Re: Penelopognathus

[Barry Kazmer <bkazmer1@gmail.com>]

I always questioned the word Agnostic in school. If a person who knows
of the existence of something is called a Gnostic (Silent G) why are
non-cognoscenti called AG – nostic with a harsh g sound after the a. I
used to argue that we should be called A - nostic and have the silent
G still.
Therefore, I think I agree … it is the polarity! I am positive and
they were negative! In more ways than one! ; - )

Barry




On 8/25/05, T. Michael Keesey <keesey@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 8/25/05, Tommy Bradley <htomsirveaux@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > This brings up a question:  If the g in Gnatho- (prefix) is silent, then why
> > pronounce it in the suffix (-gnathus)?
> 
> The answer is that it's NOT silent, but speakers of English (and many
> other languages) find it hard to pronounce.
> 
> Different languages adapt different Latin/Greek words differently.
> Spanish speakers pronouce "femur" "correctly", i.e., as in Latin,
> while we English speakers say "fiy-mrr" (more American) or "fiy-ma"
> (more British). But, then, they say "Estegosaurus" (for "Stegosaurus")
> and "berrebra" (for "vertebra").
> 
> > A prime example being *Compsognathus*.  Although I believe the consensus on
> > *Compsognathus* is, "Pronounce it however you like, as long as we know what
> > you're talking about."
> 
> As a visit to a gathering of paleontologists will show you, that's the
> rule for ANY name. Indeed, any technical term. See how many
> pronunciations you can get out of "diplodocid", for a good example.
> 
> I've sometimes thought one could do a cladistic analysis of
> pronounciations and see how it compares to educational pedigrees.
> Score "0" for "app-o-morf-ee" and "1" for "ape-o-morf-ee" ... or do I
> have the polarity mixed up...?
> 
> —Mike Keesey
> 


-- 
Barry S Kazmer
202 N. 19 1/2 Ave.
Saint Cloud, MN USA 56303-0427
http://.pliosaur.freeservers.com I'll update it soon ...really!!!!!