Latin names: WHY?

[Dean Lofthouse]

My friends and colleagues in the arb' world seem to be of the same mind on this and we rarely use anything but Latin names.

 

 

My interpretation of this is that your friends and colleagues like to portray a superior intelectual image.

 

I buy trees regularly from my local tree grower, I always ask for the trees I require by common names despite knowing their latin names.

 

I personally do not feel the need to portray my dominance to the person I am dealing with

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

If using latin is to be used as a means to define a pompous **** i might suggest that those being spoken to in latin assume the position of ignorant ameteur!

[janey]

My interpretation of this is that your friends and colleagues like to portray a superior intelectual image.

 

 

It's no mere portrayal

 

It's no different from saying generically "chainsaw" to a member of the public, as compared to talking about the make and model on here with other professionals, is it?

[Dilz]

Ok from now on I will only use swedish names on trees since this thread ruled out latin as a universal language!

 

My Hägg is filled with caterpillars what are they?

 

tall, gron, ek, bjork, - that about covers 99.9999999999% of tree species in sweden.

[Dean Lofthouse]

If using latin is to be used as a means to define a pompous **** i might suggest that those being spoken to in latin assume the position of ignorant ameteur!

 

That comment backs up my theory quite nicely thank you

[Xerxses]

tall, gron, ek, bjork, - that about covers 99.9999999999% of tree species in sweden.

 

What about Sälg, hästkastanj, ask, bok, pil, lönn, valnöt, vildkörsbär and oxel?

 

YOU know what I mean...

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

That comment backs up my theory quite nicely thank you

 

 

If people wanna make stupid statements, they will get a stupid reply!

[janey]

What about Sälg, hästkastanj, ask, bok, pil, lönn, valnöt, vildkörsbär and oxel?

 

YOU know what I mean...

 

Is Snow White involved in that somewhere???

[s.varty]

That comment backs up my theory quite nicely thank you

 

Im with you on this one dean, but we do seem to be on our own.

[Dilz]

i always order trees in latin, no confusion in variety, i have to follow architects insane planting schemes, they write all their trees in Latin. Surveys, you might have 5 types of maple in one place, Latin distinguishes between them. I worked with scientists collecting tree data from many different countries working on one project, the Latin is the name chosen by all to identify the trees. Also there are interesting facts and information in Latin names, certain words mean certain things, e.g pesudoplatanus means a false plane. A lot of diseases are only called latin names..e.g phytophthora. Latin is just one of the tools arborists have at their disposal, if you write a lot of reports etc and surveys your going to probably use Latin, if all you do is work on the tools with no interest in biology etc then you wont, no harm in it. Its only like one climber using SRT where another doesn't, you can climb a tree with out SRT, i never use it, but i can see where SRT has its merits and that it can infact be a more effective way of climbing, much as Latin in the right situation can be a more effective and useful way of identifying trees. For anyone to slate people who choose to use Latin is perhaps a bit harsh, although i dislike people who look down there noses at people who don't use it. Just because you know Latin doesnt make you a good climber or even a good arborist, but nor does being just a good climber in any way make some one a good all round arborist.