The subject examined in this thesis is the relationship between contemporary place-names and cultural regions. It was hypothesised that there would be a relationship between place-names and cultural regions, if place-names, as organized into toponymic systems, correlated with known cultural features of the inhabitants of the Chota Nagpur region of India. The organization of the place-names into toponymic systems was on the basis of spatial and statistical interdependence and interaction of selected terms denoting spaces with different attributes. The known cultural feature for correlation in this study was the spatial and statistical distribution of the languages spoken in the study area. A one-half sample of all the place-names in the Chota Nagpur was collected from 1:250,000 maps of the area, and divided into their component elements. Following subsequent ordering by computer, distribution maps and statistical tables were drawn up for selected denotative components, the element in the name used to distinguish a particular space in the environment in terms of its attributes. Data on the spatial and statistical distributions of the languages spoken in the area was obtained from G.A, Grierson's Linguistic Survey of India and the Census of India 1931, 1951 and 1961. The results obtained from a correlation of the toponymic systems which were identified and the distribution of languages did support the hypothesis. Five toponymic systems were identified within the study area, and their spatial extents corresponded to the distribution of three of the languages in the study area. The sectors of the study area within which no toponymic systems existed also corresponded to the distribution of two languages. This suggested that the principles used in organizing the environment differ between cultures, and that the methodology presented for the identification of toponymic systems has limited usefulness. It was concluded that place-names did bear a relationship to cultural regions, and that they could be used to delineate these cultural regions. / Arts, Faculty of / Asian Studies, Department of / Graduate

The German place nomenclature in South west Africa, under the influence of various toponymic and linguistic factors, spontaneously developed into a unique toponymicon. The specific nature of this toponymicon is marked by a large number of inherited name transfers from Europe on the one hand and a partially or fully germanized local toponymicon with numerous examples of translations, adopted loan names and substitutions on the other hand. This unique toponymicon mainly originated from the inter linguistic interaction between German, Afrikaans and the indigenous languages of the territory. The supposition on which the theoretical concept and research method was formulated and executed, is the dichotomous nature of the place names as onomastic and linguistic signs. The German place names have certain general, but also intrinsic toponymic and linguistic features in common. This prompted the diachronic and synchronic analysis of the place names on both linguistic and onomastic levels. The onomastic approach entailed the analysis of the structural composition of the place names; the toponymic motives; the interlinguistic contact situation; the origins, etymologies and semantic aspects of the names. On the linguistic level the names were analyzed according to syntagmatic and paradigmatic criteria and categorized according to linguistic principles pertaining to proper nouns, specifically toponyms or place names. The conclusion was reached that the German South West African toponymicon, despite the large number of name transfers that occurred and the close resemblance with its European origins which is still clearly discernible, appears on the formal and functional level as a unique, yet true Southern African toponymicon . / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1986.

