Kirsten Krogh Hansen

Definitions and Concepts – The Etymology and Use of the Terms Forest and Landscape

In everyday language, concepts are often indefinite and the demarcation is imprecise. This can result in misunderstandings and to avoid this it is important for the researcher to define the concept in question. The aim of this chapter is to describe the etymology of the concepts of forests and landscapes with examples from different European languages and to discuss the different interpretations of these concepts within science and everyday terminology.The reader will gain an insight into the complexity of forest and landscape and gain an understanding of the fact that these concepts are dependent on the individual’s use and perception of the concept.