Re: But doesn't everyone speak English?

[Tompaleo@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-01-11 14:24:29 EST, you write:

>>of Neuquen (Arg.) to explain it.
>>My humble opinion, you must pronounce a foreign word using the rules of 
>the
>>foreign language.

Why? 
There is enough debate over the proper pronunciation of Latinized or
Hellenized names as it is! Must we all become multilingual just to make
someonelse feel good?  This is mainly a _semantic_ discussion and should not
be taken so seriously  as to be offensive because it is not pronounced in the
chosen dialect of the describer!

> It is interesting that english speaking people tend to
>>pronounce everything in English.

How about that? Gee, last time I checked, the USA was an _English_ speaking
country!  (No offence to our overseas friends on this list is inteded)
 English is also regarded as the  "universal language"  (for the time being
at least)  and therefore provides a _common_ ground for many of the world's
people to communicate across national borders. 
  
>>I remember my german teacher telling me that germans don't pronounce
>>Washington like Vaahshington because they know better!
>

So what? I would NOT be offended if they did not do so.  It is _their_
prerogative to talk as the wish, especially in their own country. As a vistor
to Germany, France etc, I  would make every effort to use their  langauge a I
expect the reverse to hold as well. Remember the saying, "When in Rome.."?

And to reiterate a reply by Norm King,

>Remember that these taxonomic names are LATIN.  Much of our debate has 
>indeed been about how the Romans (and other speakers of Latin) would have 
>pronounced the words.  I remember what my Latin teacher told me, but who 
>told HIM?
>
Also with due respect,
Let's keep the "touch-feely" stuff out of science. Please!

Regards,
Thomas R. Lipka
Paleontological/Geological Studies