Re: [Killietalk] TLA's OT (only semi-OT, now)

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at inkmkr_com>]

Look again, Lorraine. Not one is a true TLA (in the Col. Scheel ROTOW 
sense). There are several TNAs (numerals) and even one mixed signal. 
None have three actual letters. ;-) [Two-letter State names are a 
government artifact that don't deserve mention in a voluntary, hobby 
discourse.]

For the newer folks who might be mystified by this off-topic thread, 
Col. Jorgen Scheel wrote a book, back in the mid '70s, _Rivulins of The 
Old World_ , (aka "ROTOW")in which he simplified communications about 
African and Asian species by devising a three-letter code to describe 
all the popular species of the time. It just made informal 
communications less complex. In a letter (or e-mail note, later on) it 
is far easier to type GAR than /Fundulopanchax gardneri/. No?

The TLA list has been expanded to New World fishes of the Americas by 
such hobbyist/scholars as JianYang of Singapore in their census on 
killies.com. Those are less generally accepted (i.e., less publicized) 
than the ones in ROTOW, so probably will be seen less often, I think.

Anyway, I really don't want to stamp out TLAs, but considered it an 
appropriate, if wry, tag to Edd's naming discussion. [I think I did 
stick in a "smiley," didn't I?] Like any nomenclature system, to be 
useful it needs fairly wide acceptance.

The plural of "species" is written as spp. Scheel had used SPL for 
/splendidus/ so used SPP for /splendopleuris/(as spelled in those days). 
The first time I encountered that on a fish bag, I made a fool of myself 
by loudly asking "WHAT species?" It was, after the room laughter quieted 
down, one of those defining hobby moments. I chose to join the chuckle, 
learn something and sit down. [Dale Weber certainly didn't make it 
easy!] I could have just as easily gotten hot under the collar and 
stomped out. That's one example of why I think names are so vital in how 
we deal with new folks who don't know all the answers (like we pretend 
we do).

Wright

Lorraine wrote:
> Wright look at your address, 'tis full of abbreviation.
> 
> Lorraine
> In sunny Colorado.
> http://lorraines-killies.com
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: killietalk-bounces+overall077=lycos_com at aka.org
> [mailto:killietalk-bounces+overall077=lycos_com at aka.org] On Behalf Of Wright
> Huntley
> Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2005 12:15 PM
> To: killifish discussion list
> Subject: Re: [Killietalk] TLA's OT
> 
> Hey Jim,
> 
> I hope you noticed that the only one I used in the entire wordy posting 
> was "KMI." :-)
> 
> Wright
> 
> Jim Graham wrote:
> 
>>>Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net 
>>>- 760 872-3995 760 874-2000 (CA) or 941 866-0500 (FL).
>>>
>>>Help stamp out TLAs! [Three-letter-abreviations] :-)
>>
>>
>>Now that is humorous coming from the King of TLA's!!
>>
>>Jim Graham
>>Hastings MI


-- 
Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net 
- 760 872-3995 760 874-2000 (CA) or 941 866-0500 (FL).

Diversity is nice, but --
"Help put 'Commerce' back in Christmas!"

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