Pronunciation of botanical names

J.E. Shields jshields104@insightbb.com
Sun, 08 Dec 2002 05:13:44 PST
Hi Mary and all,

Along this line, Sir Peter Smithers says that botanical Latin is a written, 
not a spoken language!  In any case, beyond Den's point of the differences 
between British English and American English pronounciations, think of the 
French and the German pronounciations!  (We won't mention Aussie accents here.)

Don't let smart-assed know-it-alls dictate to you how to pronounce 
scientific names in Latin!  I had three years of (classical) Latin in high 
school, 50 years ago.  In the occasional instances where I can remember the 
Classical Latin pronounciation, I use that.  Most folks around the USA 
anglicize the Latin names.  Who cares?  It only matters that you be able to 
communicate to your listener what you are talking about.

Follow Sir Peter's stand.  Don't be bullied!

Best wishes,
Jim Shields
in central Indiana, where we say it in Hoosier (pronounce that right if you 
can!)

*************************************************
Jim Shields             USDA Zone 5             Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92              WWW:    http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA                   Tel. +1-317-896-3925
Member of INTERNATIONAL CLIVIA CO-OP




More information about the pbs mailing list