Pronunciations

I took two semesters of Latin in college--enough time to pass a curriculum requirement. My Latin teacher promoted pronunciations for scientific utilization, but spent almost as much time using Roman Catholic pronunciations so that we can distinguish between the two expressions. Which I would admit was confusing then and almost confusing now, especially as orchid people identify their plants by their Latin name--i.e. Paphiopedelium--as opposed to their vulgar name "Ladies Slipper."

With regard to Neofinetia...I call them "Furan"...great way to start a conversation, ehh?

 

Ray do you have any references or books for correct pronunciation in Orchidaceae? I am a self taught guy, like most of us, when it comes to orchids. I can spell the most atrocious looking species, but saying a much easier one correctly takes a lot of discipline. Especially when you have learned it incorrectly.

I am familiar with most of the commonly available resources but I would really like something that is detailed and thorough.

 

I am surprised it is such a difficult thing to come across. I ask all the time and get few answers. Thanks anyways.

 

I think this is a sensitive subject. The pronunciation is variable worldwide. I would not be surprised to hear that the French, German or Spanish, for sure the Russian will pronounce those orchid names differently.

Chad, get a copy of "Orchid Names and their Meaning" by Hubert Mayr if you still can find it. It also has some guideline for pronunciation. It is quite helful IMO.

 

I had been pronouncing Neocogniauxia , Neo-co-gnioxia, until a learned friend pointed out to me that it was named after the botanist A.Cogniaux, which (being a French name) is pronounced Co-nni-O.Therefore, Neo-conni-o-e-a.
Kelly, I smiled at your pronunciation of Coelogyne, because I used to pronounce it the same way!
I am to be pardoned ,however, because the name is made up of Greek words,and the "wrong" way ,sounds closer to the Greek!

 

I remember when I tried to buy my first paph. I pronounced bellatulum. I pronounced it 'bella-tell-um'. the vendor told me to come back when I could say it properly. Nice first lesson!

I still don't have one 6 years later.

 

Thanks Kelly. I appreciate the links. I am looking for the book that Tom mentioned. I have only seen it for sale once and I had plants to buy at that time.

It is a tremendously boring subject for me, but I believe it is important. Especially with the way my generation of Americans can absolutely destroy a written language. After a while, not much is left.

 

Its an interesting subject to be corrected and correct others. I am of the preference to be corrected and hope not to repeat it. However, when adding these suffices, people often make the phonetically easy pronunciation. There is one in particular that I think about often as I say it often.

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii do you say kuhth-bert-sony-eye or kuhth-bert-sohn-eye? The man's name was Cuthbertson, so is it proper to change the third syllable?

 

The AOS always publishes a pronunciation guide near the beginning of each month's ORCHIDS magazine, and even though I guess it's the "official" way to pronounce things, I find I disagree a lot.

 

A problem with Latin pronunciation, is that since nobody actually speaks the language natively anymore, we can't ask a native speaker. There are probably 6 different conventions on pronunciation, and plenty of disagreement between them.

In my opinion, you should do the best you can, try to get all the consonants in the right order, and not stick your nose in the air if someone doesn't use the same rules you do.

 

I agree with your second paragraph--unless you are asked for clarification it is good etiquette to let it be.

However, with regard to "conventions" there are only two acceptable pronunciation rules: Classic Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin. Veni, vidi, vici" (Classical Latin: [weni, widi, ˈwiki] or Ecclesiastical Latin: [ˈveni, vidi, vichi])

Plants have Latin names due to the genus and species system of naming plants developed by Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus. Linnaeus chose Latin for his system because it’s a dead language (no "native" speakers to change or evolve the language) and has universally agreed upon rules of grammar and pronunciation. If you study Latin anywhere in the world, you will be taught the same thing.

 

Regarding consonants; explanation of the general rules would be nice. Like the pronunciation of the 2 (c's) in Phal. cornu cervi.

It is embarrassing learning what I consider to be a good deal about orchids, but not being able to say a rather simple name.

 

Chad, how would you pronounce Coelogyne?

 

cee-lodge-i-nee