The Confusion of Common Names: A Methodological Challenge |
| |
| Authors: | Sadie S Stevens Bridget Amulike Steria Ndaga John F Organ Thomas L Serfass |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA;2. Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland, USA;3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, Massachusetts, USA;4. Marine-Estuine and Environmental Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | The problem of dueling names for a species has been minimized within the scientific community through the development and use of standardized ordering and naming systems. Ambiguity, however, persists among common vernaculars. Such variation in names transcends countries and continents, and can result in a single species being known by multiple names in the same area, a single species being known by different names in neighboring communities, or many species being known by one name. As part of a group-administered survey regarding wildlife, we asked 932 Tanzanian primary school children to name the species represented by animal illustrations. Participants provided up to 37 different names for each species (M = 19.8, SD= 13.3). Determining if the names indicated familiarity with the species proved challenging. Our results highlight the complications common names can cause for human dimensions of wildlife researchers. |
| |
| Keywords: | common names colloquial names cross-cultural surveys vernacular names |
|
|
