The environmental movement is certainly changing. Unlike some scientific fields established centuries ago, the environment is relatively “new”. Of course, environmental problems existed back in ancient times. But we really never thought it could be studied and harnessed until the last 60 years or so. So with that history and the amazing pace of new discoveries, it is understandable that our approach to environmental problems will change as we learn more. And included in that is the language.
The language of the environment can change very quickly. For example, Dr. Harold Des Voeux in the early 20th century studied a condition but could not find a word in the literature to describe it. So he invented one, that we now use commonly: smog. He saw the colored and hazy air and saw thousands of people suffering from lung ailments, breathing in so many byproducts of coal combustion. So he made up a word: “smog”, combining smoke and fog. He did not ask for permission. He just made it up and published it. Now, its fully understood as an air pollution concept.
A new project called The Bureau of Linguistical Reality (bureauoflinguisticalreality.com) has a goal is create a new lexicon for recent changes on our planet, such as climate change and biodiversity. Working with scientists and the general public, the project leaders have developed new words they hope will be universally adopted so that scientists can better communicate with each other and with the public. In this effort, the latter, speaking to the general public is important, so that new terminology not come down from educated people but from those impacted by change, too.
One example is a new word that has been coined, nonnapaura, the conflicting fears and hope of being a grandparent amid climate change. This word came from a discussion between the project leaders and a woman concerning her anxieties about the Earth’s future for her children and grandchildren and the conflict between improvements she has seen in her life and climate change. They took the Italian words nonna (grandmother) and paura (fear) and combined them for nonnapaura.
Other examples in the project include the word pyrora to describe the air during wildfires, when the atmosphere looked different due to the particulate matter present. And there is mientierra, from the Spanish for lie and earth, meaning when the ground gives a false sense of security, but is not really that secure, such as retreating coastlines. And there is the word shellaqua,the act of covering a once-permeable surface with human-made materials, thus increasing the flood risk. This word is based on a “shellac” coating and “aqua”.
CCES may not be experts in linguistics, but we can help you understand Climate Change and environmental issues and provide technical advice to protect you from its impacts and reduce risk. Contact us at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.