Perono Cacciafoco, F., Shia, Z.Z.D. Singapore Pre-colonial Place Names... RHGT, Vol. XV, Issues 29-30, pp. 79-120 SINGAPORE’S PRE-COLONIAL PLACE NAMES: A PHILOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION DEVELOPED THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL MAPS Francesco PERONO CACCIAFOCO Nanyang Technological University (NTU), College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CoHASS), School of Humanities (SoH), Linguistics and Multilingual Studies Programme (LMS), Singapore Email:
[email protected] Zheng Zhe Darwin SHIA Nanyang Technological University (NTU), College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CoHASS), School of Humanities (SoH), Linguistics and Multilingual Studies Programme (LMS), Singapore Email:
[email protected] Abstract: Past research on pre-colonial toponyms in Singapore has focused on providing information about the pre-colonial maps that contained them, while overlooking the possible explanations behind their diachronic development. A comparative analysis of the historical maps will thus shed light on the development, similarities, and differences among names given, in different times, to the same location. The paper attempts to reconstruct pre-colonial toponyms through an analysis of maps collected from the National Archives of Singapore and the National Library Board. On top of that, the article explains the survival and disappearance of these ancient toponyms found in these pre-colonial maps. Results show a total of 12 pre- colonial toponyms, some of them with multilingual variations, given, over time, by different naming subjects. Despite the influence of official place naming policies and multilingual toponymic variations, the reasons for the survival of a pre-colonial toponym are mainly linked to its meaning and the continuous usage by inhabitants.