Place Names Research Articles

DePNR: A DeBERTa‐based deep learning model with complete position embedding for place name recognition from geographical literature

AbstractPlace names play an important role in linking physical places to human perception and are highly frequently used in the daily lives of people to refer to places in natural language. However, many place names may not be recorded in typical gazetteers due to their new establishment, colloquial nature, and different concerns. These unrecorded toponyms are often discussed in geographical literature; thus, it is necessary to automatically identify them from geographical literature and update existing gazetteers using computational approaches. Currently, the most advanced approaches are deep learning‐based models. However, existing models used only partial position information rather than complete position information of words in a sentence, which limits their performance in recognizing toponyms. To this end, we develop DePNR, a DeBERTa‐based deep learning model with complete position embedding for place name recognition from geographical literature. We train DePNR on two datasets and test it on a real dataset from geographical literature to evaluate its performance. The results show that DePNR achieves an F‐score of 0.8282, outperforming previous approaches, and can recognize new toponyms from literature text, potentially enriching existing gazetteers.

GIS-based relationship between pathway names and landscape. A multilingual case study: Euskadi, Spain

Place names determine geographic units in space, encapsulate the description of places where inhabitants conduct their activities, and preserve the perception of the territory in past times. The very definition of landscape impacts two interrelated concepts: human action and perception. On another note, traditional pathways are structuring elements of the landscape, bearing witness to the dynamic relationship between the territory and its inhabitants by connecting residences and workplaces. This work aims to assess the relationship between the landscape mosaic and the toponyms of pathways and roads gathered in the current cartography of Euskadi (Spain), a territory influenced by the existence of two official languages. Given the spatial component of the data, this analysis is conducted through geographic information systems. Firstly, a corpus of 3072 pathway names selected from current official toponymic databases is compiled, as well as the content of the first edition of the National Topographic Map. Subsequently, the semantic content of the corpus elements is examined, as well as the nature of their referential content concerning the landscape units obtained from the Atlas of Spanish Landscapes. The results show common factors in characterizing landscapes and the etymology of names. Thus, it is noted that traditional agricultural, forestry, livestock, and traditional industry activities shape the toponymy in the most populated landscape units. Meanwhile, references to the orography typify the more mountainous landscapes. Therefore, the geographical study demonstrates the existence of common factors that link landscape and toponymy, validating one as a study source for the other.

Nomina loci с наставка -ниц(а) в българския език (продуктивна в миналото и днес)

Place names (nomina loci) in Bulgarian represent a very interesting research subject both in a diachronic and synchronic perspective. The word-formation type of the nouns derived by attaching the ending -ниц(а) or the extended suffixes -арниц(а), -ачниц(а), -илниц(а), -джийниц(а)/-чийниц(а) to designate the places where the activity or occupation denoted by the motivating verb is performed or exercised (or the places/homes where the entities denoted by the motivating noun are stored), is represented by a significant number of substantives. This group of derivatives clearly reflects the dynamics of the language as observed in the transition of words from the active to the passive lexical layer, the revival of lexical items belonging to the passive lexis, the emergence of neologisms following the established derivational patterns, the development of neosemantics, the proprialisation resulting in the formation of firmonyms. A recent phenomenon attested in the language has been the incorporation of nomina loci into the internet space: without actually existing, these places perform similar functions to their physical counterparts. The suffixes under discussion are used in the derivation of both simple and compound substantives. The empirical material confirms the productivity of the ending -ниц(а) in contemporary Bulgarian.

Soviet and Russian Regimes of Spatial Inscription: A Critical Analysis of Indigenous versus Official Place Names on Maps in Siberia, 1920s–2000s

This article discusses Indigenous Evenki place names (hydronyms) on official topographic maps and handwritten sketches in a broader context of Soviet and Russian regimes of spatial inscription and toponymic policies and their legacies. The early Soviet policy of korenizatsia (indigenization) facilitated the incorporation of Indigenous place names into official nomenclature. As a result, a large number of Indigenous toponyms appeared on official maps. The aim of this article is to examine the evolving relationships between Indigenous place names and official place names of Indigenous origin across three historical periods (the 1920s, the 1950s, and the contemporary era) and in two politically distinct settings, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Amur region. The data sets for this research were extracted from official maps and Evenki archival sketch maps collected by Glafira Vasilevich in Siberia between the 1920s and the 1960s. Using Quantum GIS in conjunction with ethnographic fieldwork, statistical analysis, and qualitative linguistic assessment, this research further investigates the evolution of Indigenous names on maps, focusing on the most characteristic changes in their inscription over the past century. This article concludes by highlighting the power dynamics between different Indigenous place-naming traditions in Siberia, where various Indigenous communities have historically distinct opportunities to influence toponymic policies.

