Poll for Pronunciation of “Neofinetia”

[Ray]

None of the above.

The genus is named after a French botanist named Finet, which is pronounced “Fee-NAY”, making the genus “Nee-oh-Fee-NAY-ee-ah”.

[Shoreguy]

Originally Posted by Ray

None of the above.

The genus is named after a French botanist named Finet, which is pronounced “Fee-NAY”, making the genus “Nee-oh-Fee-NAY-ee-ah”.

I believe the third option recognizes its origin Finet.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

I believe the third option recognizes its origin Finet.

Yes, but it left out the penultimate syllable.

[Shoreguy]

Originally Posted by Ray

Yes, but it left out the penultimate syllable.

The “ia” is easily pronounceable at the end of option 1 but not 3 where it is awkward and best left out in my mind and replaced by “ah”

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

I believe the third option recognizes its origin Finet.

Actually the first option is much closer to 'Finet'. The anglophone way of teaching french prononciations is far from accurate. Finet is not prononced fi-NAY. The 'net' part of the name is actually prononced like the English word 'net', with the t silent. So if you want to stay true to the native prononciation of Finet, option 1 is closest. In French, using what I wrote above, we would prononce it Neo-fi-ne-thee-a

(Don't get me started on how the French alphabet is taught in English. b,c,d is NOT prononced BAY SAY DAY!)

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Actually the first option is much closer to 'Finet'. The anglophone way of teaching french prononciations is far from accurate. Finet is not prononced fi-NAY. The 'net' part of the name is actually prononced like the English word 'net', with the t silent. So if you want to stay true to the native prononciation of Finet, option 1 is closest. In French, using what I wrote above, we would prononce it Neo-fi-ne-thee-a

(Don't get me started on how the French alphabet is taught in English. b,c,d is NOT prononced BAY SAY DAY!)

Late to the party, but totally agree with Camille. Grandson is in a French language immersion school... I've learned the phrase Camille uses "The anglophone way of teaching [insert choice of language here] to be pretty much across the board whether French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, etc, etc, etc.

Heck, even folks who speak English disagree about pronunciation of certain words. Thus to be correct, we must go back to the origin of the word as opposed to the vernacular.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by Ray

None of the above.

The genus is named after a French botanist named Finet, which is pronounced “Fee-NAY”, making the genus “Nee-oh-Fee-NAY-ee-ah”.

I beg to differ.

While the name honors Finet, once it becomes a plant name it should be pronounced according to the rules for Latin. In Latin, there are no provisions for pronouncing according to French, Spanish, German or anything else.