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Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:19 pm

I searched and didn't see this discussed at all so just thought I would ask.

I was just looking at some Vanagon listings on Criagslist and I frequently see people call them "Westphalia" instead of "Westfalia" out of some sort of misguided "snooty correctness." :?:

What am I missing here? :?:

"Westphalia" is clearly a region while "Westfalia" is the company that converts VW vans. Which if you read the companies history it seems it has always been "Westfalia".

Does the confusion come from some "origin sticker" or similar marking that designates the region where they were built?

http://www.westfalia-mobil.net/en/unternehmen/unternehmenshistorie.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westfalia

Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:22 pm

Peeple spell stuf rong all the tyme!
Gotta go titen sum lose bolt's on my synchro before I loose them.

Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:26 pm

For example, this guy uses "Westphalia" all through his ad but puts "Westfalia" as a keyword. So obviously not a misspelling. It also has the correct "Westfalia" stickers on the van.

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4413575709.html

Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:29 pm

Some spell checks will change it to Westphalia.
Signed,
Phred.

Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:36 pm

vanagonjr wrote: Some spell checks will change it to Westphalia.
Signed,
Phred.

Phunny.....cause when I was searching for it I had exactly the opposite problem with my spell check and Google. Both were constantly changing the "Ph" to "F"

Clearly "spelling" and autocorrects aren't the issue in the above ad.

Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:40 pm

I had someone asking me if my westy was still for sale.i answered back "yes its still for sale!" After looking at the subject of the email I knew he would not be a buyer...

He wrote: "VW Weatfalia"

Yeah right... Probably he knows what's a weatfalia, cause I don't.

Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:24 pm

I'm pretty sure I've used Westphalia here on the Samba a few times. I'm a longtime VW guy, but I took German in college, and was taught the names of the various regions, so I've learned a geographical bias that overrides my VW lore.

Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:48 pm

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: I'm pretty sure I've used Westphalia here on the Samba a few times. I'm a longtime VW guy, but I took German in college, and was taught the names of the various regions, so I've learned a geographical bias that overrides my VW lore.

I believe this is what I did when I bought my second Westy after several years without onw

Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:57 pm

phalia and phalic look similar, so perhaps folks have a sexual connotation for the wonderful westies with their double-beds? :roll:

Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:36 am

Xtremjeepn wrote: I searched and didn't see this discussed at all so just thought I would ask.

I was just looking at some Vanagon listings on Criagslist and I frequently see people call them "Westphalia" instead of "Westfalia" out of some sort of misguided "snooty correctness." :?:

What am I missing here? :?:

"Westphalia" is clearly a region while "Westfalia" is the company that converts VW vans. Which if you read the companies history it seems it has always been "Westfalia".

Does the confusion come from some "origin sticker" or similar marking that designates the region where they were built?

http://www.westfalia-mobil.net/en/unternehmen/unternehmenshistorie.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westfalia

Actually Westphalia is only the British translation of the name of the region. In German it is called Westfalen: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westfalen

So I guess that is why so many english speaking people also translate the manufacturers name "Westfalia" into Westphalia...

Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:09 am

While I see a lot of borderline illiteracy and a lack of spelling skills on various forums, I do think in this Westfalia instance it is more a matter of a spell checking function making "corrections" that are not wanted.

Dave

Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:36 am

djkeev wrote: While I see a lot of borderline illiteracy and a lack of spelling skills on various forums, I do think in this Westfalia instance it is more a matter of a spell checking function making "corrections" that are not wanted.

Dave

defiantly!

Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:57 am

Westphalia looks more sophisticated.

Westfalia looks like Westfailya. :D

Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:14 am

teej wrote: djkeev wrote: While I see a lot of borderline illiteracy and a lack of spelling skills on various forums, I do think in this Westfalia instance it is more a matter of a spell checking function making "corrections" that are not wanted.

Dave

defiantly!

I always laugh on local ads. Here nobody can spell correctly Mitsubishi, even if they only have to look on the back of the car :)

Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:29 am

OddN wrote: Actually Westphalia is only the British translation of the name of the region. In German it is called Westfalen: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westfalen

So I guess that is why so many english speaking people also translate the manufacturers name "Westfalia" into Westphalia...

^This.

And it's no different, even in the year 2014, people spelling the manufacturer's name as Volkswagon, despite the name being prominently spelled out on the '80's and early '90s models' rear ends. No different than people spelling "Karmann" in a way other than what is spelled out on the front fenders of Karmann-built cars. No different than spelling VW's home as "Wolfsberg", despite the little round badges up front on Wolfsburg Editions saying otherwise. No different than spelling the van's name as "Vanagan". What makes these people appear even more inept than they are: Close-up photos in their ads showing the proper, manufacturer spelling.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:12 pm

There's a Westphalia in MO and KS.

I always thought it had something to do with Phish :wink:

Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:56 pm

I refuse to spell it "Kleenex." I use "Clean Ecks." I also spell out the whole name of my unit: Pretty ENormous Intimidating Schlong, rather than the more commonplace "penis." :roll:

Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:41 pm

I don't worry about spelling, because I am never selling my Volkswagon Wolfsberg Westphalia. Unless I find something like a rare Synchro Carrot Dokka.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:56 pm

Well, here is the classic poem about a citizen of that region:

There was a young man from Westphalia
On his arse tattooed an azalea.
An exquisite design
And the color was fine,
But the smell, oooh, there was the failure.

But it's quicker to write it with an "f". I'm going to ponder this while I take my dog, Phideaux, for a walk.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:56 pm

WESTFAILURE :P