Efforts to restore nature language are already taking shape in education, art, and everyday observation. One of the most widely recognized examples emerged from the controversy surrounding the Oxford Junior Dictionary’s removal of nature words.
British illustrator Jackie Morris saw the problem firsthand. Inspired by the dictionary debate, she collaborated with nature writer Robert Macfarlane to cr...
The narrative presents a compelling case for the interplay between language and ecological awareness, but it’s worth examining the underlying assumptions and potential blind spots. At its core, the argument rests on the idea that naming and describing nature fosters care and connection—a claim supported by anecdotal evidence (e.g., Morris’s observations) and scholarly references (e.g., Kimmerer’s work). However, the piece leans heavily on qualitative examples rather than empirical data to suppor...