POLLEN ANALYSIS CIRCULAR NO.6
                      March 15, 1944
         Edited by Paul B. Sears, Department of Botany
              Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio


(bottom, page 2. - top page 3)
THE RIGHT WORD? - "Is ‘pollen analysis' the proper name for the 
study of pollen and its applications? The word ‘pollen analysis' 
(meaning, I suppose, analysis of peat for pollen) was from the 
beginning used in Sweden to signify the identification and 
percentage-determination of the pollen grains of the principal 
forest trees in peat bogs and lake beds.  However, its inadequacy 
was soon obvious, as shown for instance by Gunnar Erdtman's 
titles ‘Literature on pollen-statistics...' and, beginning in 
1932, ‘Literature on pollen-statistics and related topics.'  
Even the combination ‘statistical pollen analysis', refers only 
to the method of getting certain data which in itself has little 
purpose and which does not apply to or cover all the branches 
of the pollen studies, much less the application of the 
direct results to climatic conclusions, etc.  It is the 
knowledge gained from the pollen studies, be these statistical 
or morphological, or be they concerned with pollen-induced 
diseases as hayfever, etc., that has purpose and significance."
    "In this case the international combining form -logy 
(English spelling) can hardly be used to denote this science, 
for the name would be, I suppose, ‘pollinilogy' (cf. polliniferous, 
pollinization), which is bad."
    "To me ‘pollen science' (Swedish, ‘pollenvetenskap'; German 
‘Pollenwissenschaft') and ‘pollen scientific' sound better.  
Would ‘pollen science' be preferable to ‘pollen analysis'?" 
 - Ernst Antevs (Feb. 18, 1944)

(page 3, Paul B. Sears)
(Both on the grounds of euphony and sense, this suggestion from 
Dr. Antevs appeals to me.  I am inclined to suggest, if it meets 
with no objection, and if interest warrants continuing this 
circular after the present year, that issues beginning in 1945 be 
entitled "Pollen Science Circular.") - P.B.S.



                POLLEN ANALYSIS CIRCULAR NO.7
                      July 1, 1944
         Edited by Paul B. Sears, Department of Botany
              Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio


(bottom, page 1.)
THE RIGHT WORD. - "Dr. Antevs' enquiry into the ‘Right Word' is 
interesting.  It appears that we grant awkward phrases an incidental 
existence without being particularly aware of their ineptness.  I 
have no set feelings on this subject - however, I wonder whether the 
term ‘analysis' hasn't been used, consciously or otherwise, in the 
sense of ‘syllabus' - of knowledge gained from the use of numerous 
and varied research techniques applicable to the many phases 
(ecological, atmospheric, morphological, cytological, genetical, etc.) 
of pollen study.  If this is not the usual interpretation, ‘pollen 
science' would seem like a more apt and generalized expression.  
Some of the difficulty as Dr. Antevs suggests, appears to be initially 
impose by the fact that the term ‘pollen' is not readily plastic 
in the manner that, for example, ‘cytology, and anatomy' are."
 - A. Orville Dahl (Mar. 31, 1944)

(top, page 2.)
"The Pollen Analysis Circular No. 6 has just arrived and it is 
gratifying to see how well it is keeping up and apparently gaining 
strength. Your suggestion on page 3, concerning a new name for the 
Circular appeals to me very much.  I suppose it would be wise to 
retain the old name for the remainder of the year as you have suggested.  
I am wondering about the word ‘pollen' in the name, for it may imply 
that spore investigations are excluded.  Those of us that are engaged 
in Paleozoic and Mesozoic studies work with spores as much as 
we do with pollen and microfossils.  We could use the word ‘pollen' 
in a very liberal sense and understand that spore studies were to be 
included in the Circular." - L. R. Wilson (Mar. 27, 1944)



                POLLEN ANALYSIS CIRCULAR NO.8
                      October 8, 1944
         Edited by Paul B. Sears, Department of Botany
              Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio


(top, page 2.)
THE RIGHT WORD. - "The question raised by Dr. Antevs: ‘Is pollen 
analysis the proper name for the study of pollen and its applications?' 
and his suggestion to replace it by ‘pollen science' interests us very 
much.  We entirely agree that a new term is needed but in view of the 
fact that pollen analysts normally include in their counts the spores 
of such plants as ferns and mosses we think that some word carrying a 
wider connotation than pollen seems to be called for.  We should 
therefore suggest palynology from Greek παλúνω (paluno), 
to strew or sprinkle; cf. παλη (palé), fine meal; cognate with 
Latin pollen, flour, dust): the study of pollen and other spores 
and their dispersal, and applications thereof.  We venture to hope 
that the sequence of consonants p-l-n (suggesting pollen, but with 
a difference) and the general euphony of the new word may commend it 
to our fellow workers in this field. We have been assisted in the 
coining of this new word by Mr. L.J.D. Richardson, M.A., University 
College, Cardiff."  (H.A. Hyde and D.A. Williams, July 15, 1944. 
Wales)