>way I was told to in books. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I >appear to be the only person on earth who pronounces Lachenalia >"la-shen-all-ia"! It is too ingrained to change. My Latin (Catholic Diana, You aren't the only person who pronounces Lachenalia that way..... I have a friend who does. Every time he says it I think he is talking about Lechenaultia (spelling?) a genus of Australian native plants and I wonder what in the world he is talking about. The emails have been rather fascinating, particularly the fact that Clive is pronounced 'Cliff' in some areas.... there goes my reasons for pronouncing it the way I do. Guess we shall all have to be happy pronouncing it how we do and as long as we get the point across it doesn't really matter anyway. Cheers all, Paul Tyerman Canberra, Australia