Question

Why are local names not sufficient to recognise the organism? What are the advantages of keeping scientific names?

Answer 1

Hint: Local or common name refers to the name of the species in a particular area whereas scientific name refers to the name that is universally accepted and is known all over the world. Scientific names are universally accepted and there are certain rules for naming.

Complete answer:
Nomenclature is the process of giving names to the plants. The common plant and animals that exist have been given several names. In different languages, important plants and animals have common or vernacular names. Scientifically speaking, such names create a lot of confusion during elaborate studies and research work. Any organism should be known by a single name throughout the world. Such a practice was started in Greece and Theophrastus use such names.

Local names of a particular organism have been called with different names in different languages. This creates confusion and is misleading too.

Advantages of scientific name:
- These names are more definite and precise than the common name.
- They are usually descriptive.
- They indicate the generic relationship and the descent of individual animals and plants.
- They have universal acceptance by people of all languages.
- These are more independent and more comprehensive and easier to study than the long names with descriptions of plants and animals.
- The scientific name consists of two Latinised words. The first or the generic word always starts with a capital letter and the second or the specific name starts with a small letter.

Note: In 1930, a meeting of the Fifth International Botanical Congress at Cambridge in England was held to bring out rules and regulations that govern the nomenclature all over the world. Lawrence pointed out a code of nomenclature in this meeting and the code was established in function and in the name.