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Re: Latin and commemorative names #2a :)

On Fri, 2 Jan 1998, marco favero wrote:

Well, I'm not sure quite which you are arguing for now, as you seem to
argue for the soft pronunciation. Anyway. :)

> you can be right if you relate this pronunciation to English speakers,but not
> to latin,please,Magnolia like Magnus has in latin the same pronunciation;-).

We are speaking of English-speakers; and English pronunciation rules for
Latin (!!) which are largely convention.  Precisely because it is
difficult for English speakers to pronounce French correctly (as many a
pained Frenchman can attest), as well as names of botanists with such
daunting clusters such as "prz" in their names, most English speakers
don't generally try, unless it's an English name like Hale ( > Hale-si-a,
or Ha-lee-si-a).  (I believe the Brits would say Ha-leh-si-a). 

Otherwise they go with the latin pronunciation.  But---

It's a fact that English speakers do not pronounce Latin as it was
pronounced when spoken.  There are actually two "accepted" (among latin
scholars) pronunciations of latin, that exist side-by-side.  Add to this
that Americans differ from the Brits, pronouncing the long vowels as an
English long vowel (giving rise to the "-ee-eye" pronunciation that
rattles Krzystof.)  :) 

It's also a fact that speakers of different Romance languages tend to
approach Latin pronunciation from the standpoint of their own languages. 
(And are certainly closer to a "correct" pronunciation of Latin than
Americans!) But the "gn" being "soft" in French and Italian (as well as in
Spanish, though they now write it n~), does not mean that it was so in
latin.  Why it's so now would open a linguistic discussion that would be
at home in alt.sci.linguistics but not here. :) 

Gee, this has made me tired and hungry, maybe I should go have a nice
plate of guh-nocchi. :) :)

Ciao,

bob
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