General Terminology

Abstract

In the first place, we must consider the name of the phenomenon under discussion. “Dispersal” was indicated expressly for English use by Praeger (1923) and supported by Ridley. They defined it as the active (dynamic) process of transportation, differentiating it from the result it leads to: the passive (static) state of distribution. Unfortunately, this scientific distinction seems insufficiently reflected in colloquial English. Jackson’s glossary gives the two terms as synonyms. Henderson’s Dictionary of Biological Terms does better. Scandinavians differentiate between “spredning” and “utbredelse”, but Dutch botanists maintain confusion as illustrated below for English. I found a line: “on the influence of ‘verspreiding’ on present ‘verspreidingspatroon’”. In other languages, too, common usage makes no sharp distinction between the comparable words, so that foreign terms came into scientific use. Though I often use it, I shall not promote the use of the term “dissemination” in English for reasons to be explained below, although the other terms may cause confusion. A study entitled Ancient Dispersals proved to deal with distribution, and a paper called Distribution by Means of Bats concerned dispersal. The (translated) book of Takhtajan Flowering Plants — Origin and Dispersal is practically silent on dispersal, but treats distribution well.