From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Subject: Latin pronounciation (was reading plant names)
Date: 21 Apr 93 20:37:59 -0600
In article <116180@bu.edu>, bailey@butyng.bu.edu (Sherry Bailey) writes:
> Um-m-m -- that advice on pronouncing Latin plant names is fine as far as it
> goes, but my big problem is deciding where the emphasis goes -- which
> syllables do you stress? (I'll bet there's a rule -- I learned to read
> phonetically in school, but it wasn't Latin we were pronouncing! (OK -- latin
> roots!) ) I was distressed to learn it's supposed to be CLE-tis, not
> clem-AH-tis! (For example) It's easier to remember WHAT the Latin names
> are if you can SAY them right.
Sigh. You asked for it. Remember that... everyone else type "next"!
Dr. K's guide to botanical Latin, with profuse apologies to Wm. T.Stearn,
from whom I cribbed a lot of it.
1. Latin words are divided into syllables. There is one vowel per
syllable, with the exception of diphthongs like ae, au, ei, eu, oi
and ui.
2. To determine where the accent falls in a word, you must divide it
into syllables. If there is a long vowel in the penult, (the next-
to-last syllable), the penult gets the accent. (au-STRA-lus, AL-bus).
3. If the penult has a short vowel, the accent goes on the syllable
before the penult, the antepenult. (FLO-ri-dus, la-ti-FO-li-a)
4. Diphthongs are treated as long vowels.
5. In Latin, if two vowels that do not form a diphthong come together,
the first vowel is short: CAR-ne-us, ME-di-us
6. In words of Greek origin, the opposite holds: gi-gan-TE-us.
7. Watch out for the -inus ending. The i is long in some cases, like
al-PIN-us, but short in others: se-RO-ti-nus. Words of Greek
derivation usually have the short i in an -inus ending.
8. Best way to find out where the accent belongs is to consult a
decent Latin dictionary, or a good flora like Gray's Manual.
If the stresses are indicated by a ` (grave), the syllable has
a short vowel. If the syllable is accented with a ' it has
a long vowel.
9. There are usually some minor accents earlier in the word if it
has a bunch of syllables: put them in reasonable places,
usually every other syllable.... rosmariniflorus is
rose'-mar-in'-i-FLOR-us.
10. You have your choice of pronounciations of letters. Stearn
gives "reformed academic" ("classical") and "traditional English"
which is next door to my church latin.
classical traditional
long a father fate
short a apart fat
ae as ai in aisle as ea in meat
au as ou in house as aw in bawl
c cat K before a, o, u (cat)
S before e, i, y (center)
ch in greek words as K or as k-h k or ch
long e they me
short e pet pet
ei rein height
g go G before a, o, u (go)
J before e, i, y (gem)
long i machine ice
short i pit pit
consonant i "y" as in yellow j
ng finger finger
long o note note
short o not not
oe as oi in toil as ee in bee
ph as p or p-h if possible f
r always trilled (how do you trill???)
s sit, gas sit, gas
t table, native t at beginning, but like
ti in nation in middle
long u brute brute
short u full tub
ui as the French "oui" ruin
v (consonant u) W V
long y u as in French pur as long i in cipher
short y as in French du as y in cynical
If you're a true "church latinist", "cie" is "ch", not "s" or "k"
Now, as to pronouncing names that are stolen from other languages or
were once peoples' names, you're kinda on your own. Try to get it to
an approximation of the original language OR try to come up with
something that doesn't land with a dull thud on the ear.
"Warszeiczella" can be rendered "var-she-vi-CHEL-la".
One other problem. -ii or -iae endings can be tricky, since if you
apply the penult/antepenult rule, you need to put the accent on the
last syllable of the latinized personal name, which is usually where
it doesn't belong. So people cut some slack on that rule when dealing
with -ii and -iae endings.
Finally, words of wisdom from Stearn:
"Botanical Latin is essentially a written language, but the scientific
names of plants often occur in speech. How they are pronounced really
matters little provided they sound pleasant and are understood by all
concerned..."
Ah-men! Dona nobis pacem! (at least on this topic!)
Kay Klier Biology Dept UNI
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