Nomenclature/history thread

[Meredith Lane]

> > Selecting English as preferred language may seem
> > logical, but no one can predict what language will be the dominant one
> > within, say, a century,> > Yours, Hendrik Segers.
>
> If English is *not* the predominant language in a century then something
> went terribly wrong anyway. --David C. Taylor
>
English is the only language I speak (although I can read Latin and
Spanish [a little, anyway] and puzzle out Russian and German when
pressed). I happen to think English is an excellent, flexible, expressive
language. But, there are several BILLION
people who think _their_ language is best. Who is anyone to argue?

The authors of the Codes picked a "dead" language for this very reason.

Introducing politicochauvinist attitudes into this discussion is
_not_ going to help. Paying attention to history, however, may. Dr.
Reveal's discussion of this morning illustrated that very well. There is
also an article from Taxon in the 70's by Iseley titled "The
Disappearance" that also addresses this thread.

It is clear that Robin Leech has a good question: Anybody have anything
to say that is new, or are we excoriating an extinguished equine?

Meredith A. Lane                Curator, Division of Botany, KU Nat Hist Museum
2045 Constant Ave.                      Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Botany
Lawrence  KS  66047-3729        913/864-4493 or -7364  FAX: -5298 or -5294
                        UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
                        mlane at kuhub.cc.ukans.edu


ÿÿ    Nomenclature/history thread                                            RN.