Pronouncing botanical latin the arboretum foundation. Botanical latin comes from a plethora of other languages with a multitude of pronunciations. It assumes at least some background familiarity with latin as well as with botanical terminology. Learning botanical latin plant names and other things. If you have ever been chastised for garbling a plants scientific name i certainly have. Pronunciation of biological latin including taxonomic names.
There is one vowel per syllable, with the exception of diphthongs like ae, au, ei, eu, oi and ui. For example, virus is pronounced vyerus in english, but would have been pronounced weeros in the latin of ancient rome. To understand the idiosyncratic pronunciation of botanical latin, we need to go back to the late 6th century, the point when latin was introduced in britain. If latin isnt a spoken language who decides which is the correct way to say a name. Sep 09, 2018 botanical latin comes from a plethora of other languages with a multitude of pronunciations. Not surprisingly, it is pronounced as though it were. Below are web links to sites which may help you with plant identification.
Slowly the original latin pronunciation have been forgotten which caused a lot of troubles. Many plant books also indicate preferred pronunciation, including those authored by university of georgia horticulturists dr. In englishspeaking countries, the botanical latin places syllable stress for botanical names derived from ancient greek and latin broadly according to two systems, either the reformed academic pronunciation, or the pronunciation developed initially in some large part by british gardeners. Plant names that are made up of two syllables have the emphasis on the first. How to learn botanical latin plant names and remember them. There are at least two basic systems of pronouncing botanical latin names, the english system used by most gardeners and horticulturists in the englishspeaking world and the more traditional reformed academic system utilized by classical scholars and in vogue among botanists in continental europe. This third level course is packed with information aimed at increasing our knowledge.
An anglolatin pronunciation has been in use for centuries, and incorporates features of late roman dialects that differ from classical latin. The pronunciation of classical names and words in english. There are also many good books on the subject, and an excellent starting place is roger phillips and martin rixs the botanical garden firefly books, 2002. The pronunciation, derivation, and meaning of botanical names and their commonname equivalents by allen j. A gardeners handbook of plant names, their meanings and origins 1963 stearn, william t. A reference containing an alphabetical list of 21,269 botanical words, with information given for each word, usually including the etymology i. How to pronounce botanical names laidback gardener. It is always best to pronounce it the way that the people who are studying it pronounce it. Truth be known, for you cheaters practicing the sublime hobby in zones 5 through 10, you really need only subscribe to two gardening magazines. I definitely need to practice those names but no more hesitate when i tell people about the latin names. This is the british english pronunciation of botanical. Allan armitage available from timber press, portland, or. This outstanding book should be on every botanical taxonomists bookshelf.
Many people also look upon latin as a written language that is not generally spoken. Are there hard and fast rules of pronunciation for botanical latin. Arboretum foundation staff jane stonecipherexecutive director jane joined the foundation as interim executive director in august 2017 and became our permanent director in june 2019. The laptop gardener how do you say that plant name. Oh by the way, im so glad that jade is just like us that struggle to pronounce some of the latin name. Botanical latin is a technical language based on new latin, used for descriptions of botanical taxa. Nov 29, 2017 dawn cannot say i have ever come across a book,but because of my interest in in alpines from an early age i learnt the latin names and the pronunciation from mixing with a a number of growers and academics mostly they were in teaching and the medical profession this improved my secondary education no end,my problem came when people refereed to the likes of grannys bonnet and had to ask my. How to pronounce latin names for essential oils and.
This is pretty common because most schools do not teach latin anymore, and all plants have latin botanical names as well as common names that gardeners give them. If this article has piqued your interest in latin plant names, try these books. The second way is to hang around plant experts who use these latin names on a regular basis. Pronunciation of botanical with 1 audio pronunciation, 4 synonyms, translations, 5 sentences and more for botanical.
