Latin etc.

[Erast Parmasto]

On Thu, 4 Mar 1999 04:20:03 -0700,
JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE  <josephl at AZTEC.ASU.EDU> wrote:

>Language is
>a very emotional topic, viewed differently by different
>people in different countries.
>......
>People advocating English as the sole language must
>take these things into account.

Let me make some preliminary conclusions.

   1) In practice, Latin descriptions are accompanied with (usually more
detailed) descriptions in other languages, usually in English. It takes
some time and trouble to write in Latin / translate into Latin, but this is
good: A) the taxonomist must learn _some_ Latin; this enables him/her to
understand the descriptions published long ago & meaning of Latin names,
and is good for his/her general education; B) it is not too easy to coin
new taxa; one has to spend more time for thinking & writting.
   If somebody wants / has to publish in other languages (Estonian,
Russian, Farsi...), a parallel Latin description gives the possibility to
use any language.

   2) Any scientific paper may be published in any language, but it is
in interests of a scientist to be read & understood by others. Do I like
English / Russian / Spain or not, it does not matter. Anyway, if one wants
to communicate with his/her "own" people; if one wants to have young
scientists in his/her country, he/she must publish in a "local" language,
too. Maybe in parallel; maybe using more popular style.

   My messages on Latin pronounciation were not understood correctly by
some people. - English was/is pronounced somewhat differently by
Shakespeare, Indian people, in Louisiana and in Boston. Nevertheless it is
understandable, the +- minute differences do not matter. But when somebody
is going to pronounce English words according to rules of Estonian
pronounciation, then the result is regretful.
   Latin was/is pronounced somewhat differently by Plinius, by German,
Italian, Estonian, Finnish people. Nevertheless it is understandable, the
+- minute differences do not matter. But when somebody is going to
pronounce Latin words according to rules of English (a.o.) pronounciation,
then the result is curious or funny, and sometimes hardly understandable
for a non-English.
   But nowadays education is different from what it was 50 years ago. It
was normal then that an educated person was able to read and speak in 2-3
or more foreign languages. Not any more. Only members of small countries
are privileged to know more than one language.
   That is that.
   Erast Parmasto

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   "The main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing."
                                                 Scott Krippayne
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Erast Parmasto
Institute of Zoology & Botany, Estonian Agricultural University
181 Riia St., EE 51014 Tartu, Estonia
Phone: +372 7 383 027; Fax: +372 7 383 013
<e.parmasto at zbi.ee>