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Word of Mouth

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them

BBC Radio 4 LW

Word of Mouth: Wild Words

10/10/2017

Wild Words

BBC Radio 4 - Word of Mouth, Wild Words

Robert Macfarlane tells Michael Rosen about his 'word-hoard' of endangered nature words.

For ten years, writer Robert Macfarlane has been gathering a 'word-hoard' of thousands of endangered terms for nature, landscape and weather. He shares some with Michael Rosen.

The writer Robert Macfarlane (author of Landmarks, The Old Ways, The Wild Places and Mountains of the Mind) believes that the language we use to talk about nature is itself at risk of becoming an endangered species. A 2016 research paper by Cambridge University conservationists found that eight-to 11-year-old schoolchildren were 'substantially better' at identifying common Pokemon characters than common species of British wildlife. 

Over the past 10 years, Macfarlane has been gathering a 'word-hoard' of thousands of terms for nature, landscape and weather, in the hope of preserving, enriching and diversifying our language for the living world. He shares some of his favourites with Michael Rosen and Dr Laura Wright and talks about why its so important to celebrate the language we use to talk about the natural world. 

Produced by Mair Bosworth.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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