Dear Wierd and friends,
My knowledge in Latin name of shells and Latin language is poor but I think
you have wrong. The Greek suffix “PERI” meaning “around” is correct but I
doubt for the Latin word “STRAGULUM, meaning “blanket or cover” as in Greek
"OSTRACON" meaning shell so the meaning of PERIOSTRACUM is around (cover)
shell in Greek translation only that the ending UM is Latin.
Best regards.
George


"[log in to unmask]" wrote:

> PERIOSTRACUM ; off the beaten path:
>
> The word is a combination of the Greek suffix “PERI” meaning “around”, and
> the Latin word “STRAGULUM, meaning “blanket or cover”.
>
> In most conchological circles it is pronounced “pear ee AH struh cum”
>
> Classical Latin requires that  the penult syllable be accented if  its
> vowel is long; the antepenult gets the accent if the penult is short.
>
> I contend that the penult syllable of periostracum is long, therefore, the
> pronunciation should be
> “pear ee oh STRAY cum”. Were it so, it would be much easier to write much
> lyrical poetry using such rhymes as “ foresake ‘em”, “bake ‘em”, “take
> ‘em”, “shake ‘em”,”break ‘em”, etc.
>
> Wierd Winston
> Fort Worth, Texas

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George Sangiouloglou     http://www.geocities.com/~sangioul/
Xenofondos 40            http://members.xoom.com/sangioul/
Voula 16673              Phone +30 1 8955241  9659956
Athens Greece            Modem-Fax +30 1 8954507
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