• magnetosphere@fedia.io
    36·
    9 days ago

    He should show her this. The fact that it means “flowers” in Swahili might help. It won’t solve the trust issues, but it’s better than nothing.

    • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
      14·
      9 days ago

      I mean if they aren’t Swahili why would they pick something randomly from that language?

      • magnetosphere@fedia.io
        13·
        9 days ago

        The same reason a lot of people do: because it sounds nice. Plus, maybe flowers were what the cicada was named after. When someone discovers a species, they usually get a decent amount of leeway when naming it.

        • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
          4·
          9 days ago

          honestly it’s not just a decent amount of leeway, it’s basically free game so long as you’re not outright offensive.

          There’s a gene called “sonic hedgehog”, and many other organisms with names that are specifically meant to just be funny and absurd.

        • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
          313·
          8 days ago

          “I did a lil appropriating cuz I thought it was cute”

          Edit downvotes from people who just googled their kid’s name