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Planktic et al.
MarineMicropaleontology, 18 (1991) 3
3
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Micro Note Planktic et al. Cesare Emiliani Department of Geological Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA (Manuscript requested May 15, 1991; received and accepted June 3, 1991 )
There seems to be some confusion about planktic, nektic and benthic, versus planktonic, nektonic and benthonic. As I recently discussed (Emiliani, 1991 ), planktic derives from zt2otyzr~, meaning wandering; nektic derives from vrlxzrg, meaning swimming;, and benthic derives from fl~vOog, meaning the deep. The proper derivations from these Greek words are planktic, nektic and benthic, in analogy with such other derivations as laic from 2c~o~ (people), logic from 26~,o~ (word); tonic from ,I zrvog (tone), epic from ~no¢, etc. etc. The derivations planktonic, nektonic and benthonic are incorrect. Only when the Greek word ends in -ogv, the proper adjective ending is -onic (demonic from Ootilttov, god; mnemonic from #vr~l~tov, mindful; laconic from Ad~xtov, etc. ). Teichert ( 1981 ) maintained that benthic is correctly derived from its Greek source but nektic and planktic are not. He stated that the roots of nektonic and planktonic are vrlx- and n2aT-, and that these two terms derive from the present participles of the verbs vr~)Ctu (swim) and n2&(to (wander). They do not. They derive from the adjectives vrlxz6~ and n2ayzr~, which have three endings, -6g (masc.), -0 (fem.) and 6v (neutr.). The roots are respectively vrlxz- and n2ot),z-. In contrast, the participles of v0)cto and n2&(to are vClzogv and ~t2&(ogv, respectively, with feminine ending -oooa and neutral ending -or. Clearly, plank-
ton and nekton are derived from the adjectives and not from the participles (which would generate nechonic and plazonic). They are, in fact, substantivized adjectives. Another incorrect derivation commonly used in geology is cratonic, from xpdlzo¢. The correct derivation is cratic, as in democratic,
autocratic, aristocratic, bureaucratic, plutocratic, etc. etc. As to ~2oczpov, the Greek name for amber that makes a spark when rubbed with cloth, the proper derivation is electric, not electronic. Unfortunately, the word electronic (pertaining to electrons, considered as particles or waves) has come to have a meaning quite different from that of the word electric (pertaining to electricity, considered as a fluid). We are therefore stuck with this inappropriate derivation. I recommend that the terms planktic, nektic, benthic and cratic be adhered to as appropriate derivations from the corresponding Greek terms. For guidance on the proper usage of Greek in nomenclature, see Emiliani, 1952. References Emiliani, C., 1952. Nomenclature and grammar. J. Wash. Acad. Sci., 42" 137-141. Emiliani, C., 1991. Planktic/planktonic nektic/nektonic; benthic/benthonic. J. Paleontol., 65: 329. Teichert, C., 1981. Benthic - si, planktic - no! J. Paleontol., 55: 996-997.
3
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Micro Note Planktic et al. Cesare Emiliani Department of Geological Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA (Manuscript requested May 15, 1991; received and accepted June 3, 1991 )
There seems to be some confusion about planktic, nektic and benthic, versus planktonic, nektonic and benthonic. As I recently discussed (Emiliani, 1991 ), planktic derives from zt2otyzr~, meaning wandering; nektic derives from vrlxzrg, meaning swimming;, and benthic derives from fl~vOog, meaning the deep. The proper derivations from these Greek words are planktic, nektic and benthic, in analogy with such other derivations as laic from 2c~o~ (people), logic from 26~,o~ (word); tonic from ,I zrvog (tone), epic from ~no¢, etc. etc. The derivations planktonic, nektonic and benthonic are incorrect. Only when the Greek word ends in -ogv, the proper adjective ending is -onic (demonic from Ootilttov, god; mnemonic from #vr~l~tov, mindful; laconic from Ad~xtov, etc. ). Teichert ( 1981 ) maintained that benthic is correctly derived from its Greek source but nektic and planktic are not. He stated that the roots of nektonic and planktonic are vrlx- and n2aT-, and that these two terms derive from the present participles of the verbs vr~)Ctu (swim) and n2&(to (wander). They do not. They derive from the adjectives vrlxz6~ and n2ayzr~, which have three endings, -6g (masc.), -0 (fem.) and 6v (neutr.). The roots are respectively vrlxz- and n2ot),z-. In contrast, the participles of v0)cto and n2&(to are vClzogv and ~t2&(ogv, respectively, with feminine ending -oooa and neutral ending -or. Clearly, plank-
ton and nekton are derived from the adjectives and not from the participles (which would generate nechonic and plazonic). They are, in fact, substantivized adjectives. Another incorrect derivation commonly used in geology is cratonic, from xpdlzo¢. The correct derivation is cratic, as in democratic,
autocratic, aristocratic, bureaucratic, plutocratic, etc. etc. As to ~2oczpov, the Greek name for amber that makes a spark when rubbed with cloth, the proper derivation is electric, not electronic. Unfortunately, the word electronic (pertaining to electrons, considered as particles or waves) has come to have a meaning quite different from that of the word electric (pertaining to electricity, considered as a fluid). We are therefore stuck with this inappropriate derivation. I recommend that the terms planktic, nektic, benthic and cratic be adhered to as appropriate derivations from the corresponding Greek terms. For guidance on the proper usage of Greek in nomenclature, see Emiliani, 1952. References Emiliani, C., 1952. Nomenclature and grammar. J. Wash. Acad. Sci., 42" 137-141. Emiliani, C., 1991. Planktic/planktonic nektic/nektonic; benthic/benthonic. J. Paleontol., 65: 329. Teichert, C., 1981. Benthic - si, planktic - no! J. Paleontol., 55: 996-997.