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Martinlf | February 23rd, 2008, 8:06 am | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Last year Taxon and I had a little debate about the proper way to pronounce Latin, and specifically the word Baetis. Well, I'd like to note to him that I am teaching Latin this semester, and our text Wheelock's Latin provides a pronunciation key for ancient Latin that matches neither his preference as an EE sound, nor mine as an AY sound. Taxon's recommendations last year had led to a suggestion for testing pronunciations on the bugs themselves, and my attempt to follow his suggestion resulted in a striking event while I was fishing, which I shall recount immediately below for those who are new to the forum. But below that I shall note an even stranger event that came as a recent result of learning the proper way to address the ancient Roman Baetis: WHAT HAPPENED LAST SPRING: I COMPLAIN TO TAXON THAT THE BAETIS MAYFLIES ARE NOT HATCHING YET AND I WANT TO GO FISHING. HIS REPLY: Gosh, Louis, maybe I can help you out with that one. Once you get properly positioned in the stream, just whisper "Here, BEE tis, here, BEE tis here, here little BEE tis." For several reasons, I recommend doing this quietly, so you won't be overheard, except by the Baetis. Anyway, assuming you already understand the method, it's quite likely they’re not recognizing your pronunciation, and consequently, have no idea you're attempting to call them out. Oh, and don't overdo it, as no one likes being bugged. MY DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST FIELD TESTING OF TAXON'S METHOD: For the Baetids, it was a lovely late winter day, cloudy with just a bit of drizzle. They had been waiting, as we had, through ice and through sleet, for that first day in the 40's. I approached the spring creek shaking with anticipation, as I had practiced Roger's method relentlessly the evening before and was hopeful that it would produce a fishable hatch. The section of stream where I started was well known for early BWO action, and I noticed anglers taking their positions up and downstream from the riffle where I had chosen to start. First I whispered, "Here, BEE tis, here, BEE tis here, here little BEE tis," just as Roger had recommended. No Baetis. I again whispered, "Here, BEE tis, here, BEE tis here, here little BEE tis." No Baetis. I tried it again. No Baetis still. I continued undaunted, for fifty three minutes, whispering "Here, BEE tis, here, BEE tis here, here little BEE tis." No Baetis. DAVID SHUTS ME DOWN: I have an explanation for you Louis... AS CONVINCING AS I FOUND DAVID'S ANALYSIS, ON THE FIRST WARM DAY THIS MONTH I WAS COMPELLED TO AGAIN TRY BUG WHISPERING, THIS TIME ARMED WITH WHAT I NOW KNOW IS THE TRUE PRONUNCIATION OF BAETIS. Under a dull grey sky, with a light misty drizzle falling, I approached the snowy banks with my trusty three weight knowing this would be the day to prove Roger and David wrong, once and for all. I was confident that the correct ancient pronunciation of Baetis, as "BI tis" (the first I pronounced like the i in bite) would bring the bugs to the top and end all this EE AY nonsense. I was fishing a secret hole, far back in the woods, where I never see another fishermen, so I knew I wouldn't be disturbed as I began to whisper, "Here BI tis, here little BI tis." Immediately a cold gust blew down my neck, and an eerie wind made a moaning in the trees. Two intertwined trunks began to creak. Out on the surface of the stream, tiny white wings began to slowly break the surface, and little cream-colored bugs began to assemble. Looking closer I saw that they were wearing full Roman armor!! Soon they had formed a square, opening their wings flat to create a Roman tesudo (in English "turtle") battle formation. That's when the pale silvery trout began to rise and nip at the formation!! They were almost transparent, and I could see their fanned out bones and skull plates as they began to attack the Baetis, who had drawn swords and begun to fend them off. Soon flights of arrows were launched, as the Baetis pulled their shielding wings back and opened paths for the archers beneath to take aim. A small brown, with translucent red spots, took a bundle of arrows in its back, rolled over and sank beneath the surface. At that moment another trout snatched up a whole flank of the tesudo, which was immediately replaced by more hatching ghost bugs. Transfixed, I did not notice the pale man in the white toga standing next to me until he began to untwirl the line on his willow wand and said, with perfect Roman pronunciation, "Nunc Baetis emergunt et pisces emergunt," At that point I did not say a word, either in English or in Latin, but very courteously and rather quickly left the pool to the shadowy angler. I must admit that after this, my days of bug whispering may be at an end. | |
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
Shawnny3 | February 23rd, 2008, 8:15 am | |
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PAPosts: 1197 | Finally a word Southerners pronounce more correctly than Yankees do. -Shawn P.S. Nice story, Louis - the imagery was vivid. I could almost hear their little feet marching on the water... | |
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com | ||
Taxon | February 23rd, 2008, 12:43 pm | |
