Landmarks summary

Exploring the Language of Landscape

In Landmarks, Robert Macfarlane takes us on a journey through the British Isles, exploring the language of landscape. He begins by introducing us to the concept of 'landscape literacy' - the ability to read the land, and how this literacy is shaped by the words we use to describe it. Macfarlane argues that the loss of these words, and the concepts they represent, is a loss of our ability to understand and connect with the natural world.

Macfarlane then delves into the heart of his exploration, presenting us with a glossary of 'landmarks' - words from various dialects and languages that describe specific features of the land. These words are often highly specific, capturing nuances that are lost in more general terms. For example, 'selkie' is a word from Orkney and Shetland dialects, describing a seal that can transform into a human, while 'swill-belly' is a term from the Northamptonshire dialect, referring to a heavy, lazy person.

Exploring the Landscapes

As we journey through the landscapes, Macfarlane introduces us to the people who use these words and the landscapes they describe. We meet crofters in the Hebrides, who use words like 'machair' to describe the fertile, grassy plains by the sea, and miners in the Peak District, who use 'grough' to describe a narrow, steep-sided valley. Through these encounters, we gain a deeper understanding of the landscapes and the people who inhabit them.

Macfarlane also introduces us to the works of various nature writers and poets who have captured these landscapes in their words. He discusses the writings of Nan Shepherd, who explored the Cairngorms in her book 'The Living Mountain', and the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, who coined the term 'inscape' to describe the unique essence of a landscape.

Preserving the Language of Landscape

Throughout Landmarks, Macfarlane emphasizes the importance of preserving these words and the landscapes they describe. He argues that the loss of these words is not just a linguistic loss, but a loss of cultural and ecological knowledge. By forgetting these words, we forget the landscapes they represent, and in doing so, we lose our connection to the natural world.

Macfarlane ends Landmarks with a call to action, urging us to celebrate and preserve these words. He highlights various initiatives aimed at recording and reviving these words, such as the 'Ordnance Survey' project, which aims to collect and map these terms. He also encourages us to go out and explore these landscapes for ourselves, armed with the knowledge of these words.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Landmarks is a celebration of the language of landscape and a call to preserve it. Through his exploration of these words, Macfarlane not only introduces us to the rich linguistic diversity of the British Isles but also deepens our understanding of the landscapes they describe. He reminds us that these words are not just linguistic curiosities but vital tools for understanding and connecting with the natural world.