Language, landscape and ethnoecology, reflections from northwestern Canada
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Leslie Main Johnson
Abstract
I draw on Witsuwit’en, Kaska and Gitksan landscape research to investigate similarities and differences in landscape terminologies, and ethnoecological implications of landscape kinds in northwestern British Columbia and the southern Yukon. Kaska and Witsuwit’en are Athapaskan languages while Gitksan is a Tsimshianic language. Gitksan and Witsuwit’en share similar landscapes and some aspects of social structure, though they are linguistically distinct, and Witsuwit’en and Kaska share some aspects of traditional economy and language, though there are differences in landscape and social structure. This three-way comparison allows exploration of the interaction of language, landscape and ecological perspectives.
Abstract
I draw on Witsuwit’en, Kaska and Gitksan landscape research to investigate similarities and differences in landscape terminologies, and ethnoecological implications of landscape kinds in northwestern British Columbia and the southern Yukon. Kaska and Witsuwit’en are Athapaskan languages while Gitksan is a Tsimshianic language. Gitksan and Witsuwit’en share similar landscapes and some aspects of social structure, though they are linguistically distinct, and Witsuwit’en and Kaska share some aspects of traditional economy and language, though there are differences in landscape and social structure. This three-way comparison allows exploration of the interaction of language, landscape and ecological perspectives.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword ix
- Preface xi
- Landscape in language 1
- Ethnophysiography 25
- Exploring philosophy of place 47
- Embedded in place 73
- Philosophical issues in ethnophysiography 101
- ‘Land’ and life 121
- Landscape in Western Pantar, a Papuan outlier of southern Indonesia 143
- Hawaiian storied place names 167
- Between the trees and the tides 187
- Differing conceptualizations of the same landscape 225
- A case study in Ahtna Athabascan geographic knowledge 239
- Revitalizing place names through stories and songs 261
- Language and landscape among the Tlingit 275
- Language, landscape and ethnoecology, reflections from northwestern Canada 291
- Landscape embedded in language 327
- Navajo landscape and its contexts 343
- Navigating regional landscapes with Jicarilla personal narrative 353
- Ontology of landscape in language 369
- The role of geospatial technologies for integrating landscape in language 381
- Classifying landscape character 395
- Perspectives on the ethical conduct of landscape in language research 411
- Notes on contributors 435
- Index 443
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword ix
- Preface xi
- Landscape in language 1
- Ethnophysiography 25
- Exploring philosophy of place 47
- Embedded in place 73
- Philosophical issues in ethnophysiography 101
- ‘Land’ and life 121
- Landscape in Western Pantar, a Papuan outlier of southern Indonesia 143
- Hawaiian storied place names 167
- Between the trees and the tides 187
- Differing conceptualizations of the same landscape 225
- A case study in Ahtna Athabascan geographic knowledge 239
- Revitalizing place names through stories and songs 261
- Language and landscape among the Tlingit 275
- Language, landscape and ethnoecology, reflections from northwestern Canada 291
- Landscape embedded in language 327
- Navajo landscape and its contexts 343
- Navigating regional landscapes with Jicarilla personal narrative 353
- Ontology of landscape in language 369
- The role of geospatial technologies for integrating landscape in language 381
- Classifying landscape character 395
- Perspectives on the ethical conduct of landscape in language research 411
- Notes on contributors 435
- Index 443
