**Etymology and Definitions:**
– The word ‘jungle’ originates from the Sanskrit word ‘jaṅgala’, meaning rough and arid.
– It entered the English language in the 18th century from the Hindustani word for forest.
– Variations of ‘jaṅgala’ have been transcribed as ‘jangal’, ‘jangla’, ‘jungal’, and ‘juṅgala’.
– An Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its association with dense tangled thickets.
– The term is common in languages of the Indian subcontinent and the Iranian Plateau.
**Wildlife in Jungles:**
– Jungles exist on all inhabited landmasses with diverse vegetation and climates.
– Defining the wildlife of jungles is complex due to the variety of vegetation and land types.
– Wildlife in jungles cannot be straightforwardly categorized.
**Characteristics of Jungles:**
– Jungles are characterized by tangled vegetation hindering human movement.
– Rainforests have a more open understorey compared to jungles.
– Jungles form in areas where tropical forests have been disturbed.
– Monsoon forests and mangroves have dense understoreys, making movement difficult.
– Jungles typically form along rainforest margins due to increased light at ground level.
**Metaphorical Usage and Cultural Significance:**
– ‘Jungle’ is often used metaphorically to describe unruly or lawless situations.
– The term ‘The Law of the Jungle’ originates from Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’.
– Jungles symbolize untamed nature, isolation, and threat in popular culture.
– The transition from ‘jungle’ to ‘rainforest’ reflects changing perceptions of tropical forests.
– Scholars analyze jungles within the context of hierarchical domination and cultural standards.
**Literary References and Controversies:**
– Historical Perspectives and Literary References provide insights into colonial perceptions and cultural representations related to jungles.
– Controversies and Critiques explore themes like colonization, environmental impact, and societal reflections associated with jungles.
A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century.
