Silly question... How do you pronounce "chaetomorphia"?

[Mavrk]

Originally posted by AquaReeferMan
key-toe-more-fa

This is technically the right one, but if you go to your LFS expect to say it a dozen different ways before they know what you are talking about

AquaReeferMan has it right on Chaetomorpha. Chaeto- comes from chaeta (key-ta) which means hair or bristle (as in polychaete).

That is the best explanation I have heard yet. It is straight out of my aquatic biology days. Thanks greenbean

[fambrough]

pagojoe, I appreciate your comments. And I will try to refrain from getting into a linguistic debate with you (I am very interested in linguistics and semantics so I am prone to it) partly because I suspect we actually agree on what language means, what it does and where it comes from when we dig to the semantic heart of it. However, saying there is no Greek in scientific language just plain makes my head spin. Believe me, I understand your point, but man... Take our case and point: Chaetomorpha. Even the our esteemed community leader and student of science, greenbean, makes the point about Greek (and other languages) in scientific names. Not to belabor it, but chaite and morphe are Greek, whether or not I am using Greek characters.

Anyway, like I said, pronounce it anyway you like. It sure isn't going to hurt anyone. Trying to say there are hard and fast rules in language is akin to saying the same for taxonomy.

In conclusion (speaking only for myself):
Overall, I think the question remains a good one, a helpful one. I strongly support the use of scientific names over common names in this hobby (I think we can all agree about the inadequacy of English names for corals, for example). It is at least in some small way helpful to have a guide for pronunciation, no matter how flawed, to help us communicate about our hobby.

All the best!

[lancer99]

Let's just call it "brillo pad algae."

Of course the Brits will still mispronounce "algae."


-R

[ReefJunkieOK]

Originally posted by sipos624
I say pronounce it chae-toe-morph-a.

-Mike

I am of the belief that this is how it is pronounced. It is rooted in botanical latin.

Chaetomorpha

Chaet - Comes from Chaete - Meaning long, loose, or flowing hair.
O - Is a connective vowel in botanical Latin.
Morpha - Form

If it was meant to be pronounced the other way than it would have been spelled chaitemorphe.

[pagojoe]

Originally posted by fambrough
However, saying there is no Greek in scientific language just plain makes my head spin.

All the best!

Heh, OK, my last comment on this thread. I didn't say there were no Greek words, or words of other origin, in scientific language. I said there are NO SCIENTIFIC NAMES IN GREEK. The very definition of the Linnean system of naming living things requires that they be in LATIN, and only LATIN. That shouldn't be a head-spinner, it's just the standard most scientific types have used to classify plants and animals, and their relationships to each other, since about 1758.

Cheers,


Don

[reefCrawler]

lol

it pronunces "Merry X'mas"~

[pdfb55]

Gary Majchrzak quote:

Wow thats awesome. Just added that to favorites.

[ReeferAl]

1. All scientific names are "Latinized". What that means however is that they are given Latin endings.
2. There is not total agreement on how to pronounce the names, particularly the vowels so there are often multiple "right" ways to pronounce them.
3. Not every pronunciation is "right" however- There are definitely "wrong" ways to pronounce the names.

For example, no one with any scientific background or knowledge would pronounce it "chee- toe-morf-uh"