New atlas comes to the Great Land of the Tattooed (Cities renamed for etymological origins)

The Telegraph (U.K.) / Various ^ | December 4, 2008 | Oliver Smith

[Stoat]

A fascinating new atlas, featuring cities that are renamed to reflect their etymological origins, is now on sale.

Etymologists and wordsmiths will take particular interest in a new set of maps going on sale in time for Christmas.

The traditional names for the world's cities, countries, rivers and mountains have been altered on an atlas to reflect their origins and literal meaning.

Chicago, for example, is renamed Stink Onion and Cameroon is called the Land of Shrimps.

The logic behind each place name is explained on the back of the maps. Cameroon comes from the Portuguese word camaroes, meaning shrimps or prawns – an allusion to the abundance of these crustaceans in the Sanaga River. Chicago is derived from a Algonquian (a subfamily of native American languages) word: checagou, meaning wild onions or skunk – a reference to the smell of sodden marshland, which is what Chicago was built on.

Other bizarre names include Dominate the East! (Vladivostock), Realm of the God of the Underworld (Madras) and Great Land of the Tattooed, which, rather unhappily, belongs to Great Britain.

"The maps are not definitive works on the etymological roots of geographical names but more of a stimulus, and a very amusing one at that, to make us think about why places are called as they are," explains Sean Quigley of Outstanding Map Distributors, the firm which has brought the maps to Britain from Germany, where they were originally published.

 

 

[Stoat]

Really curious: America as “Home Ruler”?

It is indeed strange.  Given that "America" is derived from a person's name (Amerigo Vespucci) I would want to look up the latin roots of Amerigo....perhaps the original Latin or a common ancient meaning involved some reference to a ruler?

Regardless, from the Telegraph article:

The maps are not definitive works on the etymological roots of geographical names but more of a stimulus, and a very amusing one at that, to make us think about why places are called as they are," explains Sean Quigley of Outstanding Map Distributors, the firm which has brought the maps to Britain from Germany, where they were originally published.

There are indeed numerous areas that one can find fault with, as Daily Mail readers have noted as well as some here.  Although normally I'm a fairly brutal 'word Nazi' in my efforts to achieve linguistic accuracy I confess that I still see some value to this work even though some parts may be questionable.   It sounds as though it would be an amusing coffee-table point of  conjecture, debate and discussion as well as a fun travel accessory to carry along when going to either familiar or unfamiliar places.  It seems that it might stimulate thought about local history, culture and customs.

[Stoat]

That’s a neat atlas. Names take on a sort of “Lord of the Rings” tone.

Indeed they do! 

The Orkneys has one of the most fascinating origins. Labelled Isles of the Sea Monsters in the atlas, the word 'orc' means whale, or sea monster in Celtic.

 

[dangerdoc]

bump

[Stoat]

What a cool idea!

I'm delighted that you've found it to be a worthwhile venture....hopefully the buying public will agree and will make this publishing effort a success to the point where the authors might consider an update including a more comprehensive accompanying volume of etymological facts rather than merely the short blurbs that they include on the back of the maps in this edition.  It's a compelling concept which tends to raise passionate curiosities in many people.  I certainly wouldn't mind paying extra for a larger, more definitive reference work in a similar atlas format.

[Tax-chick]

Do you have a direct link to sales information? When I tried to pull up the source, it thought and thought and thought until I had to go change a diaper.

[Stoat]

Do you have a direct link to sales information?

My apologies...in order to remain in compliance with Free Republic posting rules I was forced to edit the Telegraph article prior to posting.....and the ordering information is what I chose to edit out.  Sorry about that  :-)

Here it is:

Copies of the Atlas of True Names can be ordered for £4.99 each from the website www.outstandingmd.co.uk/truenames/index.shtml

 

When I tried to pull up the source, it thought and thought and thought until I had to go change a diaper.

I tried the link a moment ago and it loaded just fine on the stoatputer....hopefully it will give you no troubles and diaper issues will not be interfered with  :-)

[Tax-chick]

Thanks for the link! Reasonable price, as far as I can tell - US$20-25 for the Europe and World maps. I’ve never ordered anything from a non-dollar-denominated vendor, though. Do you know how that works?

[Stoat]

Thanks for the link!

You're quite welcome  :-)

 Reasonable price, as far as I can tell - US$20-25 for the Europe and World maps. I’ve never ordered anything from a non-dollar-denominated vendor, though. Do you know how that works?

I've ordered (far too) many things from UK and other overseas vendors....it's easy! 

