Common names

[Mark Walker]

Just a comment which is somewhat on subject:

With a Caribbean wife and an extensive knowledge of Spanish pronunciation,
but without a formal education in Latin, I have found it often embarassing
to attempt verbal references using the scientific names.  It seems we have
all developed our own Latin pronunciation rules, and unless we're fortunate
enough to choose that which is generally accepted as being correct - we're
speaking a different language.

I'm fairly certain that the actual rules of Latin are rather tightly
defined, but I'm not sure that we're all following them.

Is there a pronunciation guide out there somewhere?  Is it _correct_?

Mark Walker.


-----Original Message-----
From: alan5319 at aol.com [mailto:alan5319 at aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 1999 2:52 PM
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Common names


We agree the local use of names can be very confusing. Take the butterfly
that
in the U.S. would be called the "Mourning Cloak", (Nymphalis antiopa)
according
to Audubon, "Field Guide to North American Insect & Spiders". In our far
corner
of England it is called the "Camberwell Beauty", (Nymphalis antiopa).

Only by use of the Latin name can we be certain that we are discussing the
same
critter. If we are not, please will someone tell us and burst our bubble.

It is a long, slow slog to learn the Latin names. However, as many far flung
travellers will attest, with such a limited amount of affordable,
respectable
reference material available it is useful to have a common, acceptable
language
to draw information from.

We should count ourselves lucky. Even healthcare professionals seem to each
ask
a patient's name, etc. time and again to perform various functions. If all
these were in Latin, perhaps once would be enough!

If you have an intersest in the origon of Latin names we would recommed, THE
SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA THEIR HISTORY & MEANING - A. M.
Emmet,
MBE, TD, MA, FLS, FRES. It is an entertaining and illuminating work well
worth
a browse.

Good Mothing

Aan & Jeri