Place Names as Source Material in the Derivation of Selected Yorùbá Riddles: A Sociological Approach

This work examined the place of naming, most especially place name in the derivation of Yoruba riddle known as “àlọ́ àpamọ̀”. The main thrust of this work is to examine and analyse the importance of place names as source material in the derivation of selected Yoruba riddles. The aim of this work is to examine the role place names play in the derivation and construction of Yoruba riddles. The theory adopted for this work is the sociological theory of literature and the model adopted under this theory is the mirror image approach which sees literature as the reflection of the society. Data for this research work were gathered from oral documentation through structured interviews and informal gathering of data in different social gatherings. The researcher also makes use of relevant data from existing literatures on Yoruba riddles such as Ajayi (1990), Akinyemi (2015) etc. Some of the place names that are used in the derivation of some Yorùbá riddles as analysed include important cities such as Ìbàdàn, Ọ̀yọ́, Ilé-Ifẹ̀ and Ìkòyí. From the research carried out, the researcher observed the followings (i) place-name derive Yoruba riddles mirror the habit, traits and character of the people of the towns and cities whose names were used in the derivation of the riddles. It was observed that place-name derived Yoruba riddles can be classified as a distinct type of riddle. It was also discovered that place-name derive Yorùbá riddles are sources of historical construction and reconstruction, purveyor of Yoruba culture and system of government. In conclusion, it is established that place name serves as source of derivation for Yoruba riddles and can be used as an instrument of oral histography.

Sole Survivors: Using Tree-Trunk Wells from Archaeological Excavations to Inform Reconstructions of Medieval Deforestation, and Future Reforestation

Abstract This paper represents an attempt at a detailed analysis of woodland presence and dynamics during the Middle Ages (AD 500-1500), as a contribution to the current debate on large-scale reforestation in the Netherlands. Palynological data for this particular period are scarce and allow only global reconstructions. To widen our search for historical woodland proxies, we investigated the potential of archaeologically excavated tree-trunk wells. We carried out a nation-wide inventory of this type of well, in which the shaft is formed by hollowed-out tree trunks, typically large oak trees. Our suspicion that such trees indicate the local presence of (old) woodland in the past was confirmed by a marked positive correlation with spatial reconstructions based on other sources of information: archaeological (charcoal kilns) and non-archaeological (place names and historical references). The observed correlations suggest that mapping the distribution of precisely dated tree-trunk wells can indeed contribute to achieving fairly detailed reconstructions of medieval woodland cover.

When one thing leads to another: Pole Station Antarctica: December 15th 8am 1956

ABSTRACT This short paper illuminates a research-creation project titled Pole Station Antarctica: December 15th 8am 1956 (2012 – Ongoing). This artwork is an evolving collection of envelopes sharing the same postmark – mailed from the South Pole at the same time, on the same day. As the collection grows its shifting contents illustrate with increasing clarity global flows to and from the South Pole during the mid-twentieth century. When observed en mass, the cumulative minutia of place names, postage stamp designs, and decorative embellishments expose the complicated cultural and historical circumstances of this particular mailing – pointing towards America’s geopolitical motivations at the height of the cold war, the spread of Second World War military logistics and transportation technologies in the post war era, and the effects of navigation technologies on remote areas of Antarctica.

Canada’s Place Names and How to Change Them

Canada’s Place Names and How to Change Them

Exploration of the toponymy of Terentang Village, West Bangka as an effort to preserve culture

The issue at hand is the low level of knowledge among the community regarding the origin of Terentang Village. The objective of this community service program is to establish toponyms and educate the community about the background of Terentang Village while uncovering its cultural potential. The activities are conducted through educational outreach methods. The outcome of this program is the exploration of toponyms that reveal the origins of several place names, such as hamlets, rivers, and hills. Through a name, the origin story of a region can be transformed into cultural heritage worth preserving. Additionally, the community's knowledge regarding the origins of their area is also enhanced.

