The "How do you pronounce things" thread
- Thread starter Pineapple House
- Start date
Amphiprion
Premium Member
I wouldn't worry about it too much. With most of these words, there really isn't a standard to go by for proper pronunciation. There is a code of zoological nomenclature that does give some basics, but it doesn't really go into great detail.
xtm
Active member
Clam = First let the rear end of your tongue touch the rear-upper side of your mouth making the "ch" sound, then gently tap the tip of your tongue against the back of your upper front bite teeth to make the "LL" sound then say "Ah"then let your lips close once and for all to make the "MMM" sound. Now try it. Say "CLAM".
Based on what? Are you pronouncing it in reconstructed ancient Roman Latin, which has only been around for less than a hundred years? It's only since the early 20th century that some Latin scholars started pronouncing Veni, vedi, vici as WAY-nee, WEE-dee, WEE-kee instead of VAY-nee, VEE-dee, VEE-chee, and pronouncing Caesar as Kaiser instead of CHAY-sahr.
I'm pretty sure chaeto didn't exist as a word in classical Latin. It appears to be from the Greek.
The ch is pronounced as k. The ae is pronounced as e in scientific Latin and in Southern Continental Pronunciation (aka "Church Latin"). The ae could be pronounced as ai in aisle but only in reconstructed ancient Roman Latin. Both Encarta online and Merriam-Webster online give the pronunciation of chaeta as kee-, not ki-. Here and here.
Another example: We pronounce algae as AL-jee, not AL-guy. Some English-speakers in other countries pronounce it as AL-ghee. We give it a soft g and they give it a hard g.
If anyone is interested, this is a pretty good reference for the pronunciation of scientific Latin.
I took four years of Latin but that was more than 55 years ago and it was in a Catholic school, so it was based on a pronunciation that is closer to modern day Italian than what some people now say is the way Latin was pronounced in Cicero's time.
Bonsainut gave a pretty good description of Latin pronunciations earlier in this thread but many of the words that are quite common in this hobby are hybridized from a mixture of Latin and Greek parts. My biology class was taught by a meticulous "corrector". In additon I studied both Latin (six years) and Attic Greek (three years) so I am Sadistically entertained by mispronunciations of all kinds.
But to the point; if a scientific name is comprised of both Latin and Greek parts, the syllables follow the original language's pronunciation guideline, as it is commonly accepted (the caveat is that we don't know, with certainty, how "Classical" Greek was pronounced).
Ninong: the link you provided has, as resources, some very out-dated references. Here is another quick guide. Here is yet another, referencing BTJ's seminal pronunciation guide.
I hope that helps.
I think that correct pronunciation and usage of the more technical terms and phrases will help this hobby to gain the recognition it rightly deserves for its contributions to marine science. As an example, I find it hard to accept that someone is knowledgeable when nuclear is pronounced "new-kew-lehr"....
But to the point; if a scientific name is comprised of both Latin and Greek parts, the syllables follow the original language's pronunciation guideline, as it is commonly accepted (the caveat is that we don't know, with certainty, how "Classical" Greek was pronounced).
Ninong: the link you provided has, as resources, some very out-dated references. Here is another quick guide. Here is yet another, referencing BTJ's seminal pronunciation guide.
I hope that helps.
I think that correct pronunciation and usage of the more technical terms and phrases will help this hobby to gain the recognition it rightly deserves for its contributions to marine science. As an example, I find it hard to accept that someone is knowledgeable when nuclear is pronounced "new-kew-lehr"....
OK, thanks, I'll store those now. And just for kicks, let's include the link to ICZN rules for the formation of scientific zoological names, too. There seems to be a lot of confusion lately on the rules governing gender agreement.
So much for Harvard and Yale.I find it hard to accept that someone is knowledgeable when nuclear is pronounced "new-kew-lehr"....
Ninong, I think I am going to have read that before I can ask for a specific name for one of those "mysterious unknowns" we all have lurking in our tank...
btw, the rain here has semi-forced all of my orchids to flower; at least that is one good thing about all of our recent rain.
btw, the rain here has semi-forced all of my orchids to flower; at least that is one good thing about all of our recent rain.
Rambomessiah
Premium Member
Is it zee ni yah or zen e yah for xenia?
pledosophy
Active member
Here are a few I got wrong for a bit
Hippocampus reidi = hippo campus ree die
comes= co mez
$1000 credit card bill from LFS explaing to wife= no habla englas
Hippocampus reidi = hippo campus ree die
comes= co mez
$1000 credit card bill from LFS explaing to wife= no habla englas
