pronunciations

[Mark Walker]

Like many of the themes discussed on this list, the questioning of proper
pronunciation of _latinized_ names has been a reoccurring one over the
years.  My only contribution to the thread on this go around is thus:

Over the course of what has been many years now, I have gone from a shy,
whispering user of scientific names to a bold, in-spite-of-stumbling
pronouncer of Walkerized names.  I know - this goes against the very concept
of universality, but I have been guided by the shared wisdom on LEPS-L and
have concluded that my pronunciations are just as valid as the next persons.

When you actually find yourself discussing things in public, it's amazing
how different the pronunciations can be.  Sometimes they can be particularly
disparate (bordering on humorous) - usually resulting in bit of a
communications lag not unlike the ones that occurs in transcontinental
analog voice conversations.  This can be quite fun, and happens even to
those who are highly respected in the field.  After a time you figure it
out, mumbling the translation quietly to yourself, and attempt to catch up
on the discussion without missing more than a beat.  I've found this
protocol to be quite universal, and rarely have been met with stern
correction.

I find this a fascinating and wonderful aspect of the naming phenomenon.
Once you figure this out, the use of scientific names can really be fun,
after all.

Mark Walker
Oceanside, CA

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