Вербальные инструменты глокализации рекламных трендов (на примере рекламы российских брендов экокосметики)

In the paper, on the example of the trend towards environmental friendliness, the specifics of the glocalization of modern advertising trends are considered. The authors proceed from the hypothesis that current social trends exploited by advertising discourse should be subjected to national customization. Glocalization is considered as the only way that ensures the effectiveness of global marketing processes. According to the authors, universal trends in different national linguistic and cultural communities will differ: the dynamics of globalization is constantly reinterpreted at the local level, leading to interpenetration of the global and the local. Thus, in advertising discourse, glocalization becomes a communication strategy that enhances the attractiveness of the product or service being promoted. The study of communication strategies used in the framework of adaptation activities in the foreign market is one of the important aspects of this issue, no less important is the consideration of the process of glocalization of global marketing trends – taking into account the value identity of a particular society. Current world trends at the local level undergo cognitive glocalization, which is objectified in language. In the case of the material selected for analysis (advertising of eco cosmetics), glocalization is carried out at all levels of the advertisement text (naming, the advertisement message itself, information on the package, etc.) through certain language tools. So, among the most frequent ones the authors note the use of place names, an appeal to precedent phenomena, stylization as folk poetic speech and some others, more specific means. The material for the study was the names and logos of Russian brands of natural cosmetics (more than 500), as well as more than 130 advertisement and PR texts that position and promote the products of Russian cosmetic eco-brands. During the study, the following set of methods was used: descriptive, analytical, functional, pragmatic, semiotic, complex intertextual analysis, as well as methods of systematization and classification.

About the origin of the Ayrums


 
 
 In more recent times, political problems faced by all-Turkic toponymy did not leave the toponymic system of Azerbaijan out of the grip of these challenges. In scientific journals, symposiums, and conferences, the opinions of our linguists, historians, and geographers regarding the linguistic and etymological analyses of any toponymic unit, turning from scientific debates into personal conflicts and outpourings of dissatisfaction, diverted attention from the correct and fair steps taken by honest researchers in the direction of solving the problem. Regretfully, it can be noted that sometimes, without any reason, the search for the explanation of our onomastic units in the Persian and Armenian languages has been connected with the fact that our territory borders Iran and Armenia. But we should not forget the fact that throughout history, Azerbaijan has bordered the Iravan Khanate, South Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. We must not forget that the population here consists entirely of Turkic tribes. Armenians who occupied our historical homeland not only tried to adopt our native names in those areas but in general, the representatives of this nation have always taken a biased position with the desire to appropriate toponyms of Turkish origin. Their main goal was to falsify the fact that our people live in our homeland, which they have owned for thousands of years, by changing these names. One of the ancient Oghuz tribes, the Ayrums contributed to the origin of the Azerbaijani people. The lack of substantial research on this tribe has led to the creation of fictional ideas about the origin of the Ayrums that have no scientific basis in certain periods. Surely, all this indicates the negative intentions of the Armenians and their allies, who from time to time steal the names of ancient Turkic tribes from our history and create a so-called history for themselves. G. Garagashli, a scientist who conducted serious research on the Ayrums for the first time, clarified many points in his work based on quite valid and logical arguments. G. Garagashli advises his colleagues, who do not agree with his views, to prioritize not only archaeological but also paleontological (linguistic) research in the region inhabited by Ayrums when re-investigating this topic. It is possible to draw confident theoretical conclusions based on thorough research. To preserve its national memory, every nation must first of all have its place names. From this point of view, toponyms are of exceptional importance as an invaluable source for the study of the language, history, geography and ethnography of our people. Our old tribal names, beliefs, and language units live probably better live on oeconym. «Ayrums» is one of the ethno-toponyms that keep our ancestry alive.
 
 

‘We love sharing your land’: Children’s understandings of Acknowledgement to Country practices and Aboriginal knowledges in early learning centres

This paper explores children’s understandings of Acknowledgement to Country practices and Aboriginal knowledges. Guided by the relational lenses of respect, responsibility and reciprocity, we conducted focus groups with children across five Australian early education centres. We found that Acknowledgement practices were evident through recitation of their Acknowledgement to Country, engaging with artefacts, and/or discussion of artworks. Secondly, children demonstrated emerging understandings about place names, the symbolic use of flags for places and people, and Australian plants and animals. Thirdly, Aboriginal cultures as living cultures were evident in temporal discussions about people and culture. Finally, imaginative play implied efforts to make sense of Aboriginal concepts and language. Across the study, children were active in experimenting with ideas in their own meaning making. Acknowledgement to Country was not a moment in the day; rather, it was embedded throughout the day through routines, storytelling, play and creative activities, all designed to foster learning.

