UNITED NATIONS GROUP OF EXPERTS ON GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
NN EE WW SS LL EE TT TT EE RR NUMBER 23 JULY 2000
Inside this issue:
§ Preface Message from the Chairman 1 Report from the Vice-Chair 2
§ News from Headquarters From the Secretariat 4
§ From the Divisions No. 23, July 2000 United Nations Group of Experts on French-Speaking Division 5 Geographical Names Newsletter (ISSN Norden Division 7 1014-798) is published by Statistics Division, United Nations Department of § From the Working Groups Economic and Social Affairs. Working Group on Country Names 8 The designations employed and the Working Group on Gazetteers and Toponymic Data Files 9 presentation of the material in this Working Group on Toponymic Terminology 12 publication do not imply the expression of Working Group on Publicity and Funding 13 any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Working Group on Romanization Systems 14 Seceretariat of the United Nations Working Group on Training Courses in Toponymy 14 concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities § From the Countries or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries Canada 15 Latvia 18 Slovakia 23 Sudan 24 United States of America 25
§ Other Reports and News GeoNames 2000 27 Ptolemy 29 15th UNRCC-AP 29 7th UNRCC-Americas 30
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 1
News from the Headquarters
Impressum
U N G E G N The Newsletter of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN Secretariat of the Group of Experts on NNEEWWSSLLEETTTTEERR Newsletter) is issued approximately twice Geographical Names a year by the Secretariat of the Group. Room DC2-1418 The Secretariat is established within the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), Department New York, NY 10017 for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), USA Secretariat of the United Nations. It publishes contributions/reports from the Tel: 212 963 3042 or: 212 963 5951 Experts of the Group, its Fax: 212 963 9851 Linguistic/Geographical Divisions and its E-mail: [email protected] Working Groups. and [email protected] Contributions for the Newsletter can only be considered when they are made available in digital form. They should be sent to the following address:
ii UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc Preface Preface
Message from the Chairman
Dear UNGEGN Experts: Geographical Names publication is being expanded to I was very pleased to receive a recommends the publication in include the fourth version of the copy of the Draft Report of the combined volumes of the Glossary of Toponymic 20th Session of the UNGEGN, Guidelines. A number of Terminology under the editorship and to read how successful the UNGEGN experts have sent me of Mr Naftali Kadmon (Israel); an Session was. the Guidelines of their countries edited version by Mr Randall E. I express my sincere appreciation for this purpose. However, a Flynn (USA) of the report on to Dr Hermann Habermann, resolution was adopted at the 7th Toponymic Data Exchange Director of the UN Statistics Conference advocating web- Formats and Standards; the list of Division, under whom the Group based or electronic publication of Names of Countries, edited by Ms of Experts falls, and to his staff; to the Guidelines. Electronically Sylvie Lejeune (France); and a Ms Helen Kerfoot, who acted as published Guidelines are less report on Romanization Systems, Chair in terms of Rule 7 (1) of the expensive to maintain, quick to edited by Mr Peeter Pall (Estonia). UNGEGN Rules of Procedure; to keep updated, and readily With a view to determining the Mr Botolv Helleland, the acting accessible. Furthermore, more required print run, I would Vice-Chair; to the Rapporteurs, and more countries are publishing appreciate experts informing me Mr Roger L. Payne and Mr their Guidelines independently. how many copies each would need Randall E. Flynn; to the Publishing these Guidelines in for his or her country. Chairpersons and members of the combined volumes as well would I take this opportunity of Divisions; to the Convenors and be a duplication of existing reminding experts of my current members of the Working Groups; publications. In addition, address, namely to the interpreters and other publishing Guidelines in Names Research Institute support staff of the United combined volumes in printed P.O. 26582 GEZINA Nations, and to all others who media would be an expensive Pretoria 0031 SOUTH AFRICA helped make the 20th Session of undertaking, and it is uncertain My e-mail address is the UNGEGN the success it was. where such funding would be [email protected] I learnt with appreciation that found. Perhaps a decision on Telephone: 27-12-332-1518 or 27- seven Toponymic Guidelines for whether to continue with the 12-800-1486 Map and Other Editors had been publication of Guidelines in Fax: 27-12-332-4182. submitted to the Session. These combined volumes may be Guidelines have often been cited considered at the next UNGEGN I look forward to meeting you as among the most useful Session. again in Berlin, if not before. products of the Group of The second edition of United Experts. As you know, resolution Nations Documents on Peter E. Raper 7 of the 6th UN Conference on Geographical Names is Chairman, UNGEGN the Standardization of progressing favourably. This
Report from the Vice-Chair
