Naming Nature

A Cabinet of Natural Curiosities for Word Lovers
T.A. Barron

THE names we give to animals and plants have their own tale to tell. In French, a butterfly is papillon from a root word meaning ‘tremble.’ In Spanish, it is mariposa, in homage to the Virgin Mary, while the Russian babochka recalls tales of witches. 

Celebrated American author and passionate conservationist T.A. Barron (pictured below) explores words from across the world, and the fascinating stories that underlie our names for nature, in this beautiful, informative book illustrated with exquisite archival artwork from classic works of natural history. 

From butterflies and hummingbirds to narwhal and leopards, Naming Nature draws on etymology, folklore and linguistic nuance to uncover the meanings behind the names of plants and animals. Take elephants, for instance. 

African languages often focus on the power of the elephant… Tswana and Tsonga refer to ‘the unstoppable one’ and Zulu to ‘one crashing through.’ In ancient European languages, however, elephants were seen as commodities. 

When Homer and Hesiod wrote about ‘elephas’ in the 7^th century BC, they simply used the word for ivory. The Croatian name for a dragonfly is ‘vilin konjic’ which means ‘fairy horse’ while swallows are known to the Mapuche people of South America as ‘pilmaiquen’ or ‘spirits that fly.’ 

Whether rooted in mythology, survival or awe, the words reveal the deep interconnection between language and the natural world. A joyful and fascinating celebration of both cultural and ecological diversity, Naming Nature is a stunning gift book for nature lovers, language enthusiasts, and anyone who is simply curious about the ways we describe and speak of the natural world.
(Riverside Press, hardback, £18.99)