'I'm going to where-her-brisket-is': Placenames in the Roper

Abstract

In the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, we find many placenames that can be characterised as a compound of a 'generic' term for a topographic feature or habitation, together with a 'specific' or 'modifying' term characterising that place with reference to a person, a characteristic, historical or mythological event, or some other topographic or habitation term; some examples are presented in... a. Salt Creek, Roper River b. East Hills c. Chilton, Dutton, Petersham d. Sherwood Many such names 'Salt Creek', for instance — are transparent in meaning to a speaker of English. Others — such as 'Chilton, Dutton' — are entirely opaque, though their original meaning can sometimes be determined through etymology. Still others 'Sherwood, Petersham' have 'parts' that are meaningful (-'wood, Peters'-), but which are not entirely transparent (assuming that 'ham' is obsolete for most speakers of English). In all of these, however, we observe that the general structure — specific+generic remains the same, regardless of whether the name is now analysable or not. This indicates a continuity of strategies for placename formation in the English language.