The Twentieth session of the UNGEGN glossary of and planning for the Eighth UN UNGEGN is now behind us, and terminology (one publication in Conference we can look back on the valuable six languages) and I also met with Mr. Miklos work of Member states presented the UNGEGN brochure Pinther, Cartographic Section at this session in New York in publicizing the work of (Library and Publications January 2000. Clearly we still have geographical names (separate Division), the author of WP 71 work to undertake to encourage brochures in the six UN presented at the Twentieth session and continue the tasks of languages) of UNGEGN, about the geographical names • Finding a way to reproduce development of the United standardization, and on behalf of and distribute the technical Nations Geographic Database. UNGEGN I have taken several documents of the Seventh UN Conceptually this provides a very steps to start following up various Conference on the interesting opportunity for each activities of the Twentieth session, Standardization of Geographical Member state to provide and hoping this will also move us Names (1998) promote its own correct, up-to- towards the Eighth Conference in • Ensuring UN Secretariat date standardized toponymy for a Berlin in August 2002. support and action on the data base with world-wide development of an UNGEGN coverage. I will keep in touch (1) Meetings at United website as a focal point to with the Cartographic Section Nations Headquarters provide information and links to about the development of this In mid-March I spent two days at other UNGEGN sites project, and ways in which United Nations Headquarters in • Planning for three issues of UNGEGN members can be kept New York, meeting with Mr. the UNGEGN Newsletter to be current and can contribute to this Hermann Habermann and Mr. put in place before the 2002 UN data base. Amor Laaribi (Statistics Division). Conference The UNGEGN brochure on Discussion took place to further • Re-iterating the necessity of, standardization of geographical progress on the following: and ensuring, UN Secretariat names (the English-language • UN editing, printing and support in UNGEGN activities version produced through the distribution of the report of the and in maintenance of Working Group on Publicity and twentieth session of UNGEGN “archival” UNGEGN Funding, and recently printed by (in the six UN languages) documents Mr. John Parker in Australia) is • Producing a brief report from • Considering ways of improving now available on the UN UNGEGN to ECOSOC on the the functioning of UNGEGN Cartography Section web site Twentieth session for technical sessions (refer to http://www.un.org/ endorsement of the Twenty-first • Providing outreach to Member Depts/Cartographic/english/htm session states not yet participating in ain.htm) • Initiating and implementing geographical names the process for the United standardization programmes (2) Reference Compendium of Nations to publish: • Continuing cooperation in Technical Papers promoting UNGEGN activities UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 2 I am in the process of expanding be happy to add them, before was also the opportunity to and updating the Compendium of providing the digital file to the discuss plans being developed for Technical Papers presented at UN UN Secretariat and the UN the Eighth UN Conference in Conferences on the Standardization of Map Library. Berlin in August 2002. Geographical Names and the Sessions of (3) GeoNames 2000 UNGEGN (see WP 8, from January 2000). Documents from GeoNames 2000 symposium in Frankfurt am Main, March 29-30, the Twentieth session of UNGEGN have been added, 2000 was most successful and I congratulate Dr. Jörn Sievers and previous information is being upgraded, and information his organizing committee on an interesting and productive supplied by UNGEGN members included. If you have prepared meeting. A summary report of this symposium is included in this lists of UN documents available in your office, I would Newsletter. In Frankfurt there
REQUEST TO DIVISIONS, This material is incomplete and responsible for nationally AND DIVISION CHAIRS now out-of-date. However, it standardized names within the
- Compilation of contact seems a basic tool for countries in their Division. information on authorities UNGEGN and for general Please forward material on this responsible for national information and topic to Ms. Jenny Javier at the geographical names communication purposes. The UN Secretariat as soon as it is standardization UN Secretariat could compile available. In the past, the UN Secretariat this material, but needs your and UNGEGN working groups help in researching it! I request Helen Kerfoot endeavoured to compile a all Divisions to compile the Vice-Chair, UNGEGN contact list of authorities contact names and addresses, e- Natural Resources Canada responsible for nationally mail, website, fax and phone Ottawa, Canada standardized geographical numbers, etc. of the national [email protected] names for each Member state. authority (or authorities)
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 3 News from the Headquarters
From the Secretariat
Dear UNGEGN Experts, infrastructure in Africa - through dissemination of the UNGEGN I welcome this opportunity of the ECA Committee on publications, the next step is to communicating with you to Development Information develop the UNGEGN Web-Site. express my pleasure to be working (CODI) and the FAO project with you and to be leading the AFRICOVER. The Glossary of Geographical secretariat of UNGEGN. First, Names Terminology and the allow me to introduce myself: my In March 2000, I joined the UNGEGN Brochure are in the name is Amor Laaribi, a native of UN within the Office of the process of editing and publishing Director, Statistics Division. My in the six UN official languages. Tunisia where I completed a th Bachelor of Science in Physics tasks are to define and plan the Also, Volume II of the 7 UN (1977). I attended the National priorities of UN in geographic Conference on the Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble information area and to contribute Standardization of Geographical (France) and received in 1979 a in promoting the use of GIS Names will be compiled by UNSD Master’s degree in Hydraulics and within the Statistics Division; and will include technical papers Land Management and in 1981 an supporting the use of GIS in that had been submitted to the Engineer Diploma in Informatics census mapping, through UNSD Secretariat before the Conference and Applied Mathematics. In projects and initiatives; and also deadline.