Site Editor Royse City, TXPosts: 1350 | Louis- When one commits generic names to writing, they are capitalized and italicized, whereas specific names are italicized, but not capitalized. So, it would be Baetis, rather than baetis. One can certainly be forgiven for mispronouncing Latinized epithets, as scholars seem to disagree on ae. However, no controversy exists concerning their proper written form. Now, please repeat the following (somewhat long-winded) mantra three times in rapid succession: This was intended as constructive criticism, and does not reflect unfavorably on the high regard I have for the author’s intellect. | |
Best regards, Roger Rohrbeck www.FlyfishingEntomology.com | ||
Troutnut | February 23rd, 2008, 12:45 pm | |
Administrator Bellevue, WAPosts: 2737 | So it's pronounced Bytis? Suddenly my girlfriend looks less silly for pronouncing it By-ay-tis all the time. At least she had it half right! | |
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D. Troutnut and salmonid ecologist | ||
Martinlf | February 23rd, 2008, 1:09 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Jason, one will use "BI tis" only if she or he likes a see-through fishing partner, it appears. And Taxon, I stand corrected. But only you would be cruel enough to let me finish the first installment, wait patiently for the second a year later, then put me to adding all that italics code everywhere throughout both! A dirty trick, no doubt! | |
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
Taxon | February 23rd, 2008, 1:28 pm | |
Site Editor Royse City, TXPosts: 1350 | A dirty trick, no doubt! Guilty as charged! | |
Best regards, Roger Rohrbeck www.FlyfishingEntomology.com | ||
Flybyknight | February 23rd, 2008, 4:29 pm | |
Milton, DE Posts: 82 | Cadat Fortuna Peritas! Dick It just occurred to me that I may be charged with haiku with the above admonishment if it were left to stand alone. Therefor in order to avoid an unpleasant admonition, let me expand a bit, or better yet, expound on the dictum; but first let me complement the gentleman with the "Constructive" criticism. Constructive criticism is good, it is holy and to be appreciated by the receiver. The above is the motto of one of the finest institutions that this country has been blessed with; in fact there is a connection to the Golden Rule, with the proviso that the doer do it first. Now I gave it away, but for the benefit of the youngsters among us, you-know-what lends dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar rout. Dick | |
Lightly on the dimpling eddy fling; the hypocritic fly's unruffled wing. Thomas Scott | ||
Martinlf | February 23rd, 2008, 6:41 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Dick, Is that "Cedat Fortuna Peritis"? | |
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
Shawnny3 | February 24th, 2008, 5:10 am | |
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PAPosts: 1197 | So, Louis, you nitpick Dick's Latin (or make some subtle Latin joke that no one but the two of you will get - har har), but you won't deign to respond to my Southerner comment - I see how it is. -Shawn | |
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com | ||
Martinlf | February 24th, 2008, 6:48 am | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Shawn, As a child in the South I was taught that there are some things a civilized person just doesn't dignify with a direct response. Sic te exigo. | |
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
Shawnny3 | February 24th, 2008, 7:06 am | |
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PAPosts: 1197 | Just trying to drag you down to my level. You're a true Southern gentleman, Louis. -Shawn | |
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com | ||
Flybyknight | February 24th, 2008, 3:11 pm | |
Milton, DE Posts: 82 | Louis, You are correct; TYPO! Now how do I get my sorry butt, and even sorrier spelling out of this pickle without getting knocked for the "H" word? Perhaps we could bring up the Roman centurion treatment of conquered barbarians, you know the thing about the "yoke" !! Ha Ha. Dick | |
Lightly on the dimpling eddy fling; the hypocritic fly's unruffled wing. Thomas Scott | ||
Martinlf | February 24th, 2008, 5:23 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | No knocking here, Dick, just good clean fun. Ave atque vale. | |
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
Softhackle | February 24th, 2008, 6:26 pm | |
Site Editor Wellsville, NYPosts: 540 | Geeze, guys, I guess I've been pronouncing it completely wrong, but my Italian interpretation is "bah-ay-tis" I guess the fish just call them a much needed "FOOD". Little olives also works. Mark | |
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html | ||
Title | Replies | Last Reply |
Re: Latin Redux In General Discussion by Martinlf | 10 | Feb 12, 2007 by CaseyP |
Re: Callibaetis Spinner Habits In the Mayfly Species Callibaetis ferrugineus by WildcatRob | 8 | Jan 7, 2009 by Dgracia |
Re: Moser, Grant, and GEM Skues Nephew to accept Fly Fishing Hall of Fame Awards In General Discussion by Flymom | 1 | Oct 3, 2009 by JAD |
Re: Mutillidae In General Discussion by Taxon | 25 | Feb 25, 2007 by Martinlf |
Re: One of my favorite Montana views and the Madison River (1 more) In the Photography Board by Wiflyfisher | 16 | Jan 7, 2012 by Wiflyfisher |
Re: HELP! In the Insect Order Trichoptera by Dirremeang | 3 | Mar 10, 2008 by Taxon |
Re: I.D. ing bugs (2 more) In the Identify This! Board by FISHN50 | 4 | Aug 26, 2011 by Creno |
Re: Midge? In the Identify This! Board by Dossphoto | 5 | Feb 23, 2010 by Wbranch |
Re: Why we fish In General Discussion by Martinlf | 6 | Mar 15, 2007 by Martinlf |
A Couple Hours on a Small Brown trout stream In Fishing Reports by Motrout | 0 |