Pronunciation question

matt · #1 20-05-2007, 11:48 AM

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 · #2 20-05-2007, 11:59 AM

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 · #3 20-05-2007, 12:02 PM

Many thanks, Geoff

That's a very handy chart.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #4 20-05-2007, 12:04 PM

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

I'll probably never change

matt · #5 20-05-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

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

I'll probably never change

Good for you

Rodstar (Rod) · #6 20-05-2007, 08:23 PM

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".

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #7 20-05-2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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".

No, thats what Gay Pirates give each other.

davidpretorius · #8 20-05-2007, 09:55 PM

crutch!

Doug · #9 20-05-2007, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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

Quote:

Many languages have a genitive case, including Arabic, Croatian, Czech, Finnish, Georgian, German, Greek, Icelandic, Irish, Latin, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Sanskrit, Serbian and Slovenian. English does not have a proper genitive case, but a possessive ending, -'s (see below), although pronouns do have a genitive case.

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 (Graeme) · #10 21-05-2007, 07:34 AM

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] (Paul) · #11 21-05-2007, 07:51 AM

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

Doug · #12 21-05-2007, 10:00 AM

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

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #13 21-05-2007, 10:27 AM

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

matt · #14 21-05-2007, 10:37 AM

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

But I might just take your advice, nettie

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

ving (David) · #15 21-05-2007, 10:53 AM

umm... cruck-sis

potato...

matt · #16 21-05-2007, 11:09 AM

poh-tar-toe!

JimmyH155 · #17 21-05-2007, 11:20 AM

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

matt · #18 21-05-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 (Eric) · #19 21-05-2007, 11:47 AM

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 · #20 21-05-2007, 11:52 AM

Thanks heaps, erick.

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

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