a catchy Chinese name is no longer limited to the "theory on paper" discussed by Google China engineers.
fortunately, from the very beginning, Google has made clear the direction of Chinese names: firstly, it is not only a new name, but also a good embodiment of the characteristics of Google, which is innovative, energetic, free and energetic, and it has no national boundaries and can cause widespread buzz. Second, as a unique name in the world, Chinese names are by no means a simple "sinicization" of Google pronunciation. They must reflect the local characteristics of China and the spirit of localization. This idea runs through the whole process of Google's Chinese naming. The Chinese name to be chosen does not necessarily conform to the traditional spirit of Google, but it must conform to the cultural characteristics of China.
"Close-to-hand argument, difficult decision"
With the selection process of Chinese names, a "heated debate" in which all China people in Google participated in the discussion of Chinese names was vividly demonstrated.
soon, an engineer quickly created a special area for Chinese names in Google's internal website, and sorted out the discussion materials related to Chinese names in recent years for your reference. A mailing list about this matter has also been made, and all Googler people in China are eager to try it. Even an employee on a business trip sent a letter specifically asking to be added to the mailing list. He said that although his email could not be displayed in Chinese for the time being, he hoped to tell him the alternatives in pinyin, so as to participate in his own opinions.
"Let's vote," which is the most commonly used and important way to express opinions at this stage, namely, Gougu, Bo Gu, Bogu, Kuguo, Gugou, Gouguo, Qiuguo, Duoguo, Suoguo, Google, Find Me, Cool Dog, Wogou, Wosou, Kuguo, Kugou, Kugou.
Some engineers have put forward names such as numbers or "hundred powers" for numbers, because the word Google comes from the mathematical term Googol, and its original meaning stands for 1 to the 1th power. But because it is too technical, it is not easy for ordinary users to understand and give up.
In order to show that their choice is the best, China employees of Google have found all kinds of evidences. Some people say that the pronunciation of "Goo Guo" is exactly the same as that of their hometown dialect, so it is the best and most China-like; Some people have discussed each pronunciation in detail from the perspective of phonetic analysis, and fully combined the meaning of "knowing things", thinking that "Gegao" is a good name; Other employees began to "break down the text and interpret the words", from radical to phonetic feeling, and then to etymological meaning. These engineers who are good at the most advanced network technology argue strictly according to the standard of "faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance".
The goal is getting clearer and clearer. With the discussion results of China Googler, my colleagues in the marketing department specially went to the US headquarters to introduce the progress of Chinese names to all China Googlers face to face. This meeting is an important step in the naming of Google's Chinese names. The list of candidates has finally narrowed down to the top three, and finally locked in "Gu Guo" and "Gu Ge". The two camps were formed, and even the senior management of the company rarely disagreed. Kaifu and Shaoning became firm supporters of "Gu Guo". The camp that supports "ancient songs" thinks that the name "Guguo" is more like the signboard of an agricultural product company, while "ancient songs" are heavy enough but criticized for not conforming to Google's overall brand image, which is often new and young, and are opposed by Google engineers. The name is deadlocked.
"A good name is the real beginning"
In Google's global environment, the corporate culture is transparent, equal and open, and all issues are discussed on the table. When making a decision on an issue, everyone can fully express their opinions and even argue, but once the decision is made, everyone will resolutely implement it. Honesty and fairness are the characteristics of Google and all Google.
such values and cultural standards are directly reflected in the Chinese naming of Google. In this regard, Kai-Fu Lee joked after the birth of the Chinese name: "Our democratic way of doing things should be adhered to and encouraged, but we can't fail to discuss the results."
a split second breaks the deadlock
Wang Huainan, marketing director of Google Asia Pacific. One day in December, 25, Wang Huainan, who had been a little upset by the Chinese name and the deadlocked debate, scrawled the existing name on the paper at random. Suddenly, the combination of "Google" came to life on the paper. Wang Huainan excitedly wrote the word "Google" on the paper, and then went to everyone's desk to ask, "What do you think of Google?" "Is this good?" . To this end, he asked almost all employees of Google China, and everyone showed amazing agreement in this choice. Google's Chinese name "Google" was born on a sunny afternoon in December 25.
China employees of Google all over the world expressed their love unreservedly, but still did not forget to make fun of it. One employee said that "Google" reminded him of "Li Guyi's song", and "Google" was quickly extended internally as "Brother Gu". An employee said, Brother Gu? Is it the big brother of Silicon Valley?
"Google", full of Chinese pastoral poetry, abandoned the rigid literal translation of English. Zhang Jing said: "You can say that we are the songs from Silicon Valley, with hidden aspirations, silently serving Chinese users around the world, or the songs of harvest and joy. In short, this is a Google belonging to China people all over the world."