this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2026
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[–] Atomic@sh.itjust.works 1 points 13 hours ago

Yes. They use the english name when talking about the object in english. So what? In Sweden our scientists call Luna for "Månen". Because that's the name in our language. But the standard of naming things in latin stems from that every scientist will speak the same language.

If you want to gather studies about dogs. You'll be very limited if you only know their english name. So instead you'll use the latin name. Canis Familiaris. And all of a sudden you will find studies from all across the world.

Yes, they have been naming species after people and things. Those that discover a species will often get the naming rights. But they still have a latin name.

Platysaurus attenboroughi.

It's in latin. And because of that. Every single scientist that are familiar with the concept of how we name species will see that the species Platysaurus Attenbiroughi is in the Platysaurus genus, and saurus means that's it's a reptile.

Euptychia attenboroughi.

So we know that this is an animal in the Eutychia genus. Named after Attenborough.

Trigonopterus attenboroughi

By now you should know what genus this animal is in. And that's why we give them latin names.

If we just called then all "attenboroughi" it would be really fucking confusing about which animal it is we're actually talking about.

Just because you don't know that you use any latin. Doesn't mean the useage have decreased.

Latin isn't going anywhere. Our entire scientific understanding of life on earth is built on the back of latin. It's the language all scientists speak.

So when a doctor writes in the journal that you have a fracture in your femur. Every other doctor on the planet earth will know which bone it is he was talking about.