A Semantic-Spatial Aware Data Conflation Approach for Place Knowledge Graphs

Recent advances in knowledge graphs show great promise to link various data together to provide a semantic network. Place is an important part in the big picture of the knowledge graph since it serves as a powerful glue to link any data to its georeference. A key technical challenge in constructing knowledge graphs with location nodes as geographical references is the matching of place entities. Traditional methods typically rely on rule-based matching or machine-learning techniques to determine if two place names refer to the same location. However, these approaches are often limited in the feature selection of places for matching criteria, resulting in imbalanced consideration of spatial and semantic features. Deep feature-based methods such as deep learning methods show great promise for improved place data conflation. This paper introduces a Semantic-Spatial Aware Representation Learning Model (SSARLM) for Place Matching. SSARLM liberates the tedious manual feature extraction step inherent in traditional methods, enabling an end-to-end place entity matching pipeline. Furthermore, we introduce an embedding fusion module designed for the unified encoding of semantic and spatial information. In the experiment, we evaluate the approach to named places from Guangzhou and Shanghai cities in GeoNames, OpenStreetMap (OSM), and Baidu Map. The SSARLM is compared with several classical and commonly used binary classification machine learning models, and the state-of-the-art large language model, GPT-4. The results demonstrate the benefit of pre-trained models in data conflation of named places.

Normative-legal regulation of the renaming of settlements as a component of the decommunization process in Ukraine

Research dedicated to the analysis of normative- legal regulation of the renaming of populated places as part of the decommunization process in Ukraine. In the context of post-Soviet space, rethinking historical names and symbols is a crucial step in defining a new national direction and shaping the country's modern image. Relevance. The implementation of decommunization and reconsideration of geographical and cultural aspects becomes a pressing task for the country aiming to integrate into the European community on the global stage. The normative regulation of renaming populated places is determined by a series of legislative acts and requires careful study. The purpose of the study is to analyze the normative- legal support of the process of renaming populated places in the context of decommunization. Studying the legal framework will contribute to understanding the process of changing the names of populated places as a tool to influence cultural memory and shape national identity. The research is based on a complex of methods, including the analysis of normative-legal acts, comparative analysis of domestic and international experience in renaming populated places, and the study of public reaction to changes in the names of populated places. The results of the study allow determining the effectiveness and feasibility of the process of reconsideration and renaming of populated places within the decommunization strategy. This research reveals key aspects and nuances of legal regulation of this process in the Ukrainian context. The study's conclusions point to the need for further development and clarification of normative-legal regulation of the process of renaming populatedplaces, taking into account the historical, cultural, and social peculiarities of Ukraine. The proposals developed within the study can serve as a basis for further legislative initiatives in this direction.

Place renaming, jurisdictional integration, and political representation: lessons from South Africa

ABSTRACT Since South Africa’s 1994 transition from apartheid to democracy, the African National Congress (ANC) has advanced place renaming alongside jurisdictional rescaling. This confluence allows scholars to examine the political-economic, symbolic, and mnemonic dimensions of territorial inscription. The ANC’s wall-to-wall system of local and district municipalities aimed to rectify the inequality-exacerbating geography of apartheid and create more robust and redistributive localities. Concomitantly, jurisdictional toponyms celebrate anti-apartheid struggle heroes and cut across prior fault-lines of white and Black, haves and have-nots. Based on fieldwork in the Mahikeng Local Municipality (formerly two cities, Mmabatho and Mafikeng, in the Bophuthatswana ‘Bantustan’), I find that new local-government and district-level jurisdictions can indeed integrate prior fault-lines. Yet the process of subnational restructuring also created new inequalities, for instance across municipal categories and between traditional and municipal councils. Residents’ perceptions of local changes are differentiated: some employ new place and jurisdictional names and find State efforts admirable; others see State efforts as merely symbolic changes justifying corruption, opacity, and state-capture; and still others applaud State efforts but see limited results, blaming broader world systems of racial-capitalist urbanization. This research reveals how place-naming and jurisdictional reformulation are worthwhile steps towards rectifying apartheid-era inequalities, but require grassroots popular-democratic decision-making.

The Archaeology of Human–Animal Relations in Nineteenth- to Mid-Twentieth-Century Finland: Horse Burials and Cemeteries in Agrarian Landscapes

AbstractOne of the most crucial issues in the study of human–animal relations is the power of humans over animal death and how it has been processed culturally by the ways animal carcasses have been treated. In this article, the post-domestic phase in human–animal relations is entered by investigating the burial of working horses in the Finnish countryside during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Toward that end, 115 horse burials, 134 cemeteries, and 61 death places or kill sites were examined through interviews with local people, and a search of literature and place names. Six burial sites were excavated and several sites surveyed in the field. The locations of all sites were analyzed with historical maps. As a result, we consider that animal graves form a significant group of historical monuments that show great variability and are associated with past land use and human–animal relations.

