How the diversity of human concepts of nature affects conservation of biodiversity.

ABSTRACT: Protecting nature has become a global concern. However, the very idea of nature is problematic. We examined the etymological and semantic diversity of the word used to translate nature in a conservation context in 76 of the primary languages of the world to identify the different relationships between humankind and nature. Surprisingly, the number of morphemes (distinct etymological roots) used by 7 billion people was low. Different linguistic superfamilies shared the same etymon across large cultural areas that correlate with the distribution of major religions. However, we found large differences in etymological meanings among these words, echoing the semantic differences and historical ambiguity of the contemporary European concept of nature. The principal current Western meaning of nat

SUBMITTER: Ducarme F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8247028 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature