Mermaid-As-Device: Toponymy, Language and Linguistics

Abstract

Nearing the end of my editorial to the thematic section on island toponymies in <i>Island Studies Journal</i> v11 n2 (Nash 2016a, b), I asked: <i>do island toponymies really exist?</i> It is heartening to witness with this Shima special section dedicated to mermaid place names that this question relating toponymy (place:naming) and terrestrial:aquatic studies remains relevant and pertinent. Indeed, there is encouragement to see that some five years later, specific traction is beginning to develop which focuses explicitly on naming, toponymy, and language in and of place, and how folklore studies and history related to island and aquatic studies can be mediated and brought closer through toponymy. Moreover, blending the capital ‘L’ Language slant, the philosophical idea that language is key to the human condition, and linguistics, the study of ways of speaking as analysable systems, made available to island and aquatic studies through the vessel of toponymy is tantalising. Toponymy has a kindred relationship with more formal realms of place name etymology, geographical location ma(r)king, and the sport of historising place through language, linguistics, and Language, especially the self quality of emplacement in the world through naming. This is definitely noble work – bringing island and aquatic studies, linguistics, and toponymy closer together.