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Dear Philip,
I'm not peeved --- forgeddaboudit!
"Hype" seems to me to be the most appropriate word, as least as I read your
examples. In fact, I have a hard time thinking of any synonym that could be
substituted without seriously depreciating the connotation intended.
Just who are these bankers, anyway? And what is their problem? Perhaps
defensiveness due to their own inner "hype" shadow?
My 2 cents,
Richard
>From: Philip Schmitz <pschmi02@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: omega <omega-list@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: German translation - venture capital -- Waaaay OFF TOPIC Date:
>Sat, 04 Jan 2003 00:10:43 -0500
>
>"Never start with an apology," they say. But having said that, my
>apologies for this seriously off-topic post. (Hey, it's the weekend.)
>
>Last July, several members of this list kindly responded to an inquiry
>of mine about translating a term from German into English. I am putting
>the finishing touches on the translation of a book about venture
>capital, and since many of you know three times as much about the
>subject as I do, perhaps you'll have some productive ideas.
>
>The German author uses the terms "hype" and "hype phase" liberally
>throughout the book. I ran the terms by two bankers here in New York,
>and both of them seemed . . . well . . .hesitant. Can you think of any
>synonyms I might use? I've listed some examples of the author's usage
>below. Any suggestions would be most welcome.
>
>And once again, if you're peeved, please accept my apologies.
>
>Philip
>
>
>
>During hype phases the established corporations first feel the pressure
>in the capital market, not in the product market. Investors tend to put
>their money into growth companies rather than into “boring” major
>corporations.
>
>---------------
>
>During periods of hype such pressure results in well-established
>corporations increasingly orienting themselves to the logic of venture
>capital-financed companies and trying to ride the capital market wave by
>buying up growth outfits.
>
>---------------
>
>Venture capital-financed companies wager, so to speak, that they will be
>able to refinance themselves through the capital market until they reach
>profitability. In hype phases the object for growth companies is to
>stretch the process of “giving away” shares as long as possible and
>adeptly to interweave raising new money . . .
>
>----------------
>
>A market downswing causes a change in dress codes too. Corduroy
>trousers, long beards, T-shirts, bright red hair and a public striptease
>by the CEO are viewed as remnants of a hype phase which is now passé.
>
>---------
>
>The departmentalization of functional units appeared to be an alien
>concept during the hype phases of the semiconductor, PC, biotech and
>Internet industries.
>
>---------
>
>The organizational promises during hype phases culminate in declarations
>of a new relationship between capital and labor.
>
>-----------
>
>The terminology loses its appeal. It is associated with a failed
>business model, with investor fraud and bankrupt companies, and becomes
>like a ball and chain. The order of the day, under such circumstances,
>is “save yourself if you can.” Management mounts an all-out attempt to
>revamp the company's language and terminology usage which had attracted
>much attention during the hype phase, but is now worn out and therefore
>discarded.
>
>---------
>
>Female CEOs like Meg Whitman of eBay, who had inclined toward classic
>business suits as opposed to trendy New Economy outfits even during the
>hype phase, suddenly became sartorial role models for other female heads
>of online companies. Among men, too, classic business dress held sway
>once again.
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