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Thank you … for these wonderul pics of the leaves. I hope the species you saw was the same as the one we saw.
\nThe dots appear like nigro- punctate – This is a very racial word, I feel very uncomfortable using this term, surprising in Botany where mainly Greek and Latin is used, that this term should find its way!<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe original word nigr- is latin and means black. There is nothing to feel uncomfortable about use of a word which defines a colour.
\n<\/span>The word which gained derogatory meaning is spelt “n-e-g-r-o” and cums from the same latin route- nigr-\/niger meaning black. Even that word was not considered bad till some people started using it as racial slur in America
\n<\/span>Also in botany it is not Greek and Latin used- but only words which are “latinised”, (whether greek, sanskrit, marathi, swedish in origin) for naming plants and pure latin for describing them.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Precisely … my contention is why was pure Latin not used and in this case retained as ‘nigr’ instead of adding ‘o’ and making it sound racial. You may feel fine with it but I do feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
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…, “nigr” by itself is not a full word — it is the root. nigra, nigro, &c forms the adjective (gender-based associated to the noun).<\/p>\n
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Niger, nigra, nigrum, nigro are just deflections of word meaning black to suite different grammatic situation in botanical latin. We by using words like black man and white man have created racial twist.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Yes … by reunsing the word as deflected form of black, is not botanical terms in way perpetuating the racial mindset? Why can’t it be called black punctate this would be neutral.
\n<\/span>or nigr punctate. Adding ‘o’ is the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nYou know …, just in case if you were with UN then you must have objected on the name of a country like NIGERIA!!! Nigerians dont hate it, but u must have felt awkward.
\nThere is no such issue of racialism, IT IS JUST BOTANICAL LATIN. Most people here dont even know what is latin, they dont even know how to pronounce “Linneaus” because of whom latin is followed. His name was
\nactually, Carl von Linn\u00e9, but to latinize it to a masculine gender, they made it Carolus Linnaeus. In latin, from the name you can make out the gender. There are few standard botanical terms which are meant
\nto provide ease to descriptions. Niger or nigro or negro is one such word, it has nothing to do wit the community, its a character. Latin words are very much technical to use, to make it grammatically
\ncorrect, u have to add suffix to it.
\nJust for example, ur name is\u00a0… but u add an “a” to it, why? Ans: to make the word feminine…right!! Similarly when u describe a character u dont call it black dots u say blackish dots or nigro- punctate, “o” is added to make a noun as an adjective.
\nThere are many things in botany which sounds really awkward but you have to use it….C******* ternatea, Monochoria *********lis…..U
\nCANT HELP. THIS IS BOTANY!!<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n