Pronunciation thread

[Noto]

I've never met anyone who uses strict Classical or Ecclesastical Latin pronunciation for scientific names; almost everyone uses a mishmash of pronunciations from Classical Latin and their native language. Vowels seem to be the worst part; most Latin vowels are pronounced rather differently from the same vowels in English, due to a linguistic event called "The Great Vowel Shift" (I'm not making this up). Most folks are more consistent about using Classical values for consonants.

So, Latin final "-i" is pronounced as English "-ee", while final "-ii" is pronounced as English "-ee ee" with a slight stop between the two syllables. Likewise Latin "ae" is pronounced much like English long "i", so all those "-idae" animal family names should end in "ih die", not "ih dee". I'm not suggesting anyone start pronouncing names this way, as it will only earn you funny looks.

A few examples of family names with Classical/typical English pronunciations:

Centrarchidae- "Kent rar kih die"/"Sen chrar kuh dee"
Cichlidae- "Kih klih die"/"Sih kluh dee"
Cyprinidae- "Ku prih nih die"/"Sie prin uh dee"

Names derived from languages other than Latin or Greek should not follow Classical pronunciation. So, if you're talking about Oncorhynchus apache, you would pronounce the "ch" in Oncorhynchus as a "k", but not so the "ch" in apache.

 

[packer43064]

I've seen people correct other people who pronounce dovii "dough-vee"... They said it is supposed to be "doughy-eye", like the 'V' is pronounced 'W'... The double "i" in latin is pronounced "ee-eye."

Also, I pronounce endlicheri the same way... "endly-cherry", but it, apparently is supposed to be pronounced "end-lick-err-ee."

^ I think it's kind of funny end lick er... God i'm immature sometimes.

Yeah I say, Doh(as in homer simpson )-vee. If someone insisted on correcting me, they need to really get a life, it's just a word.

 

[FSM]

i read mormons instead of morons at first.

I'm betting there are a few mormons who don't realize manganese is a metal, not a fish.

 

[nubz]

when ever say i arawana it sounds like ari- wanna. or marijuana... good thing asian aros are illegal in U.S.A because i generally go to the fish store after i go to the orthodontist...i would walk in to my fish store my lips still numb with nova-cain and say "got any green arawana for sale?" between my slurred speech and the hippy that works at my fish store there is likely to be some miscomunication... if you know what i mean
i'll just stick to ''aro'' and how about "refugium" some say it like "refume"

 

[Jory]

I'm betting there are a few mormons who don't realize manganese is a metal, not a fish.

they generally refuse science.

 

[Delhezi B]

What aboue delhezi? iv always said delh heezi but my mom says del hezzi

 

[Red Devil]

i always said beach-her for bichir...

 

[Lizardking]

I say Polypterus..

 

[hmoobvwj]

I was just googling pronunciation for stuff like this and I just so happen to come across this thread! Very nice thread indeed and thanks for making it.

I say Bichir as: Bee-Cher
Pacu: Pa-Koo
Dovii: Doe-Ve-Eye

I was wondering how you guys pronounce Occellaris? (if I spelled that right...
Here is how I pronounce it: Oh-Cell for short, and Oh-Cella-Riss

 

[Stump]

Oss-Sell-Ariss would be my take on it.