1994, I earned a PhD in GIS from empowering the strategic use of geographic information in I would like to thank all those Laval University in Québec who have contributed to this (Canada). I have over 18 years of developing countries. Newsletter. I look forward to experience working in the areas of I believe that the UN receiving further contributions utility service planning, land Conferences on the from all of you; I need your management, geographic Standardization of Geographical support and co-operation to information systems for decision- Names, UNGEGN sessions and continue the work of the making, public-sector information the Regional Cartographic UNGEGN Secretariat and planning and evaluation, teaching, Conferences are entering a new Newsletter publications. and research & development. In era which will capitalize on the Comments and suggestions to the last five years, my particular new information and enhance the “look” of the interests focus on the elaboration communication technologies. In Newsletter are welcomed. of a national policy and strategy this regard, geographical names for geographic information in information must be managed so Amor Laaribi Tunisia aimed at building the that it can be collected, Secretary, UNGEGN national spatial data infrastructure disseminated and used efficiently Statistics Division (NSDI) and the participation in and effectively. That is why, in United Nations, New York the promotion of a regional data order to enhance the
News from the Headquarters
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 4 wsFrom from thethe Headquarters Divisions News from the Headquarter
La Division francophone du GENUNG
Créée par décision du Conseil suffit pour cela de contacter exonymes de langue française,… économique et social des Nations Pierre PLANQUES ou Sylvie Unies du 23 juillet 1998 LEJEUNE de l'Institut Quelques coordonnées utiles :
(ECOSOC/5789), la Division Géographique National de - Pierre PLANQUES francophone du groupe d'experts France (voir coordonnées ci- IGN, 2 avenue Pasteur des Nations Unies pour les noms après) 94160 Saint-Mandé géographiques (GENUNG) a tenu - Le site web de la division France sa première réunion formelle le 20 continue à être hébergé sur le tél : (33) 1 43 98 83 47 janvier 2000, à l'occasion de la site de la Commission de fax : (33) 1 43 98 84 03 20ème session du GENUNG toponymie du Québec (Canada). mél : [email protected] (New York, 17-28 janvier 2000). Toute l'actualité de la division, A l'occasion de cette réunion, les les documents de base, la liste - Sylvie LEJEUNE principaux résultats suivants ont des membres, les informations IGN, 2 avenue Pasteur été enregistrés : intéressantes, etc… sont (ou 94160 Saint-Mandé, France - M. Pierre PLANQUES, seront très prochainement) ainsi tél : (33) 1 43 98 80 00 représentant de la France, a été accessibles via le site de la fax : (33) 1 43 98 84 48 élu président de la division à division mél : [email protected] l'unanimité des membres http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc. présents ou représentés. Le ca/divfranco.htm - Site de la division francophone : Secrétariat de la Commission de - Le Bulletin d'information http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc. toponymie du Canada toponymique est prévu avec une ca/divfranco.htm
(anciennement le Comité diffusion annuelle. Le bulletin - Bulletin d'information topony - permanent canadien des noms n°1 avait été diffusé en juillet 99, mique n°1 : géographiques) et la le n°2 sera élaboré et diffusé http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc. Commission de toponymie du cette année (2000). Si vous n'êtes ca/dfbulletin1.htm Québec ont offert leur soutien pas membre de la division et si Ce bulletin peut également vous logistique aux activités de la vous souhaitez recevoir ce être adressé sur simple demande division. bulletin, merci d'en avertir le auprès de P.PLANQUES ou - Sont, pour le moment, président. S.LEJEUNE considérés comme membre de la - Le plan d'action de la division division les personnes ayant est en cours d'élaboration et sera - Version française du Glossaire rempli le formulaire distribué finalisé avant la fin du premier de terminologie toponymique, dans le Bulletin d'information semestre. Ce plan d'action dont la version originale en toponymique n°1 (juillet 1999). prévoit