Re: [lojban-beginners] taxonomic .a descriptive

[Michael Turniansky <mturniansky@gmail.com>]

On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 8:10 PM, Jonathan Jones <eyeonus@gmail.com> wrote:
> Before I get into the the nitty-gritty of the actual purpose of this, I want
> to make sure a few things are clear.
>
> Firstly, I am not intending to begin a debate, discussion, argument,
> what-have-you with this, I am merely curious as to the opinions of our
> community as a whole and the reason for these opinions. So, this is more
> like a poll. I am of course willing to have debate, discussion, et al., so
> if anyone else wants to, I invite you to do so on the lojban list.
>
> Secondly, to the best of my knowledge, neither method is "correct" or
> "official", although I believe that, traditionally at least, taxonomic beats
> out descriptive.
>
> So, on to the poll.
>
> I have recently been thinking about a subject about which, in the past, I
> have been very vocal about, that being Lojban names for various species. At
> this time, there are basically two ways we do things, which I refer to as
> taxonomic, i.e. basing the lojban name upon the Linnaean (did I spell that
> right?) name, such as {bramlatu la.acinonyx.jubatus.} (big-cat of species
> Acinonyx jubatus), and descriptive, i.e. basing the name on it's
> distinguishing characteristics, such as {bramlatu la traji sutra} (basically
> - big-cat of species "The Fastest"), both of which are what we call, in
> English, the Cheetah.
>
> So, the poll is, what is your personal preference for species' names, and
> why? Do you prefer taxonomic, descriptive, neither both, either depending on
> circumstances, etc. etc., and what are your reasons?
>
> Please do not be afraid to speak up, because the point of this is to get a
> reading of the community. I am very curious, and the more of you who answer
> - and the more detailed your answer is - the happier I will be, even if the
> majority opinion is decidedly opposite of my own (, which is part of the
> reason why I have been careful to avoid expressing mine in this message.)
>
> Also, I would love to see other examples of Lojban names for things, such
> as, if anyone has another idea for what to call a Cheetah, or a Red-tailed
> Hawk (which is actually a buzzard, I recently learned), or any other
> creature.
>
> Remember, any discussion, debate, arguing, what-have-you on the main list,
> this beginner's list thread is only for voicing your opinion.
>
> --

  Like Pierre, I also use a mixed approach, but don't really like
fu'ivla, unless they are rather widespread (which in turn usually
comes from animals that are natively confined to a small area, so had
only local names originally, which were then borrowed into a wide
range of languages (e.g. zebra, giraffe, kangaroo)).  I probably
prefer a lujvo approach, unless it's too unwieldy to differentiate one
(classification of) animal from similar ones, in which case I'll go
the linnean route.  But really, I don't mind any name for an animal,
as long as it's actually entered in jbovlaste (which unfortunately,
many of Pierre's creations have NOT been, although I appreciate the
taxonomy page in the wiki, they should also be in the official
dictionary), so when I come across it in reading, I can find out what
it is, or in writing, don't have to reinvent the wheel.   Case in
point, while playing in lojban cantr, I came across critters called
orkotonida, a word that's not in jbovlaste, nor seemingly anywhere
according to google.  I THINK it might be ochotonidae, pikas, but I
have no way of knowing this unless it's in jbovlaste. (And if it is,
it might better be ogdoi, which is the mongolian name from which the
genus derive, or rokyractu, or ractrpika....)

               --gejyspa

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