not a culture question, pronunciation instead

[Gage]

Originally Posted by Ray

Unfortunately Bud, classic Latin, "church" Latin, and botanical Latin are not the same...

I did study classic Latin (way back when), so tend to lean that way in my pronunciation, but the entire world, for some unfathomable reason, doesn't agree with me on that.

This drives me crazy. I am always trying to pronounce the Latin names correctly, but I think the fact that Americans are mostly unilingual causes us to want to pronounce foreign words as though they were English words. And since Latin is for all intensive purposes a dead language (in that we cannot consult people of whom this is a first language), I think there will always be debate over pronunciation. This bothers me. Sadly I think I'm just going to continue following whatever pronunciations the "masses" use, and when all else fails go with what sounds right to me.

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by Bud

Take note : it is Latin...

I would have to respectfully disagree with you there, Bud. Orchid genus names (separate from botanical latin) are merely latinized - whatever that means - versions of all sorts of things: Dendrobium (Greek), Cattleya (English), Chaubardiella (French), Kefersteinia (German), Dracula (Romanian), etc., etc., etc.

I find it far more helpful and natural-sounding to understand the pronunciation of the root and carry that forward into the pronunciation of genus and species. So for Cattleya, for example, I opt for CAT-lee-ya over cat-LEE-ya. (NEVER the horrific cattle-LEE-ya.)

Tolumnia is based on Tolumnius (a character in a Virgil play), which is conventionally pronounced with the accent on the second syllable. So tol-LUM-nee-ya it is for me.

[Bud]

well whatever language its origins...its still bastardized latin...or wanna be latin...that they RHS is doing:

Ray is right...no matter what research you do in correct classic Latin: the English speaking world will still insist on their own pronounciation...
but I want my name pronounced as I grew up with...I was in Tokyo and they have a weird way of saying my name and I am deeply disturbed(they called me "bood"...
so I make it a point to listen to the person how to say their name and then I mimic it to the correct accent and syllables...

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by Bud

I am deeply disturbed(they called me "bood"

I hope for your psychological health that they never name a genus for you. Budia would almost certainly be pronounced by nearly everyone as BOOD-ee-a.

I know exactly what you mean. "Bruce" is seemingly unpronouncable in any language but english (although french-speakers do a reasonably good job). Bruceara would invariably end up being pronounced BRUCEY-ara.

[Bud]

Dude ! you kill me...LOL

[Call_Me_Bob]

I just try my best to copy people who should know what they are talking about ( pronouncing about?) lol.

I wonder what bob would be if it was Latinized into a species or genus. Lol! Bob-lee-ton e a? Bobclarkeara? Lol

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

I just try my best to copy people who should know what they are talking about ( pronouncing about?) lol.

Your confidence may be seriously misplaced.

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

I wonder what bob would be if it was Latinized into a species or genus. Lol! Bob-lee-ton e a? Bobclarkeara? Lol

According to those Wikipedia nuts, the latin for Robert is Rodepertus - which sounds like a perfectly 'normal' orchid genus all by itself. Of course you'll need to change your screen name to Call_Me_Rodepertus.

[Call_Me_Bob]

It vey well may be misplaced confidence. But I do trust these people so it may be correctly places. People like ray and the like. Next school year I'm taking Latin do maybe that will help.

Haha rodepertus! Hahahahahnahahahah that made my day! If I ever discover a new orchid I'll name it that, sounds cool "cattleya rodepertus" hahah too bad my name really isn't bob

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

It vey well may be misplaced confidence. But I do trust these people so it may be correctly places. People like ray and the like.

Just so there's no misunderstanding, you're absolutely right to have confidence in Ray and many others on this forum. I (stupidly) thought you were referring to me!

[Call_Me_Bob]

Lol. I've never heard you speak in real life so I wouldn't know who to copy :P