The aim of the thesis is to examine the nomenclature of the Barra Isles by investigating the distribution and interaction of Norse, Gaelic and English name-forming elements. Consideration is given to the historical, political and economic reasons for changes in placenames, and the language situation is assessed. In a theory-based chapter the function of names, naming strategies, name changes, and reasons for loss of names are examined. The main thrust is to compile a gazetteer of place-names gathered both from historical documents such as maps, sea-charts, registers and travel literature, and from interviews with local people. With the help of a database the corpus is analysed with regard to semantics, morphology and naming intention. Finally, a consideration of the historical development of names illustrates degrees of stability and of change in the place-names of Barra.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the assumption that Norse settlement in western maritime Scotland was substantially less extensive and influential than in more northerly parts of the maritime zone. This assumption is based on comparison of the apparent ratios of Norse to Gaelic farm-names in these areas; and the observation that the inhabitants of the former were Gaelic-speaking in both the Early Historic and Later Medieval periods. In view of the virtual hiatus in the documentary record between c.AD 750 and c.AD 1150 and the unqualified nature of the place-name ratios, it is suggested that such evidence is misleading. The investigation which follows comprises a detailed case-study of the island of Islay. Although use is made of environmental, archaeological, historical and fiscal data, the main focus is on place-names. Emphasis is placed throughout on the processes by which names become implanted in the landscape and the factors which affect their survival afterwards. There are three sections. Background material for the study of Norse settlement is presented in the first. This includes: a detailed examination of the physical environment, an ethno-linguistic profile for the preNorse community and a review of the evidence for Norse activity in Islay specifically within the context of western maritime Scotland generally. Aspects of Dalriadan and Norse society are highlighted which prompt critical re-appraisal of theories on Norse settlement. It is suggested that this process was not without friction. It may have involved a certain amount of violent depopulation and almost certainly led to social dichotomisation between the Norse incomers and remaining natives. Section two comprises a theoretical and methodological introduction to place-name studies. Following an overview of basic theory, Islay sources and previous approaches to Norse settlement, a model is presented for the study of Islay's Norse place-names. While use is made of both habitative and nature names, the framework selected as most appropriate is Stephen MacDougall's map of 1749-51. As this provides typologically uniform coverage of all of the island's farm-districts from a period preceding the agrarian reforms and settlement re-organisation of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it is more likely to reflect the settlement patterns and nomenclature of the Middle Ages than later yet more detailed sources. The third section, which constitutes the bulk of the thesis, concentrates on analysis of the place-name data presented in Appendices I and II. There are two main parts to this section. The linguistic back-ground, economic potential and spatial characteristics of individual farm-districts are examined in the first. Contrary to previous assumptions, it is noted that farm-districts with Norse names are spread fairly evenly across all land-types on the island. They are not primarily coastal, restricted to enclaves or less likely to include Iron Age fortifications than those with Gaelic names. Analysis of the distribution and linguistic categorisation of the nomenclature in view of post-Norse historical developments suggests that many of the island's Gaelic settlement names are the result of prestige immigration in the It century or later. This hypothesis is supported by linguistic investigation of the more common habitative generics shown on MacDougall's map. Magnus Olsen's User-group theory is then applied to the typology and distribution of ON nature-name material. It is argued that this too supports the idea of widespread Norse language use being replaced by a reintroduction of Gaelic and Gaelic naming practices. The second part of this section comprises an examination of land and territorial divisions. The fiscal 'extents' of later medieval and early modem Islay have long been considered anomalous in a Hebridean context. Examination of the historical and fiscal sources in conjunction with a geometric analysis of the farm-districts on MacDougall's map, suggests that Islay may once have been divided into the 'ounceland' units more familiar from surrounding areas. These findings are then developed in the context of ecclesiastic organisation. While certain aspects of Islay's later medieval parish system appear to reflect the military districts of the Senchus fer nAlban, it is argued that these survived through the intermediary of an Orcadian style leiðangr system of naval defence. It is concluded that while the Norse impact on Islay was less long-lived than in more northerly parts of maritime Scotland, it was not necessarily any less intense or destructive with regards to the pre-existing ethno-linguistic identity.

No description available.

Thesis (M. A. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2003 / Refer to document

Thesis (M.A. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2005. / Refer to the document

Thesis (M.A (African Languages)) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / The purpose of this research was to investigate, analyze and examine the historical background of Louis Trichardt, the renaming process with special reference to principles and procedures outlined by the South Africans Geographical Names Council. The study demonstrates the importance of principles and procedures when renaming a place. Ignoring these principles and procedures as outlined by the South African Geographical Names Council results in unnecessary confrontations and expenditure as it has been the case with Louis Trichardt. The study also reveals that not abiding by the rules, results in the polarization of communities. It also demonstrates how places should be renamed, which names are recommended and who should be involved. In the end, recommendation were suggested for the smooth renaming of places. This will help in coming up with names that will be acceptable to all.

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (doctorado--Universidad de Oviedo, 1980). / Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-112) and index.

Thesis (M.A.)--Guo li zheng zhi ts xue Zhongguo wen xue yan jiu suo. / Reproduced from ms. copy. Includes bibliographical references.