Re: Tsaagan mangas - new dromaeosaurid from Mongolia

["Richard W. Travsky" <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>]

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Dann Pigdon wrote:
> Jamie Stearns writes: 
> > I'm just as much for being "multicultural" or whatever as anyone else, but 
> > I think this critter's reached the "name is too goofy for its own good" 
> > point. It just seems that the traditional foundation of using Greek and 
> > Latin for scientific naming is being virtually tossed out the window with 
> > the new dinosaur discoveries from far-off lands.
>
> There are only so many Greek and Latin terms that can be used before names 
> start to get overly complex (Opisthocoelocaudia springs to mind - and gives 
> me a headache while doing so). 
> Besides - the tradition of using Greek or Latin words in scientific names is 
> a European one. Why should non-European countries be forced to use foreign 
> naming conventions? For that matter, I'm sure the name certainly doesn't 
> sound 'goofy' to a Mongolian. 
> I say bring on more Minmis, Khaans, and Tsaagans.

OTOH, one picks up enough Greek and Latin to pick out clues as to why
the name was given. Oh well...