notamment diverses anglais a été réalisée sous la Naturellement, cette liste n'est actions liées au démarrage de la responsabilité du Professeur pas close, et toute personne division, mais aussi une réflexion KADMON (Israel) souhaitant participer aux travaux et le démarrage d'actions de de la division est la bienvenue. Il fond : cours de toponymie, UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 5 http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc. (Canada) et quelques-uns du Unies, y compris dans la ca/kadmon.htm Québec vers la France. préparation, le déroulement et le ce document peut également suivi des conférences vous être adressé sur simple - Le 15 novembre 1999, internationales organisées sous demande auprès de P. l’Assemblée générale des l’égide des Nations Unies;". PLANQUES ou S. LEJEUNE Nations Unies a adopté la résolution A/54/L.25 intitulée - À l’automne 2000, se tiendront Quelques nouvelles francophones Coopération entre des états généraux québécois sur l’Organisation des Nations - Au printemps 1999, les autorités la langue française. Au Canada, Unies et l’Organisation particulièrement au Québec, la toponymiques de la France et du internationale de la Québec (Canada) ont lancé, à problématique de la langue Francophonie. Ce document française embrasse le dossier du l’occasion du Salon du livre de important pourra se révéler utile Paris et du Salon du livre de traitement des noms de lieux, comme instrument de support étant donné que le mandat de la Québec, un ouvrage, de la mission de la Division abondamment illustré, qu’elles Commission de toponymie du francophone, en particulier par Québec est inscrit dans la ont réalisé en commun : La son article 5 : France et le Québec : des Charte de la langue française, l’une des lois fondamentales de noms de lieux en partage. On "[L'Assemblée générale] Se félicite y retrouve une collection la société québécoise. de l’implication des pays ayant le précieuse extraite des français en partage, notamment patrimoines toponymiques à travers l’Organisation Pierre Planques français et québécois, soit les internationale de la Président noms de lieux qui, au cours de Francophonie, dans les activités Division francophone du GENUNG l’histoire, ont migré de la France de l’Organisation des Nations vers la province du Québec
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 6
Norden Division
Foreign Names in Norden (Utanlandske namn i Norden)
The proceedings of the countries, including exonyms and rest of them in Scandinavian conference Foreign names in Norden endonyms, and the role played by languages, with summaries in (Utanlandske namn i Norden) United Nations in this context, English. have appeared as vol. 68 in the further transliteration, especially Key-words: conference report, series NORNA-rapporter, ed. by Romanization, standards for using foreign names, proper names, Botolv Helleland & Leif Nilsson, place-names on maps and in place-names, personal names, both members of UNGEGN. atlases and dictionaries, place- family names, exonyms, Uppsala 1999. ISSN 0346-6728, names in minority languages, endonyms, names on maps, names ISBN 91-7276-066-4. names in cultural contact, foreign in atlases, names in dictionaries, personal names both past and names in cultural contact. The volume contains 18 present, and the Anglo-American papers, dealing with such issues as influence on names of Norwegian Botolv Helleland the standardization and use of firms and institutions. Three of the Oslo, Norway foreign place-names in the Nordic articles are written in English, the
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 7 From the Working Groups
Working Group on Country Names
Rapport du groupe de travail sur les Noms de Pays du Monde
Lors de la 20e session, et en Enfin, les experts présents ont La liste des noms de pays est l’absence de sa coordonnatrice, la exprimé le souhait que le groupe hébergée sur le site web de la présidente du GENUNG a dirigé de travail établisse une nouvelle Délégation Générale à la Langue la réunion du groupe de travail sur liste exhaustive, plutôt qu’une Française (DGLF), instance les Noms de Pays du Monde. Le simple mise à jour, pour la 8e rattachée au Ministère de la Culture document de travail n°33 a été Conférence à Berlin en 2002. Le ; ce site présente des listes générales présenté, qui comportait une groupe de travail remercie des noms de pays regroupés par quarantaine de changements vivement les experts pour les langues (anglais, espagnol et intervenus depuis la dernière informations qu’ils voudront bien français), et les tableaux établis par session de 1998, en incluant lui communiquer concernant le le groupe de travail pour la dernière également les corrections nom de leur pays dans la ou les Conférence de 1998. Ce site peut effectuées dans le document langues officielles. être consulté à l’adresse suivante :
