Ellen,

I was glad to see the offer of the Tucker Abbott tape as I don't have any
left after the last time I sent them out.  Despite all of the "correct"
pronounciation types out there who insist this "is the only proper way to
pronounce so and so," -- Abbott said something once about both Latin and
Greek being languages that we really didn't know how to pronounce.  And on
his record he gives two different pronunciations for a number of names.

Like you, I try to go with the flow when I hear it, but sometimes it is
tough changing the way you have pronounced something for years.  Something
that might help is to concentrate on a particular family.  Odds are that
when you buy the book that deals with your family of interest, it will have
very few if any common names.  Then as you work with the family you will
become more and more comfortable with the scientific names.  Many field
guides tend to push the common name and almost hide the scientific name.  I
guess it's a marketing ploy -- but it sure does the collector who begins
with these books a disservice.  In the end, you will probably learn more
about pronouncing scientific names at club meetings than anywhere else.
Good luck,

Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA