Latin names and how we say them

[Anthony Darby]

I say "sess pit osa" just through habit, although, being of Latin rather than Greek origin it should be 'K' and then 'eye'. In singing I pronounce 'Coelos' as 'Chellos', but other countries have 'sellos'.

BTW anyone know the origin of the quote "the curtains were drawn, everthing else was real", or is it a misquote from "The curious incident of the dog in the night-time"?

[David Nicholson]

Chic Murray.

[Michael]

Interesting! This thread also reminded me of some words that i didnt knew how to pronounce, the same way as caespitose, such as caesia, coelogyne, coelia, etc... But i had spoked to my teacher and he told me that they are spelled this way: cehsia (like caesar is the latin name for cesar), celogine and celia. Latin is such a strange language.. hehe 

[Anthony Darby]

Interesting! This thread also reminded me of some words that i didnt knew how to pronounce, the same way as caespitose, such as caesia, coelogyne, coelia, etc... But i had spoked to my teacher and he told me that they are spelled this way: cehsia (like caesar is the latin name for cesar), celogine and celia. Latin is such a strange language.. hehe 

Funny you should mention Caesar..... I certainly don't say K-eye-sar, but say see=sar. At least now I know  (who said Latin was a funny language) what caespitosa means.

[Michael]

Funny you should mention Caesar..... I certainly don't say K-eye-sar, but say see=sar.

Yes Anthony, you are right, Caespitose, Caesia and Caesar (sehs-pi-tose, seh-sia and seh-zar in portuguese) are all pronounced the same way. So I guess you shall pronounce the first two the same way you say Cesar in English.

Caesia comes from Caesius (that means coppery-blue in latin). Although they look very similar words, i guess Caesia and Caesar arnt related 

[Gerry Webster]

By analogy with Caesar, which most native English speakers do not pronounce Kaiser, I would incline towards 'See-spitosa'. Fortunately I don't grow it so I never have to say its name.

[Maggi Young]

Fortunately I don't grow it so I never have to say its name.

Now, Gerry, that IS cheating!! 

[mark smyth]

This chat reminds me of someone who says Aquilegia as a-quil-ea

[David Shaw]

Interesting sugestion, Michael. Hail Seas-pit-oser!
Life is much easier for those of the school of thought that it doesn't really matter how you pronounce it, just try not to kill it!