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Hi all, In English, as in many other languages, italics=20 are used to emphasize foreign words, not because=20 they are taxonomic or scientific names, but=20 because they are foreign (Latin or otherwise).=20 Some taxonomic terms (like species names) are in=20 Latin (not only derived from Latin), so they are=20 italicized to point them out. One should do it=20 with any other word in a language different from=20 that of the text. You can also use other means of=20 emphasizing, like underline or quotes, but=20 italics are preferred. A number of sources in the web mention this: The Times Style Manual: italics [...] However, certain areas do always=20 take italics: less common, non-Anglicised foreign=20 words go in italics, but err on the side of roman=20 (eg, in extremis, hors d'oeuvre, angst, de rigueur). foreign words write in roman when foreign words=20 and phrases have become essentially a part of the=20 English language (eg, an elite, a debacle, a=20 f=EAte, de rigueur); otherwise, use italic (eg, a=20 bon mot, a b=EAte noire, the raison d'=EAtre). The "Style Manual" at the U. of Minnesota: 2. Use italics for emphasis, for unfamiliar=20 foreign words and phrases, and for technical=20 terms followed by definitions. [...] When italic=20 type is not available (for example, in a=20 typewriter or handwritten manuscript), underline to indicate italics... International Journal of Food Engineering Foreign terms: Whenever possible, foreign terms=20 should be set in italics rather than underlined. etc. Francisco de Castro Research Corporation @ Univ. of Hawaii Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] At 02:37 PM 5/14/2006, David M. Lawrence wrote: >My guess is that it's just a matter of style. The binomial is just the >generic and specific portion of the name -- not the family, order, etc. >Italics are often used as a form of emphasis. Italicizing every taxonomic >term up to kingdom that is based on "foreign" roots would dilute the= effect. > >Note that scientific names are generally always italicized, regardless of >the country of publication. (Even Greek scientific names would be= italicized >in Greece. I would think it is for emphasis, period. > >Also note that, regardless of what the Web site says, words of foreign >origin are NOT always italicized. English is an amalgamation of many >different languages. We'd go crazy trying to sort out the Saxon terms from >the Celtic terms from the Norse terms from the French terms, etc. (Not to >mention the p-Celtic from the q-Celtic, or whatever.) > >Dave > >------------------------------------------------------ > David M. Lawrence | Home: (804) 559-9786 > 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787 > Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > USA | http: http://fuzzo.com >------------------------------------------------------ > >"We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo > >"No trespassing > 4/17 of a haiku" -- Richard Brautigan > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Inouye >Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 1:42 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: why italics? > >Why do we italicize only genus and species names when presenting taxonomic >information? > >One web site I looked at claims that "By the way, the italics are used only >because it is proper, in writing, to italicize words that are in any >language other than English." Aren't any other parts of the taxonomic >hierarchy in Latin? --=======AVGMAIL-4468727A6DC2======= Content-Type: text/plain; x-avg=cert; charset=us-ascii; x-avg-checked=avg-ok-67B47AD Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: inline Content-Description: "AVG certification" No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.6/339 - Release Date: 5/14/2006 --=======AVGMAIL-4468727A6DC2=======--
