Talk:Cirque

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[edit] Proposed merger

Corrie seems to duplicate information found here, and is an essentially synonymous term. I didn't think having Corrie as a redirect was controversial until User:JzG disputed it. I'm inviting further discussion on the matter. The way, the truth, and the light 15:27, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

This is a bad idea for several reasons, not least of which is that in the English Wikipedia the merge target should be the predominant English usage, not a French term for a related but subtly different concept. Guy (Help!) 17:17, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

"Cirque" is by far the predominant and standard English usage, it is probably used hundreds of times more often than "corrie" in everyday speech (among mountaineers, geologists, etc.), in published books, and definitely in published geological papers. Cirque is not a "French term" except by etymology, and corrie is not English either (it's Scottish Gaelic). Also, according to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, cirque entered the English language in 1601, corrie in 1795. Please see http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/cirque and http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/corrie, where corrie is defined simply as cirque (unfortunately the dates are missing in the online dictionary, you need the paper one for those).

If you have any reference that clarifies the difference between a corrie and a cirque, please post it. In any case, I think that the articles should be re-merged, since subtle differences can be elucidated within the text of a single article. There is no need to have separate articles for synonyms, that is good use for redirects. --Seattle Skier (talk) 22:38, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

I have further evidence from the geological literature: In Georef, the main database for scientifc literature in the earth sciences, a search for "cirque" turns up 609 results, while "corrie" only finds 27, many of which are proper names like "Moraine Corrie Glacier" and not the general term (and also not counting numerous authors who are named "Corrie"). So cirque definitely is the predominant usage in the scientifc literature. A relevant Google search on the two terms appears to be impossible, since almost all hits are to names and other irrelevant stuff. --Seattle Skier (talk) 22:47, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

I agree with Seattle Skier: "cirque" is the standard geological term. For example, see [1] and[2]. In my opinion, "cirque" should be the article, "corrie" should be the redirect. hike395 03:25, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

I think this is a difference of wording based on British Isles uses and others. In North America, cirque is the common name. I think we can have the article on Corrie and work to identify what the differences are. I believe that JzG is indicating that a Cirque may have several Corries...I am not familiar with this, but again, this may be a British Isles terminology and we shouldn't reject it just because it isn't used in N. America. Lest we forget about the Western Cwm, named I suppose by explorers from Britain.--MONGO 05:29, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

As far as I know, "corrie" is synonymous with "cirque" (see Seattle Skier's explanation, above). Is there support/citations for the fact that "corrie" is different from "cirque"? hike395 13:17, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Definition of Coomb

The entry for the geological term "coomb" is redirected to the "Cirque" article. Are all coombs glacial? In Sussex the term "Coomb" is used for deep, rounded, dry valleys in the Downs. I don't think these are of Glacial origin. Suelaw1954 (talk) 00:17, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

Please see WP:RS for how to identify reliable source for article content. Walter Siegmund (talk) 03:41, 24 April 2008 (UTC)