EXPLORING TOPONYMS IN RUSSIAN PHILOLOGY: A LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Toponyms, or place names, play a pivotal role in Russian philology, serving as linguistic artifacts that reflect the rich tapestry of Russian history, culture, andgeography. This article delves into the significance of toponyms in Russian language and literature, examining their etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural connotations. Through a multidisciplinary lens encompassing linguistics, history, and cultural studies, we explore the intricate interplay between toponyms and the broader Russian literary tradition. Furthermore, we discuss the methodologies employed in the study of toponyms and their implications for understanding Russian identity and heritage.

Aid from the Elf-Ruler: Line 1314a and the Pre-Christian Antecedents of Beowulf

Abstract: Line 1314b of Beowulf is regularly emended to “alwalda” (Ruler of All) from the manuscript form “alf walda” (Ruler of Elves). But the other instances of “alwalda” in Beowulf do not have visible space between the l and the w , and no plausible motivation for the addition of an f and a space has been proposed if the exemplar read “alwalda.” We contend, therefore, that MS “alf walda” is correct, and that the compound refers to the pre-Christian deity Yngvi-Freyr (to use the more familiar Norse name) rather than to the Christian God. We note that in the same passage in which “alf walda” appears, the Danes are called the “Ingwine” (friends/followers of Ing) and that later in the poem Hrothgar’s daughter is named “Freawaru” (watchful care of Freyr). Connecting this material with archaeological finds at Gamle Lejre that indicate the sacrifice of pigs (Freyr’s sacred animal), the place name Hleiðra (“the place of the tent”), and the statement in line 175 that the Danes made sacrifices “æt hærgtrafum” (at the pagan tabernacles), we argue that “alf walda” is part of a larger pattern of connections between the Danes in Beowulf and pre-Christian Germanic practices that appear to have been understood by one of Beowulf’ s sources (and perhaps by the Beowulf -poet) but which were opaque to later scribes.

Toponymy analysis as geosocial cultural approach on disaster mitigation studies in Sumberagung Village Pracimantoro District Wonogiri Regency

Disaster mitigation studies with a geographical, social and cultural approach can be carried out on a system of place names known as toponymy. Toponomy generally has a relationship with the characteristics of the region. Sumberagung Village, located in Pracimantoro District, Wonogiri Regency, Central Java, has a unique character as a karst area. This study aims to analyze the toponymy of Sumberagung Village which is related to the spatial, social, and cultural context as a study of disaster mitigation in the region. The research method uses descriptive qualitative analysis with interview techniques, documentation and field surveys. The results of the study show that the Toponymy of Sumberagung Village contradicts the factual conditions of the environment. The name “Sumberagung” which means a large water source has the characteristics of an area that is prone to drought. The history of the name Sumberagung Village comes from deep contemplation, prayer and hope to find a large source of water that can be used in mitigating drought. The expectation of a large supply of water forces the community and the government to make efforts which are manifested as policies, tracing karts water sources that are below the surface, and providing water resources infrastructure. These efforts show that toponymy indirectly has a relationship with disaster mitigation in Sumberagung Village.

Review on the Relationship Between Mahan and Baekje: The Same Entities with Different Names

Currently, in Northeast Asia, where Korea, China, and Japan are located, there is still a fierce debate over the extent of the territories in ancient history. This research aimed to prove that Mahan and Baekje, ancient Korean states, were essentially the same entitty only with different names employing new methodologies including comparative analysis of ancient Historical records from Korea, China and Japan, analysis of clans and place names, as well as examination of various inscriptions, stele texts, and genealogical data. The research results revealed that Baekje, referred to as Dongyi tribes in China and as Gudara in Japan was confirmed to be another name of Mahan. Baekje was established as a tributary of Mahan in the ancient land of Daebang and Mahan and Baekje coexisted peacefully for over 460 years, and they even engaged in a division of roles in diplomatic activities. In Tang Dynasty, when Baekje was conquered, King Kim Chun-chu of Silla was appointed as the general secretary of the Yuyi Clan Conquest. The titles of Yuyi and Mahan also appear in the positions of Su Dingfang, which refers to the Mahan forces that existed around the Yeongsan River basin as Yue Zhi. All these facts confirm that Mahan and Baekje were indeed the same entities, merely known by different names in historical Records. The aforementioned research results demonstrate that Mahan-Baekje was a very Powerful political entity spanning the Korean Peninsula, the northeastern region of China, and the Japanese Archipelago. This serves as strong evidence against the claims of China’s Northeast Project and Japan’s theory of the Imna Japan Province, highlighting the historical inaccuracies in these assertions.