As far as pronunciation is concerned, i agree that the latin language is dead, but there are still certain rules to follow, especially when you have double vowels together, ii and such. Grow and process plants for making beer, wine, gruit, cider, perry, and more. This is also the pronunciation youre apt to use if you perform choral music with latin texts. Written by rebecca alexander, its a clever look at our struggle not to embarrass ourselves by mispronouncing botanical names in front of other gardeners. In his book, botanical latin, william stearn, stated the following. Hi anna, i agree that using botanical plant names is the best way to identify a plant no matter where you are in the world. But this way of pronouncing latin never gained a foothold in the scientific world.
Over 3,000 plant names explained and explored lorraine harrison a book. Rare books angiosperm phylogeny res botanica all databases. Jun 15, 2010 this is pretty common because most schools do not teach latin anymore, and all plants have latin botanical names as well as common names that gardeners give them. A blended word, derived from the phrase botanical dictionary. I think its been several years since i put in a plug for one of my favorite gardening magazines, tauntons fine gardening.
Mar 17, 2010 hi anna, i agree that using botanical plant names is the best way to identify a plant no matter where you are in the world. Synonyms in taxonomical terms are the names of plants that are known by a different name. Generic and specific names are latin, or latinised names, usually greek. Apr 22, 2012 botanical latin is not meant to be a spoken language so you can pronounce it however you want. Nomenclature the naming of plants is similar to taxonomy but its also different. How to understand latin plant names and why we need them. Botanical nomenclature i know a fair bit about plants and their botanical latin names, but half the time i get corrected when pronouncing them, and the corrected pronunciations vary from one person to another. In englishspeaking countries, the botanical latin places syllable stress for botanical names derived from ancient greek and latin broadly according to two systems, either the reformed academic pronunciation, or the pronunciation developed initially in some large. She is responsible for oversight of the foundations activities, including its organizational strategy, external relations, and fundraising, as well as working with our staff, volunteers, and board of. I ask dr chris thorogood of the oxford botanic gardens, and author of perfectly peculiar plants, to explain all. The book has an alphabetical list of over 3,000 latin names which also tells you how to pronounce each word. Botanical latin is not meant to be a spoken language so you can pronounce it however you want.
Peru or neoporteria wagenknechtii named after rodolfo wagenknecht and you may still find them written this way in old books. They tell us that latin is a dead language, and so it is. But wed have a hard time understanding one another if we each made up our own pronunciations, so guidelines have evolved. How to say books in latin whats the latin word for books. There is one vowel per syllable, with the exception of diphthongs like ae, au, ei, eu, oi and. Im hoping all you latin scholars can help me with this one. Botanical latin is essentially a written language, but the scientific names of plants often occur in speech. Knowing the botanical name of a plant allows us to converse about a specific plant throughout the world. Ks guide to botanical latin, with profuse apologies to wm.
As, long as the person your talking to understands what you mean its fine. When speakers of different languages use botanical latin in speech, they use pronunciations influenced by their own languages. This is particularly true among the species names, or specific epithets, the second word in each twopart or binomial botanical name, which modifies the first word, the genus name. Stearn, in his book botanical latin suggests botanical latin is a written language never really intended to be spoken, but to verbally communicate we have to attempt it. Dont be scared of using latin plant names life and style. Of course, botanical names have many, many parts including the family and classifications above that, but for gardening purposes, just knowing the genus and the species is enough. Not surprisingly, it is pronounced as though it were modern italian. How to pronounce latin names for essential oils and botanical. Certainly some words are from lain, but many are from classical greek, others are a mixture of latin and greek, while still others are based on the local language of the region where the. Pronouncing latin words in english classical world 1986 80. There are a few guidelines to pronouncing botanical names that have been developed over time. Definition and synonyms of botanical from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. If you want your botanical illustration to be taken seriously you need the full botanical latin name and some acquaintance with latin can be a big help here. Botanical latin is accepted by horticulturists and botanists everywhere as the medium for naming new plants, and botanical research is almost impossible without reference to the vast number of first descriptions in latin much information is available in no other language.
