Er, the first question was to find out what we think the right answer is, yes? So there are some sources which are right, and some which are wrong, yes?
Or is it a question still under debate somehow, lupis vs. lupus, and the writer doesn't want to take sides in the debate?
The author spells it both ways across chapters. Part of what she's paying me for is to check for things like consistency; now I need to know which way to fly.
Two of the authoritative sources use different versions. One even says that both are acceptable. I was wondering what a broad-ish cross section of educated folks thought.
The writer need to graduate and has a picky professor.
In the end it is up to the writer of the thesis to decide...starshinewayNovember 14 2006, 23:49:08 UTC
but they should be consistent throughout at least...even if a footnote is needed.
As I see it the Latin for dog is "canis" and the Latin for wolf is "lupus" .... that would mean that "lupis" is the ablative plural for wolf - literally meaning "of the wolves", which would be a fair description of a sub-species, using an adjectival form to pinpoint it ... but I may be wrong...I hated Latin at school.
Latin cases are difficult to grasp at times, but I have to admit that they are logical, so why not read up on them and sort it out in your own mind anyway, regardless of whether anyone else(including the writer of the thesis) agrees with you or not.
Re: In the end it is up to the writer of the thesis to decide...patsmorNovember 15 2006, 00:13:31 UTC
I suspect someone out there with more time than I have figured it out and started propagating their preferred version, and that's why it's confused. As for me, I'll let the author figure it out!
Canis lupus. You're welcome.nitnorthNovember 15 2006, 00:33:48 UTC
Why is this a debate? American English spelling these days may be subject to the whim of the typist, but Latin, having been dead these many moons, is not so enlightened. Webster says plainly:
gray wolf : a large usually gray Holarctic wolf (Canis lupus) now rare in the more southern parts of its range -- called also timber wolf
...And I personally would not hesitate to lambaste a candidate for whatever degree who could not properly spell her subject's name.
Re: Canis lupus. You're welcome.patsmorNovember 15 2006, 07:06:13 UTC
Agreed, but unfortunately the big boys and girls in the field (Douglas Smith, David Mech, some others) disagree as to the canonical form. Which is why I suggested that the candidate find out what her prof thinks is the right answer.
Re: Canis lupus. You're welcome.metageekNovember 15 2006, 12:52:09 UTC
Exactly. The professor, her advisor, can't reasonably get too upset at being asked for advice. If she then adds the footnote, she's protected against the possibility that other professors on her committee disagree.
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Or is it a question still under debate somehow, lupis vs. lupus, and the writer doesn't want to take sides in the debate?
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Tough call!
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The writer need to graduate and has a picky professor.
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As I see it the Latin for dog is "canis" and the Latin for wolf is "lupus" .... that would mean that "lupis" is the ablative plural for wolf - literally meaning "of the wolves", which would be a fair description of a sub-species, using an adjectival form to pinpoint it ... but I may be wrong...I hated Latin at school.
Latin cases are difficult to grasp at times, but I have to admit that they are logical, so why not read up on them and sort it out in your own mind anyway, regardless of whether anyone else(including the writer of the thesis) agrees with you or not.
Reply
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gray wolf
: a large usually gray Holarctic wolf (Canis lupus) now rare in the more southern parts of its range -- called also timber wolf
...And I personally would not hesitate to lambaste a candidate for whatever degree who could not properly spell her subject's name.
-- Nitnorth
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