How to "say" the scientific names?

[El Lobo]

In Latin the vowel 'e' is pronounced more like 'a', the way it is pronounced in the word 'they'.

Tip: the vowel sounds in the Hawaiian language are the closest to Latin. When you learn the vowel sounds names like Haleakala and Kamehameha are easy to pronounce. My personal favourite is Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

[Dakota]

Oh god, what does the Meraukes sound like then??

Let me guess:
"a - van - as - ance"?

[donkeybuff]

It looks like I've been pronouncing everything right, but I say "kye" for kei. If you want to see a real tongue twister name, look up Dikembe Mutombo's full name.

[Susann]

Tip: the vowel sounds in the Hawaiian language are the closest to Latin.

And the two languages that come the closest in pronunciation of the vowel sounds of the Hawaiian language, are Spanish and Finnish

i use my spanish skills and make it a bit more neutral sounding, and call it okay latin.

So that works very well with pronouncing skink titles.

Oh god, what does the Meraukes sound like then??

Using the Hawaiian, Spanish, and Finnish pronunciation, (or in your case, the Spanish ) would make it:
Meh-r(trill the "r")ow(as in the word now, or row, --not as in "row a boat", but "a row", a quarrel, a brawl, or uproar-- )-keh
-------- Meh-row-keh--------

...would be the correct way to say it, but not how everyone in the community says it.

[Eurastus]

But remember: the word "Merauke" is not Latin, but rather the name of a city in Indonesia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merauke.

The Indonesian spellings were originally base on Dutch. Latin pronunciations certainly don't apply to Dutch, which is a Germanic language.

Just sayin'...

[Susann]

Here, Eurastus! Listen:
http://www.forvo.com/word/merauke/

Hit the play button...

[Eurastus]

Here, Eurastus! Listen:
http://www.forvo.com/word/merauke/

Hit the play button...

Now that is cool!

[Dakota]

No, I mean "evanescens".. when I put it in the translator, it sounded really weird.

I know how to say Merauke!

[Susann]

No, I mean "evanescens".. I know how to say Merauke!

...you know how to say Merauke the way they do in Indonesia, but you don't know how to say evanescens--which is an English word (well, except spelled evanescence) AND the name of a famous American rock band??

[Dakota]

Well, I was just checking.. D: The translator made it sound very different.

I have been saying it like the English word.. like the "rock band".

[Richard.C]

Out of a skink book i have

Following are the accepted pronounciations for the bluetongues and shingle backs

Pygmy bluey til eek wah ad ell ay den sis

Centralian til eek wah mull tee fass ee ah tah

Blotched til eek wah nig row loot ee ah

Western til eek wah ok sip it ah liss

Eastern til eek wah skink oy dayz

Stumpytail til eek wah roo go sah

Thats all it says in the book,im not as nerdy as you lot,im fine using the common names,lol

[Dakota]

I have been wondering about about the Centrals, as well! Thanks Richard.

Apparently I have saying occipitalis wrong as well.

[Dakota]

I have been saying it like:
"oh (like the word "OH") - see (like the word "SEE") - pit - al - liss"


I have been saying multifasciata like:
"multi - faw - skii - au -tuh" :p Whoops.

[Dakota]

...you know how to say Merauke the way they do in Indonesia, but you don't know how to say evanescens--which is an English word (well, except spelled evanescence) AND the name of a famous American rock band??

Wait-wait-wait!

I just listened to the audio.. and it is that way?? I have been saying it like "Mur - oo - kee" not "Mur - dou (like now) - keh" D: HOW EMBARRASSING!!

[Susann]

No. Not embarrassing. Remember, the way the lady says it on the recording is how they say it in Indonesia; the so called "correct" way. But mur - ooh (as in ooze) -key is how everybody in the community says it.

[Dakota]

Hmmm.. I wonder if I should start saying it like that..

[Toria Dawn]

I wish I could use linguistic symbols, IPA, on here! I also did a bit of Latin in school but I was 13 so I don't remember too much. I I also studied French and Spanish for many years, however I don't know how much that applies. Awesome topic idea.

I have been saying:

"Tiliqua"
Till-eeh-kwa


"gigas"
Gih-gaz


"chimaerea"
I know this is prob wrong but, chim-air-ah



"nigrolutea"
Nig-row-lew-shya


As for Kei islands, I was wondering that myself. I flip 50/50 between Key and Kay. There is one at a petstore near me and I was too embarrassed about potentially mispronouncing the word to ask to hold the little guy, heheh.