Deciphering the Name of the New Ferrari 12Cilindri
When faced with pronouncing the name of the new Ferrari 12Cilindri, English speakers may find themselves at a crossroads. Do you opt for the straightforward ‘Twelve Cylinders’ or do you embrace the Italian flair and go for ‘Dodici Cilindri’? The decision may seem trivial, but for some, it raises questions of pretentiousness and authenticity.
Some may argue that using the Italian name like ‘Dodici Cilindri’ sounds affected and pretentious, akin to saying ‘Paree’ instead of ‘Paris’. However, this argument falls flat when considering how we effortlessly say ‘Ferrari Roma’ instead of ‘Ferrari Rome’, or ‘Quattroporte’ instead of ‘four-door’. So why the inconsistency?
Personally, I’ve found myself hesitating when pronouncing ‘Dodici Cilindri’ out loud, fearing it may come across as pretentious. Yet, I have no qualms saying ‘Maserati Granturismo’ or ‘Fiat Cinquecento’. The issue may lie in the mix of numerals and letters in the name of the 12Cilindri, making it less intuitive for English speakers.
When it comes to numbers, we often opt for the translated version like ‘Five Hundred’ or ‘Nine Eleven’, but when names are spelled out like ‘Europa’ or ‘Torino’, we tend to keep them in their original form. The inconsistency is evident, especially when considering models like the Ferrari 250 Europa, which would logically be ‘Two Fifty Europa’.
With no definitive precedent to follow, the decision ultimately comes down to personal preference. So, I say embrace the full Italian charm and give ‘Dodici Cilindri’ the Captain Alberto Bertorelli treatment. After all, in the world of luxury sports cars, a touch of sophistication never hurts.
