A reply to ‘Science versus vernacular’: should some taxa of animals and plants be renamed according to ‘indigenous’ practices?

Palma & Heath (2021) have recently commented on our proposal to reinstate indigenous names within the Linnaean system of nomenclature on the basis of their chronological priority. They argue that this challenges rules that have been unquestioned for 250 years. However, we hold that the rules of the various codes of nomenclature are constantly under review. The opinion they prosecute crystallises down, in large part, to one that suggests that because there are pre-existing rules about priority, we should not change these: an argument that involves a degree of circularity. Unfortunately, Palma and Heath misinterpret our proposal throughout much of their discussion. We do not advocate replacing the binomina as is claimed nor do we advocate for name changes where there is no consensus on a given taxon among the people indigenous to the natural distribution of that taxon. Our proposal is that indigenous names can replace the species epithet where there is a consensus on a single indigenous name for a taxon throughout its distribution and where there is demonstrable temporal priority. Without such consensus, species that cover wide distributions and have multiple indigenous names will, under our proposal, remain unchanged in their nomenclature.

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Do name changes to “acaste” names by the Sinhalese indicate a diminishing significance of caste?

Cultural Dynamics ◽

10.1177/0921374019829605 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 303-325

Author(s):

M.W. Amarasiri de Silva

Keyword(s):

Sri Lankan ◽

Development Programs ◽

Social Fabric ◽

Rural Villages ◽

The People ◽

Family Names ◽

The Social ◽

Youth Population ◽

The Public Sphere ◽

Name Changes

In modern Sri Lankan society, caste has become less significant as a marker of social identity and exclusion than was the case in the past. While acknowledging this trend across South Asian societies, the literature does not adequately explain why this is happening. Increasing urbanization, the growing number of inter-caste marriages, the expanding middle class, and the bulging youth population have all been suggested as contributory factors. In rural Sri Lanka, family names are used as identifiers of family and kinship groups within each caste. The people belonging to the “low castes” identified with derogatory village and family names are socially marginalized and stigmatized. Social segregation, marked with family names and traditional caste occupations, makes it difficult for the low-caste people to move up in the class ladder, and socialize in the public sphere. Political and economic development programs helped to improve the living conditions and facilities in low-caste villages, but the lowness of such castes continued to linger in the social fabric. Socially oppressed low-caste youth in rural villages moved to cities and the urban outskirts, found non-caste employment, and changed their names to acaste names. By analyzing newspaper notifications and selected ethnographic material, this article shows how name changes among the Sinhalese have facilitated individualization and socialization by people who change their names to acaste names and seek freedom to choose their own employment, residence, marriage partners, and involvement in activities of wider society—a form of assimilation, in the context of growing urbanization and modernization.

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Editorial

Afrika Focus ◽

10.21825/af.v27i3.4900 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Patrick Van Damme

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Land Tenure ◽

Central Africa ◽

Critical Issue ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Production Environment ◽

Natural Distribution ◽

Fruit Species ◽

The People ◽

Medicinal Value

This issue of Afrika Focus has 3 contributions on what might be termed domesti- cation and propagation of lesser known tree species from Central Africa. Gnetum africanum is a rich source of leaves that has become somewhat overharvested and is therefore threatened in its natural distribution environment. Dacryodes is an interesting fruit species that can easily be integrated into existing agroforestry systems in order to make the latter more resilient, and also provide a richer source of vitamins and proteins. Garcinia has medicinal value and is thus a profitable source of income for those farmers who grow it. A fourth article deals with the socio-economics of land tenure in a largely agricultural area in Cameroon. Recent economic development is exerting pressure on the people and their production environment, thus making secure rights over land a critical issue.

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