In this case they accept either PayPal or a credit card, so the monetary conversions are done at the bank based upon the rates for the day they receive the transaction.  I think that in most cases they outline the exchange rate and all relevant data on your sales receipt as well as your card statement.

One thing that banks are great at is saying "YES!" to financial transactions involving other people's money, and I've never had the slightest bit of trouble with international purchases.

[Tax-chick]

... a credit card, so the monetary conversions are done at the bank based upon the rates for the day they receive the transaction

That sounds simple enough.

These maps are the sort of thing my children really enjoy. Even if the translations aren't unarguable, they'll have a good time looking at them and trying to figure out what the "real map" name is.

[Stoat]

... a credit card, so the monetary conversions are done at the bank based upon the rates for the day they receive the transaction

That sounds simple enough.

And it was....I just now bought a set hehehehe!

One thing though, the only spot (so far) in which the full currency conversion information was displayed was in the original confirmation screen.  In the email receipt they only show the amount in Pounds.  My expectation is that the full conversion info will be indicated on my credit card statement, however.  You may wish to make a note of the US Dollar amount and conversion rate of your purchase when you see the first screen that indicates that, however, just so that you can keep everything straight continuously through the paper trail.

These maps are the sort of thing my children really enjoy. Even if the translations aren't unarguable, they'll have a good time looking at them and trying to figure out what the "real map" name is.

Indeed this sounds like a great thing for kids!  It's certain to stimulate interest in travel, history, as well as language and culture. 

... a credit card, so the monetary conversions are done at the bank based upon the rates for the day they receive the transaction

That sounds simple enough.

And it was....I just now bought a set hehehehe!

One thing though, the only spot (so far) in which the full currency conversion information was displayed was in the original confirmation screen.  In the email receipt they only show the amount in Pounds.  My expectation is that the full conversion info will be indicated on my credit card statement, however.  You may wish to make a note of the US Dollar amount and conversion rate of your purchase when you see the first screen that indicates that, however, just so that you can keep everything straight continuously through the paper trail.

These maps are the sort of thing my children really enjoy. Even if the translations aren't unarguable, they'll have a good time looking at them and trying to figure out what the "real map" name is.

[martin_fierro]

Teh Intarweb has also been mapped.

[Tax-chick]

Done! $17.82. The pound is down, or is it up? I usually use $2/pound as a rule of thumb conversion.

[Tax-chick]

Where’s Free Republic?

[Stoat]

Done! $17.82.

Woo Hoo!  I hope that you and your children will like it....If you don't I hope that you won't be upset with me  :-)  Your order was around a dollar less than mine which is because the stoat cave is over on the Left Coast....pretty reasonable for a transcontinental difference.

The pound is down, or is it up? I usually use $2/pound as a rule of thumb conversion.

I haven't been following it too closely lately, not being in the financial industry.  I've usually used the same rule as you do and it has normally been pretty close, at least in my recent experience.

[Tax-chick]

I consider $18 for a cool map to be very reasonable, unless there’s a problem with the quality. Another way for the Offspring to puzzle the general public ... along with talking about aliens as if they’re as obvious as turnips: “Of course, Richard III was a Goa’uld; probably Baal, same sense of humor, and look at his nose!”

[Stoat]

bump

 

Thank you  :-)

[martin_fierro]

Well it did say it's not a complete survey.

But I'd guess we're somewhere on the outer Blogipelago near the Sea of Angst. < |:)~

[GOP_Raider]

GOP_Raider: Straight Outta The Gem of the Mountains!

[Stoat]

I consider $18 for a cool map to be very reasonable, unless there’s a problem with the quality.

Indeed, same here.  When something as anti-intellectual and regressive as Nancy Pelosi's book carries a suggested list price of  $24. and sells for $16. (although it will likely be in the $1. bargain bin soon considering that used ones are going for two-fiddy  LMAO) to actually get something interesting, educational and with lasting value for $18 DELIVERED FROM THE UK straight to the Tax Chick Stylish Bungalow or at $19. to the stoat cave is a tremendous value indeed. 

As to the quality, I have no doubt that the maps are produced with the greatest possible care and love by Elves wearing pointy hats, green eyeshades and long pointy shoes, toiling tirelessly in a verdant English glen under the full moon, and that Lady Thatcher personally inspects each one for accuracy....I have absolute confidence that our British Friends won't let us down.

 Another way for the Offspring to puzzle the general public ... along with talking about aliens as if they’re as obvious as turnips: “Of course, Richard III was a Goa’uld; probably Baal, same sense of humor, and look at his nose!”

They will all get excellent Geography grades in school and will remind their teachers of how little they may know  :-)

[Mercia]

Haha!

Good one, thanks for the heads up.