Pronouncing Latin
Thanks everyone, for a great discussion on this, especially Harry
Dewey's long recitation. In Canada we tend to follow the English
pronunciations of Latin plant names. I do think, when the plant name is
not scientific but named after someone, that the person's name should be
taken into account. For example:
Rhododendron macabeanum - named after Mr. McCabe, who was Deputy
Commissioner, Naga Hills, N.E. India.
It makes sense to say ' McCabe -ee - anum ' but some say ' mack - ah -
bee - anum'.
I attended a Conference several years ago where the speaker announced
that he would be using 'old Latin pronunciation' out of habit. I knew
the species well that he was talking about but got lost several times
during the lecture on trying to figure out which one he had just
referred to and, as Harry Dewey pointed out, then lost track of the
point he was making while trying to figure out that out. Good point, if
you are a speaker!
On the other hand, if you have been saying ' For-scythe-ia' and
'Clem-aye-tis' all your life its pretty hard to "do as the Romans do".
Diane Pertson
Otter Point Haven otterpt@macn.bc.ca
Nature Notes from Vancouver Island
http://zapbc.com/nature.htm at
Parksville & Qualicum Beach Online http://zapbc.com