The pronouncing dictionary of plant names american nurseryman publishing company on. To determine where the accent falls in a word, you must divide it into syllables. As a bonus, certain botanical latin words used to name various plants often also reveal that plants characteristics. Listen to the audio pronunciation in the cambridge english dictionary. Bulletin of the scientific laboratories of denison university 4. Using a notebook dedicated to writing out the botanical latin names is a technique used by many students, and one that reminds me of the pages of lines i had to write in school when i was caught chewing gum. For the computer enthusiast there are some garden cds that pronounce the names, or go online to sites such as true, your old high school latin teacher might have conniptions hearing. I sometimes get asked about correct pronunciations of plant names. Secondly, although gardeners often refer to latin names mea culpa, but im trying to correct myself. The names of organisms governed by the code also have forms based on latin. Dont be scared of using latin plant names life and. Latin is pronounced according to the grammar rules of the country you are in.
Bibliography, pronunciation guides,latin names and more. Understanding plant labels at the new york botanical. I would like a translation of a book dedication from the author to his fiancee. Syllable stress of botanical names varies with the language spoken by the person using the botanical name. Moreover, botanical latin is fundamentally a written language there is no universally agreed upon pronunciation of the words. Great online plant pronunciation guide renegade gardener. I have three good resources for you if you are curious about the correct way to pronounce. New pronouncing dictionary of plant names 1939 smith, a.
Fine gardenings guide to pronouncing botanical latin. There are certainly many books on the subject, and i highly recommend william stearns botanical latin 4th ed. This is the only way i can learn how to spell some of the longer or trickier plant names like griselinia littoralis or aesculus hippocastanum. It includes taxon names derived from any language, or even arbitrarily derived, and consequently there is no single consistent pronunciation system. These latin names at first were intimidating, but once we got the hang of it, they werent that hard. Understanding plant labels at the new york botanical garden. Dawn cannot say i have ever come across a book,but because of my interest in in alpines from an early age i learnt the latin names and the pronunciation from mixing with a a number of growers and academics mostly they were in teaching and the medical profession this improved my secondary education no end,my problem came when people refereed to the likes.
Oct 27, 1983 botanical latin is accepted by horticulturists and botanists everywhere as the medium for naming new plants, and botanical research is almost impossible without reference to the vast number of first descriptions in latin much information is available in no other language. Botanical latin, it turns out, isnt a real language at allits not the tongue of ancient romebut a system of nomenclature or naming invented. Steve had already forwarded me the article entitled say what. Until 2012, international code of botanical nomenclature mandated botanical latin to be used for the descriptions of most new taxa. How do you pronounce the name of that plant, anyway. This is particularly true among the species names, or specific epithets, the second word in each twopart or binomial botanical. I wasnt sure that i pronounced the latin names correctly. It is still the only language other than english accepted for descriptions. Another possible source of confusion is the latin used though much less extensively now than in the prevatican ii days by the roman catholic church.
Scientific plant names landscape plants oregon state. I have three good resources for you if you are curious about the correct way to pronounce the name of a plant. Pronunciation of biological latin including taxonomic. I only wish that someone had told me 20 years earlier that any pronunciation was fineand lightyears better than imprecise common names. Botanical latin is essentially a written language, but the scientific names of plants often occur. Reference books which are very helpful to using botanical latin and knowing what different plant names and terms actually mean. Sometimes called latin names, this is incorrectmany biological names are based on greek, a mix of latin and greek, or are based on the local name of a plant in the language of whatever people.
The people spoke the local version of latin which became spanish, french, italian etc. For the computer enthusiast there are some garden cds that pronounce the names, or go online to sites such as. How they are pronounced really matters little provided they sound pleasant and are understandable by all concerned. Pronunciation of latin and quasi latin scientific terms. Some bookstores or the library carry small dictionaries of botanical names and their pronunciation. Pronouncing botanical latin by the time i got home.
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