Definição e significado de Tautonym

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  In biology

In biology, tautonym is an informal term to indicate a scientific name of a species in which both parts of the name have the same spelling, for example Bison bison. The first part of the name is the name of the genus and the second part is referred to as the specific epithet in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and the specific name in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

From a formal perspective, in the rules of nomenclature as laid down in the Nomenclature Codes, no tautonym exists. In past editions of the zoological Code the term was used, but it has now been replaced by the more inclusive "tautonymous names"; these include names such as Gorilla gorilla gorilla. Tautonymy (i.e., the usage of tautonymous names) is permissible in zoological nomenclature (see List of tautonyms for examples).

In the rules for botanical nomenclature, tautonyms are explicitly prohibited (ICBN, Art 23.4) . An example of a botanical tautonym that does not exist is 'Larix larix'. The earliest name for the European larch is Pinus larix L. (1753) but Gustav Karl Wilhelm Hermann Karsten did not agree with the placement of the species in Pinus and decided to move it to Larix. His proposed name would have created a tautonym, not acceptable under the rules (1906 onwards; the rules are retroactive): it does not and cannot exist (as a formal name). In such a case either the next earliest validly published name must be found, in this case Larix decidua Mill. (1768), or (in its absence) a new epithet must be published.

However, it is allowed for both parts of the name of a species to mean the same, without being identical in spelling. For instance, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi means bearberry twice, in Greek and Latin respectively; Picea omorica uses the Latin and Serbian terms for a pine. There are also instances of an almost repeat of the genus name, with a slight modification, such as Lycopersicon lycopersicum (Greek and Latinized Greek, a rejected name for the tomato). Differences as small as a single letter are permissible, as in the name Ziziphus zizyphus.

  In linguistics

In general English, a tautonym is sometimes considered to be any word or term made from two identical parts or syllables, such as bonbon or dada. The origin of this usage is uncertain, but it has been suggested that it is of relatively recent derivation. The general term in linguistics for such double words is reduplicants.

  See also

• List of tautonyms
• Binomial nomenclature
• Botanical nomenclature
• Reduplication
• List of tautological place names

  External links

• International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, Art. 23.4
• International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Art. 18 and Art. 23.3.7