I suggest Mr. Anderson learn more about what it is like to be in a
newsroom. (Most scientists should do so, but that's another matter.)
If I was an editor -- and I have been at various times in my career -- I
have too damned much work to do to learn what one group of biologists
does with its favorite species and what another group of biologists does
with another group of species. I need a consistent style to use for ALL
organisms I might refer to in a publication.
Capitalization is a question of style -- not substance, such as spelling
or grammar.
If the birders are all up (stylewise), but the ichthyologists,
herpetologists, and botanists are all down (stylewise), I'm more likely
to use a down style. If the tradition for my publication is to use a
down style, I'm not inclined to change it just to make a few scientists
(most of whom don't buy my paper or magazine) happy. Whatever style I
choose to use, I am going to use it for ALL SPECIES.
For example, the Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition, entry 8.136)
uses the down style for common name -- unless that common name includes
a proper noun or adjective based on a proper noun. For example,
Dutchman's-breeches versus jack-in-the-pulpit; Cooper's hawk versus
rhesus monkey.
If my publication follows Chicago style, then I will follow Chicago
style, AOU be dammed. If my memory serves, the down style has been
prevalent in most publications for more than a century. It's ridiculous
to change to something different because a subset of the universe of
organismal biologists decided to change the way they did things.
To paraphrase the old joke, I don't care how you capitalize it, as long
as you SPELL the name right.
Dave
David Anderson wrote:
It is important to separate vernacular names from professionally
designated common names assigned to species. The American
Ornithologists' Union is the authority that names birds in North
America, and names of birds are capitalized: Chipping Sparrow, Lovely
Cotinga. These names are associated with taxonomic binomials consistent
with the recognized status of species. A chipping sparrow is any
sparrow seen chipping. A Chipping Sparrow refers to Spizella
passerina. All cotingas are lovely indeed, but only Lovely Cotinga
refers to Cotinga amabilis. Birds have many common names. A "hoot owl"
means nothing in particular. A "rain crow" is a Common Nighthawk. When
popular magazines, e.g., National Geographic, Audubon, incorrectly refer
to chipping sparrows and lovely cotingas they are ignoring the
scientific authority and tradition that separates vernacular from
science, and in so doing they blur the boundary between common and
scientific observations and knowledge.
David L. Anderson
Ph.D. Candidate
Museum of Natural Science
Louisiana State University
225-578-5393
[email protected]
http://www.museum.lsu.edu/Anderson/index.htm
--
------------------------------------------------------
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
