Oppo English speakers, help me out a bit please

"Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'" (otto-the-croatian)
03/27/2018 at 11:07 • Filed to: help, how do maek english talk plese?

I’m making an ad campaign for a local tourist agency, and I want to say to customers that with our service they can experience how we (Croatians) live, work, eat and drink. Would the slogan go Live like the locals. or Live like the locals do.

And again, Make cheese like a local. , or Make cheese like a local does.

Or something else? Thanks! A Kei step-van with a Mini front clip for your time.

DISCUSSION (31)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:17

You could probably go all out and shorten it to “Live Like Locals”.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:17

Either would be correct, but I’d go with Live like the locals/Make cheese like a local between the two options. Although, as Lexus guy said, it could be further improved by being further shortened.

Also, nice Mini-van.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
03/27/2018 at 11:17

“Become a local” would also work possibly.

HammerheadFistpunch > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:18

of the two I think “live like the locals” is more colloquially acceptable, though the latter is more technically accurate.

Milky > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:22

“Be like us, not you.”

ttyymmnn > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:24

“Live as we live” “Live as we Croatians live”

HammerheadFistpunch > Milky
03/27/2018 at 11:25

Always be you, unless you can be croatian...then be croatian.

Rainbow > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:28

HammerheadFistpunch hit the nail on the head. “Live like the locals do” is more correct, but “Live like the locals” is conversationally acceptable and flows better.

Milky > HammerheadFistpunch
03/27/2018 at 11:31

Don’t be stupid and just try to blend in.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:31

Live like a local is my suggestion.

For marketing purposes, I’d say the shorter the better. Doesn’t matter if the English is technically correct or not (so long as it’s not just a mess of words).

facw > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:32

Live like the locals and Make cheese like a local are better. The others ones are technically correct, but no one (at least in the US) speaks like that. The do/does is just implied, and everyone understands what you mean without it.

Also, I’m not sure I want to live like the locals, but I definitely be down to make cheese like a local. As long as I can also eat cheese like an American.

WilliamsSW > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:33

“Live like a Croatian” and sung to this tune:

HammerheadFistpunch > Milky
03/27/2018 at 11:35

Future next gen S2000 owner > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:36

I think Don’t be a tourist, be a local has a good ring to it maybe even shortened to just be a local . I vote for live like the locals but shortened to live like a local.

facw > facw
03/27/2018 at 11:38

Thinking about it, “Live like a local” is probably better than “Live like the locals”.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:44

“Experience Croatian life like the locals do.” It’s a little more flowery, but it has a bit more of a hook to it.

Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop > facw
03/27/2018 at 11:44

Seconded.

nermal > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 11:47

Depends on what region you’re going after...

“Y’all should try our cheese!”

“IT’S LIKE THE TAWM BRAYDYYY OF CHEESE!!!!!”

“Our cheese is on the right side of history. If you don’t like it, you are a bigot and a racist. SHAME!”

lone_liberal > HammerheadFistpunch
03/27/2018 at 12:33

That’s what I was going to say. The latter is better grammar but the former is how it would normally be seen.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 12:38

Just don’t tell them to drink like the locals. You cannot have return customers if they die the first time.

Teh Penguin of Doom > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 12:40

Professional checking in.

Key positive words to use: experience, learn, authentic, craft, local, off the beaten track, traveler, cultural, deep (dive).

Key negatives to contrast your offering to: tourist, mass-market.

I would say “with [locals]” and “join [locals]” rather than “like the locals.” This is a sales-language point, not a grammatical point. “Like the locals” is fine grammatically, but it suggests imitation and inauthenticity.

I would hit hard on location-specific nouns and not just say “local.” The wording itself, like the cheese, should be local and not generic!

Some ideas here. I’m happy to provide more.

Learn Istrian cheese-making

Join Dalmatian craftsmen as they practice their ancient art

Experience Zagreb’s craft cheesemaking scene

Drink like a Croatian

Deep dive into authentic Croatian life and culture

Experience Zagreb with the locals

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > facw
03/27/2018 at 13:12

Thanks for the help! Oh, and sorry but no spray-on cheese here, so you’re out of luck :/

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
03/27/2018 at 13:12

Good ideas, thanks! I’ll add them to the list.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > Teh Penguin of Doom
03/27/2018 at 13:15

This is amazing, thank you so much.

I like what you are saying, I’ll advise them to change it to one of those you said wherever applicable, though they will sadly need one generic slogan which can encompass the whole campaign. Thank you for the advice!

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > winterlegacy, here 'till the end
03/27/2018 at 13:16

Good, it’s a bit more specific as to what the offer is. Thanks!

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > WilliamsSW
03/27/2018 at 13:17

I’ll see what their budget is, maybe we can work something out...

WilliamsSW > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 13:45

Kidding aside, I personally like “Live like a local” or “Live like a Croatian”, but Teh Penguin of Doom’s advice is waaaaaaaaaaaayyyy better than anything this finance guy can come up with.

Teh Penguin of Doom > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 13:59

What are you going for with the generic slogan? What are some current ideas? I can give you some more ideas.

Teh Penguin of Doom > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/27/2018 at 14:06

slogan gotta be localized—

Dobrodosli! Come with us!

Real Zagreb

Our Zagreb

Authentic Croatia

Real Croatia

Zagreb Like a Zagrebian

ranwhenparked > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/27/2018 at 19:36

Yeah, my company’s flagship product was advertised for decades with a grammatically incorrect slogan/jingle, and it made no difference. It was catchy and took it to number one for 20 years or so.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
03/29/2018 at 06:43

Go with our flow...

Basically, just relax kind of vibe...