Placenames of the World : Origins And Meanings of the Names for 6 600 Countries Cities Territories Natural Features And Historic Sites

"First published in 1997, the work in this new edition contains over 7,000 entries, including 1,000 new placenames from previously under-represented areas such as China and Japan. Entries cover natural features as well as manmade entities. Each entry includes the name of the feature; a brief description and its geographical location; and the origin of the name"--Provided by publisher.

A placename is often much more than just a label. A name may bespeak the history of a nation, the culture of a people, or the hopes of an individual. Such connections are revealed in this very large reference work on placenames of the world, which offers an in-depth look at the origins of each. First published in 1997, the work in this new edition contains over 6,000 entries, including 1,000 new placenames from previously under-represented areas such as China and Japan. Entries cover natural features such as mountains, rivers and lakes as well as manmade entities such as cities and countries. Each entry includes the name of the feature; a brief description and its geographical location; and the origin of the name with relevant historical, biographical and topographical details. Appendices give the meanings of common elements of nonEnglish placenames (e.g., Abu, as in Abu Dhabi, means father of); major placenames in European languages (e.g., Pays-Bas and Paesi Bassi are the French and Italian names, respectively, for what English speakers call the Netherlands); and transcribed Chinese-language equivalents for the names of the world's countries and capitals.

This reference presents over 6,000 concise entries revealing the origins of the names people have given to countries, cities, natural features, and other sites around the world. The second edition contains some 1,000 new entries on the placenames of previously underrepresented areas such as China and Japan. Appendices give the meanings of common elements of non-English placenames; list French, German, Italian, and Spanish variants of major European placenames; and provide Chinese-language equivalents of the names of the world's countries and capitals. Toponymist and onomastician Adrian Room is the author of more than 40 reference books. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)