>Dan,
>
>in reading about Japanese names, would I be right in assuming that gai at
>the end of the names is the part that means shell?
>
>It's great to see all of those translations,  I might even be lucky enough
>to use them,  I have a Japanese pen freind.
>
>Sher
>
>----------
>> From: Dan Yoshimoto <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Common names from Latin genera -Reply
>> Date: Wednesday, 29 April 1998 14:49
>>
>> >Interesting thought Andrew - it brings up the question "what exactly
>> >constitutes a common name?"  Before I say anything else, let me say
>> >that my comments on common names will necessarily refer to english
>> >common names, because that is my mindset.  I do realize that the same
>> >shell I call a nutmeg or a jewelbox or an auger may have quite
>> >different names in German or Spanish or Japanese, and those names may
>> >or may not have any relevance to the english names.  In fact, it might
>> >be interesting to hear some of the common names which apply in other
>> >languages for species in some of the common families.  Anyway, in
>> >reading Andrew's post, it struck me that Nautilus is clearly a common
>> >name (in english), and is also a genus name.  There is no other common
>> >english name for the animals in this genus.  Likewise for Octopus.
>> >The names Unio, Chiton, and Murex are used similarly, though, unlike
>> >Nautilus, they are used to describe species in a number of related
>> >genera, not just the specific genus used as the name.  Some very old
>> >books may refer to Murex as rock shells, but that name is pretty
>> >nearly obsolete now as a general term.  In modern usage it applies
>> >only to the subfamily Thaidinae (Thais, Purpura, Nucella, etc.).  So,
>> >Murex, it seems, would qualify as an accepted common name.  On the
>> >other hand, I am not as sure that Pecten qualifies as a common name.
>> >Certainly a majority of collectors refer to members of the family
>> >Pectinidae as "Pectens".  But we also speak of cowries as "Cypraeas"
>> >and nutmegs as "Cancellarias".  Do Cypraea and Cancellaria qualify as
>> >common names?  If not, why Pecten?  After all, there is the english
>> >term "scallop" for the same group of animals.  Just offering a few
>> >ideas here for consideration - when does a genus name qualify as a
>> >common name?  Is it only when no other common name exists?  That
>> >probably is not a good definition, as there are many families of
>> >mollusks that have no common names at all, and by that definition
>> >names like Trochomorpha and Stiliger would become common names.
>> >Of course, there are many cases where the common name is a
>> >translation of the genus name, or is at least directly derived from
>> >it -  Nerite from Nerita; Olive from Oliva; Volute from Voluta; Cone
>> >from Conus; Miter from Mitra; Tellin from Tellina; etc.  But this is
>> >not quite the same as using the actual unadulterated genus name as
>> >the common name.
>> >
>> >Paul Monfils
>>
>> Paul,
>> My wife is Japanese and you're right; the common names in other cultures
>> are very different.  Here are a few English translations for Japanese
>> families:
>> Conidae=Imogai=Yam shell,  Cypraeidae=Takaragai=Treasure shell,
>> Ischitonidae=Hizaragai= Pleat shell,  Arcidae=Funegai=Boat shell,
>> Ficidae=Ichigigugai=Fig shell(the same),  Naticidae=Tamagai=Ball shell,
>> Terebridae=Takenokogai=Bamboo Shoot shell,
>> Fasciolariidae=Itomakiboragai=Spool shell,  Acmaeidae=Kasagai= Umbrella
>> shell, Dentaliidae= Sunogai=Horn shell Architectonicidae=Kurumagai=Wheel
>> shell,  Trochidae=Uzugai=Whirlpool shell,  Mitridae=Fudegai=Writing Brush
>> shell, Olividae=Makuragai=Pillow shell,   Pinnidae=Hokigai=Broom shell,
>> Haliotidae = Mimigai=Ear shell(for Daniel Geiger).  Those are just a few.
>> My wife suggests the following books and authors:  Marine Shell-Bearing
>> Mollusks, Okutani,(Japanese), Japanese Shells, Habe,(Japanese), Colored
>> Illustrations of Japanese Shells, Kira (Japanese), Japanese Shells,
>> Kosuge,(Japanese).  There are more spefic shell names for species in the
>> family, such as the Pecten Murex(Murex troschelli)= Honegai= Bone shell.
>>         I'm sure that you will find interesting common names from many
>> cultures.  It's the nature of the beast.  We all think that shells remind
>> us of something else.  If you ask around on the Conch-L list serv, I'm
>sure
>> you'll get some interesting answers.  Good luck.  Say Hi to Kay Peterson
>> for us.
>>         Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
>>
>>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>----
>> Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
>> 1164 Vista Dr.
>> Eureka, California
>>         95503-6018
>> E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
 
Hi Sher,
        You are absolutely correct, "Gai" in Japanese(at the end of the
description is Shell.  "Kai" is the general word for a shell (in the
dictionary).  There are some nice Japanese books for non-scientists that
have common names.
        Good luck with your Japanese Pen Friend
Dan
 
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Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
1164 Vista Dr.
Eureka, California
        95503-6018
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]