From the FAQ Library:
Dr. K's guide to botanical Latin, with profuse apologies to Wm.
T.Stearn, from whom I (Kay) cribbed a lot of it.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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)
- Diphthongs are treated as long vowels.
- In Latin, if two vowels that do not form a diphthong come together, the first vowel is short: CAR-ne-us, ME-di-us
- In words of Greek origin, the opposite holds: gi-gan-TE-us.
- 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.
- 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 accent grave, the syllable has a short vowel. If the syllable is accented with a ' it has a long vowel.
- 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.
- You have your choice of pronunciations of letters. Stearn gives "reformed academic" ("classical") and "traditional English" which is next door to my church latin.
| Modern Letter | 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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