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Recontextualising the style of naming in nomenclature
BiologyHUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS

Recontextualising the style of naming in nomenclature

P. Rummy and J. T. Rummy

This paper, authored by Paul Rummy and Jessica Thevamalar Rummy, advocates for revising binomial nomenclature practices to embrace inclusivity through cultural and native naming systems. It critiques the current emphasis on Latinization and proposes a gender-neutral and diverse approach to scientific names that resonates with local communities.... show more
Abstract
In this paper, we brought compelling clarities as to why the current practices of binomial nomenclature should be revised and adjusted by the scientific governing bodies. We highlighted the current emphasis on Latinisation and Greek forms for scientific names has given fewer possibilities for the inclusion of cultural and native scientific names. With regard to zoological matters, we further pointed out that the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) has an obligation to rationalise the applicability and suitability of the existing Articles and Recommendations in the Code. The Code has been designed to assist scientists in naming an organism with its guidelines. However, the practicality of the Articles and Recommendations need to be further explained in order to reduce several misperceptions within the scientific community; which include the correct usage of Latinised and Greek language forms that can be quite confusing to those who are not well-versed in the structures. The discussion also underlined the novelty of having more localised and hybridised scientific names, and the necessity to avoid norms of abusive, offensive and colonising names since the Code did not emphasise enough on the level of integrity needed with the naming procedures. We further illustrated the magnitude of having a gender-neutral naming system in the world of nomenclature, as the current practices of Latinised and Greek forms are heavily navigated towards masculine naming styles. We also suggest that the non-compulsory Recommendation section of the Code to be made relevant, and perhaps mandatory in some cases, with an infinite approach to accentuate beyond inclusivity and diversity.
Publisher
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS
Published On
Nov 18, 2021
Authors
Paul Rummy, Jessica Thevamalar Rummy
Tags
binomial nomenclaturecultural namesinclusive naminggender-neutralscientific nomenclaturediversitylocalization
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