One more brief forward

[Ron Gatrelle]

This is the last one I will forward on the names thing.  One reason for
doing this is to give perspective to the "debate".  Here is what I have
seen.  Over on carolia leps just about everyone uses common names only -
several even reject scientific names outright re that list serve.  Here on
Leps-L there is more balance - quite a bit actually. Over at taxacom which
is composed of plant, animal, insect, fish, bacteria, virus (you get the
picture) taxonomists and professionals - common names are most often
addressed as, oh, no not those dreadful things again.  One point is that if
we only allow ourselves exposure to a certain "culture" we are bound to
become deluded into thinking it should be everyone's culture or that it is
the best or correct one. This is called bigotry - which if unchallenged
will inevitably lead to micro fascism or worse.   The other point is that
only one set of names is all we need - now which set? I could go with
either as long as it is by an international set of rules and every
described organism gets a name.  Relative to leps - at this point only the
scientific batch does both - and the common does neither.

Here tis.


>Are there any guidelines or "rules of thumb" for establishing common names
>for organisms that heretofore are known only by their scientific names?

if you have to invent it, it is not a common name, it is a fabrication...

don't do it... you will just making unnecessary work for a future
generation of taxonomists as they try and account for these things...

If the organism is common or useful enough, or has sufficient impact to
merit a common name, it will already have one...  if it doesn't,
non-taxonomists do not need to talk about it and it does not need one...

There are heaps of existing name problems that need attention without
inventing new ones...

jim

~ Jim Croft ~ jrc at anbg.gov.au ~ 02-62465500 ~ www.anbg.gov.au/jrc/ ~



 
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