About the project:

About the project:

Many, if not most, of these words would commonly be considered jargon. Let’s instead call them vernacular. They are words that are rather peculiar to the fields of study which gave them purpose. Most of us would not come across words that describe the movement of rock unless we were specialists in the field of geomorphology. With these words though we are suddenly offered the means to think and speak about a new subject. In naming the process of geological movement we might be inspired to contemplate the vastly different time scale at which such as thing can even be observed. In this way, an entirely new world opens up and through the language of that world we become explorers.

It is my hope in this exploration to engender deeper thought about the processes that animate the world around us and thereby to inspire greater consideration and care for global life, even the lives of the rocks.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Orogeny

Orogeny is the foremost process by which mountains are built. From the Greek oros 'mountain' and genes 'born'. The Spanish word for gold oro -and also generally speaking things that are shiny- is also derived from this Greek root oros.

I am enamored of the idea that the root word for mountain became also the word for gold. I suppose it’s no great leap, gold and other sparkling mineral substances tend to be unearthed from mountains but still I picture shiny mountains.

Finding this word, though I can't seem to quite remember where I found it, conjured up this image of a mountain in all its archetypal glory standing as a challenge and a promise to illuminate those who are brave or foolish enough to seek its heights. I picture the sparkling of a snowy windswept peak in the late day sun and it tugs my heartstrings. The image of snow clouds blowing off of mountain tops, the way they shimmer, is amongst my favorite images of all time and I have yet to find a word to define that better than sublime.

Also, depending on what corner of the world you inhabit, if your nearby mountain chain is still growing say, you might be fortunate enough to be living in an orogenous zone. (That's not a real word.... yet)
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