Pronunciation question

[matt]

Hi folks.

Quick question about the correct way to pronounce the names of the stars of the Southern Cross.

What's the correct pronunciation for the 'crucis' part of alpha crucis, beta crucis etc?

[snowyskiesau]

As far as I know, it's pronounced 'crew sis'

There is a useful web site for astronomy pronunciations:

http://members.aol.com/nlpjp/procon.htm

[matt]

Many thanks, Geoff:thumbsup:

That's a very handy chart.

[ballaratdragons]

:lol: I've always pronounced it as 'Cru-shiss' with the 'sh' sound.

I'll probably never change :whistle:

[matt]

Good for you;)

[Rodstar]

I studied Latin for 5 years (admittedly a VERY LONG time ago, so my memory may be playing tricks on me), but I would have thought that Crucis was pronounced "Crew-Kiss".:shrug:

[ballaratdragons]

No, thats what Gay Pirates give each other.

[davidpretorius]

crutch!

[Doug]

I noted that the above web link uses the term 'genitive'

Given the fact that English does not strictly speaking use Genitive case, some of the genitive words are most likely non English in their given forms.
crew kiss is probably correct for a non anglisised pronunciation.
BTW Alpha is Arlfah and Beta is Baytah; and if you don't give an iota, that is Yotah

[Rigel003]

Hmm. I also studied Latin at school (which immediately dates you) and the classical Latin pronunciation would indeed be Crew-kis. However there are various national traditions of pronouncing Latin, the Germans do it differently from the English. The scientific profession has never been too particular about authenticity of pronunciation of foreign terms and the Americans' (who wrote that website) use of Latin has its own peculiarities. There is a tradition in Australia derived partly from church musical use where a lot of Latin texts are sung to use the Italianate pronunciations which gives the genitive form of crux as crew-chis (similar to what Ken said) and this is what I've always said.

On the other hand I don't often speak astronomical names out loud to others so this could be non standard use. I still have absolutely no idea how to pronounce Bootes.

[[1ponders]]

Interesting discussion. I'm in the boat of "Crew sis" but for no other reason than that was how it was named to me. However these days I tend to call it Alpha Crux. Me bad, I know.


Bootes = Boo Tess for me :thumbsup:

[Doug]

Bootes = Boo Taze I think, really don't care one (yota) how it is pronounced.

[jjjnettie]

Make it easy on yourself, call them
A Crux, B Crux etc etc.

[matt]

Astro folk are funny folk.

No doubt there'll be someone who phones up or gets on the web to have a crack at us using the 'easy' way out:lol: ;)

But I might just take your advice, nettie:thumbsup:

Was just interested to see what the correct pronunciation was/is?

[ving]

umm... cruck-sis

potato...

[matt]

poh-tar-toe!

[JimmyH155]

I go for B Crux. What about Betelgeuse - ever since my naval days, I have known it as Beetle Juice. As you guys say - who gives an iota:lol:

[matt]

The problem is, Jimmy, that the pronunciation will be used for a TV segment and it's important to get these things right.

So... I give an iota:) ;)

[erick]

Matt, Kelly Beatty, in SkyTonight's podcasts usually pronounces the names of many bright stars and constellations - Northern hemisphere focus, however. Maybe that helps? I'm yet to listen to May's - I have back to Oct 2006 archived - I cannot see where to access these archived ones on SkyTonight's website?

http://skytonight.com/observing/podcasts

[matt]

Thanks heaps, erick.

Will definitely check that out. Possibly just the sort of stuff I'm looking for:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I need to bookmark loads of this sort of stuff.

It's really handy for me to see how other people present this sort of material, now that I find myself setting out to do something similar.

many thanks

[erick]

OK, then search for "Astronomy podcasts". There's a guy in South Africa who is, of course, more Southern Hemisphere focussed.

Probably if you pitch your pronunciation half way between the American and the South African...................??:whistl e:

Edit: Not looking promising - His April podcast is not up yet??

http://www.psychohistorian.org/podcast.html

[erick]

Matt

Just searching my bookmarks for you. Maybe, in addition to all other suggestions:-

http://www.stargazing.net/david/skyevents/index.html
http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/sow/sowlist.html


And when you do a show on pulsars, here is some audio:-

http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~pulsar/Education/Sounds/sounds.html

[ving]

al-far or-eye-on-is

[Outbackmanyep]

I read somewhere that was pronounced Bow( as in "bow and arrow") -ooh-teas!

