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Re: Common vs. latin names

>>2) Latin names are hard to pronounce.  When posting a Latin name would it
>>be possible to also post a close approximation of the phonetic
>>pronuncation. example
>>Verbena Bonariensis .  At risk of making a complete fool of myself I will
>>attempt to phonetically spell the name. " Verb-ena Bon-aryan-sis "
>
>Latin rules of pronounciation go on for weeks, I've never had anyone
>laugh at my attempts so far. (Did have one interesting conversation
>with a guy growing Aeschynanthus -lipstick plant- though :)
>Anybody who laughs at another's pronounciation is just rude.

IMO, Botanical Latin isn't intended to be pronounced, it is primarily a
written form. What's more, many "Latin" names derive from Greek, personal
names, even Malay and Sanskrit roots. (Angraecum and Vanda among the
orchids, for example.)

My advice is don't worry about pronounciation. If someone corrects you,
give 'em a little half-smile, and repeat your own preferred pronounciation.
Then go on with what you were saying.

Besides, sometimes you may not want to use "Correct" pronounciations in
some settings. For example, the genus Pinus. That letter "i" is pronounced
as an "ee".

Carl
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