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

Title
'I'm going to where-her-brisket-is': Placenames in the Roper
Publication Date
2002
Author(s)
Baker, Brett
Editor
Editor(s): Luise Hercus, Flavia Hodges and Jane Simpson
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Pandanus Books
Place of publication
Canberra, Australia
Edition
1
UNE publication id
une:2263
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have 'parts' that are meaningful (-'wood, Peters'-), but which are not entirely transparent (assuming that 'ham' is obsolete for most speakers of English).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.
Link
Citation
The land is a map: Placenames of Indigenous origin in Australia, p. 103-129
ISBN
1740760204
Start page
103
End page
129

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