Whale-oil-beef-hooked !

[ballaratdragons]

Matt, just make it up as you go along. If it sounds right to you, you won't be as nervous worrying about correct pronounciations. Actors do it all the time, it stops them from concentrating on 'one' word and allows them to concentrate on the whole line.

Say the words the way you've always said them :thumbsup: It will also come across as more natural.

[matt]

Cheers bd.

I'm not nervous, mate. Just keen to get it right.

I don't think I'm game enough to 'make it up as I go along', as laid back and quintessentially Aussie as that sounds:lol: :lol:

This is for the ABC, ol' son. And they're not known for taking too kindly to presenters 'fudgin it':rofl:

Quite the sticklers for getting pronunciation correct, they are!!!

Thanks everyone, for your kind and thoughtful responses.

[matt]

:lol:lmao

:whistle:

[ballaratdragons]

LOL, I didn't mean make up the information. I only meant the pronounciations.

You might even mention that many terms and names are pronounced different ways by different people. That will cover you for every pronounciation you use.

[matt]

[quote=ballaratdragons;221701]LOL, I didn't mean make up the information. I only meant the pronounciations.[quote]

That sounds like something very similar. Make up the pronunciations as you go along.:lol: :lol:

Thanks anyway, Ken.

I'll have to find me a technical advisor hiding in the backrooms of the ABC.

[Doug]

Sometimes pronouncing names incorwrongly can spark peoples interest into delving deeper into the matter....sometimes

[erick]

Judging by some of the "clangers" I've heard on the ABC in recent years, not as "stickler" as they used to be. Let me tell you, back in my day............:rolleyes: :doh:

[matt]

Probably just a case of Aunty 'gettin jiggy with it':rofl: :rofl:

[ballaratdragons]

I get inetrviewed on ABC every Friday Morning during Footy Season, live on the phone, and it sounds like 'Yobbo Hour'. :lol: But they always want me to continue each week.

I just speak the way I always do. Pronounciations and all.

I used to do a 3 hour Radio Program 5 evenings a week and I always stayed as me. It was a Christian Radio Program and the way I pronounced Biblical names must have been a hoot, but it was easier to say them how I thought they were.

No-one ever complained or queried my pronounciations. and there are some tongue-twisters in the Bible: 'Ataxerxes' is a good example :lol:

[matt]

Being interviewed is one thing, Ken.

And if you're talkin' footy, they probably love that you bring that 'yobbo' element to proceedings.:lol:

Keep it real, homeboy!!!

The expectations of presenters are a little different. Or, they were when I last checked:rofl:

Particularly in the area of science and education.

Anyway, as you say, you can only be yourself and hope that's good enough.

Cheers

[matt]

Have a look at ya, son!!!!

Who's gonna pick you up on your Ps and Qs?:rofl: :rofl:

[JimmyH155]

Thanks Ving for that phonetic version - I'll still go for Beetle Juice:D :D

[ballaratdragons]

:shrug: I'm only a little bloke! And now, an ageing little bloke.

[matt]

They're the scariest!!!:lol: :rofl:

[ballaratdragons]

Oh, by the way,

'Artaxerxes' is pronounced Arta-zerk-zeez :lol:

[Grinz]

Also have a look at the two pronunciation guides prepared by the Astronomical League :

http://www.astroleague.org/al/astrnote/7anote.pdf
and
http://www.astroleague.org/al/astrnote/14anote.pdf

[erick]

Thanks Lee, that's great. Printed and filed for ready access!

[RB]

And even he had trouble pronouncing it so he set out a decree, "call me Number 5". :whistle:

[ving]

and who wouldnt. its so tastey! ;)

[ballaratdragons]

I pointed my telescope at Beetle-gise an saw an orange star. Then I looked at O'Ryan neb-yulla. Then I went over to Plee-aid-eez. Afer that I looked around in Boot-eez before hunting through Erra-day-ness. I finished off with Oh-meega Cen-tor-ee and Al-da-bran.

:lol:

[erick]

Goodness, Ken, you've had an attack of the hyphenation disease! :D

[ballaratdragons]

Hey Eric, that's 'Hi-fer-nay-shun Da-zeez' :lol:

[dwyman]

Got in big trouble one night when I pronounced Gamma Virginis as Gamma Vaginus.

[erick]

Perhaps not a hobby for one who suffers with a tendency to Spoonerisms? ;)