Name pronunciation

[sbrofio]

Hi! Being italian and having studied latin for 5 years at school, I suppose my pronunciation is correct: it's 95% the same of italian modern language except for some different rules. For example "t" in italian is like Tank, while in latin is more similar to Zoo or Zip. The problem is when you meet some name (genre or species) coming from people name: Stanhopea from Stanhope for example. Do you read them in original way or like it was latin?
I think, as said, the best way is listening to those who have more experience.
I vote for EIEIOI!!!!

[Leafmite]

That is pretty cool. I am quite awful at trying to pronounce the Latin names and dread introducing my blooming orchids at OS meetings. I know how to pronounce the more common ones or ones I have heard but if I don't practice them a few times before the meeting.... I am always tempted to buy posterboard and just show the name. My Orchid Society is very sweet, though, so I am very lucky.
Discussing a species orchid I want to buy at a show can be a nightmare. I have sometimes just written down what I wanted.

[Vanda lover]

Some of my books have the pronunciation, but I think I will look up that AOS site. It is rather frustrating at times, trying to remember these as well as other plants and the many creatures I am interested in.

[kindrag23]

With my accent I have slight issues trying to pronounce the names.. then I get nervous and it becomes even worse...

[sbrofio]

Ahha I wish to hear your different pronunciations. I've never been in USA, are the differences among States so huge?

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by sbrofio

Ahha I wish to hear your different pronunciations. I've never been in USA, are the differences among States so huge?

American accents are noticeable. Most of us would be able to tell where certain Americans come from when they speak. I have visited your country sbrofio, and I can detect a difference in how an Italian from Naples speaks versus an Italian from Florence versus some one from Venice. Even within regions of America, there are accents that identify whether or not you grew up in the city versus growing up in the country.

It would be hard to describe how an American from the south would pronounce Phalaenopsis and how another American would pronounce Phalaenopsis from the Mid-West, where I live. But if you ever visit Indiana and then travel down to Texas, you will very easily hear the difference.

[Vanda lover]

We Canadians also have noticeable differences. Especially the people on the East coast. From Province to Province can be very different in the way we phrase things. Here in BC I have heard "is that your guyses papers?" You would never here that in Ontario.