E/CONF.91/L.65/Add.1 http://www.culture.fr/culture/dglf/ Membres du groupe de travail: (19/01/1998). ressources/pays/pays.htm - Mme Sylvie Lejeune, A l’issue de cette session, la Par ailleurs, la division de présidente a recommandé au coordonnatrice Institut Géographique National cartographie de l’ONU diffuse sur groupe le programme de travail son site web une liste de noms de suivant : SIT/Unité de toponymie 2, avenue Pasteur - 94160 Saint- pays accompagnée d’informations - continuer de mettre à jour et de pratiques, à l’adresse suivante : compléter les formes officielles Mandé, France fax : (33) 1 43 98 84 48, http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartogr locales, aphic/english/geoinfo/geoname.pdt - étendre la liste aux autres langues mél : [email protected] Enfin, sur l’invitation du officielles des Nations Unies ; à - Mr Assad Abdo (Arabie PCGN (Royaume-Uni), le groupe noter que les noms en russe ont Saoudite) de travail a formé le projet de été proposés par Mme Krauze- - Mr Christian Bonnelly (Québec, tenir une réunion à Londres, en Tomczyk, en collaboration avec Canada) mai 2001, en vue de préparer une M. Boginskij, de Moscou, expert - Mrs Caroline Burgess nouvelle édition de la liste pour la du groupe régional pour (Royaume-Uni) Conférence de Berlin, en 2002. l’Europe de l’Est, de l’Asie du - Mr Charlie Heyda (USA) Les membres du groupe de travail Nord et l’Asie Centrale du - Mme Krauze-Tomczyk recevront prochainement les GENUNG, (Pologne) informations pratiques relatives à - comparer les listes existantes, - Mr Georgios Makridis (Grèce) cette réunion. afin de relever les divergences et - Mr Peeter Päll (Estonie) d’essayer, dans la mesure du - Mr Juan Quine (Pérou) Mme Sylvie Lejeune (France) possible, de les réduire, - Mme Jocelyne Revie (Canada) Coordonnatrice, - examiner les moyens de diffuser - Mr Sandro Toniolo (Italie) Groupe de travail sur les Noms de Pays largement la liste complète ainsi - Mr Paul Woodman (Royaume- du Monde que les mises à jour. Uni) UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 8
Working Group on Gazetteers and Toponymic Data Files
Working Group Membership treated in concert in subsequent form as well as on maps since much The following experts are UN proceedings: information necessary for the proper members of the Working Group: The Conference … recommends that understanding and interpretation of future United Nations Conferences on names cannot be included readily on Mr. Milan Orožen ADAMIÈ, Slovenia the Standardization of Geographical maps. Mrs. Caroline BURGESS, United Kingdom Mr. Traian CONSTANTINESCU, Romania Names and sessions of the United This seminal recommendation has Mr. Randall FLYNN, United States Nations Group of Experts on been underscored and amplified in (convenor) Geographical Names should consider numerous resolutions of the Ms. Mária KOVÁÈOVÁ, Slovakia both subjects under the single agenda subsequent United Nations Mr. Teemu LESKINEN, Finland item "Toponymic data files, (a) creation, Conferences on the Mr. Hamid MALMIRIAN, Iran Mr. Roger MARSDEN, United Kingdom (b) maintenance and (c) output, Standardization of Geographical Mr. Jorma MARTTINEN, Finland including gazetteer production". Names. Resolution 4 of the first Ms. Kathleen O’BRIEN, Canada UNGEGN established the UNCSGN defined the Mr. Peeter PÄLL, Estonia Working Group on Gazetteers recommended content of Mr. Juan QUIÑE Vigil, Peru and Toponymic Data Files in its nationally produced authoritative Mr. Jörn SIEVERS, Germany Ms. Vita STRAUTNIECE, Latvia present form during its nineteenth gazetteers and toponymic data Mr. Lou YOST, United States session in 1998, when the existing files: Working Group of that name It is recommended that each names Background and Terms of combined with the Working authority produce, and continually revise, Reference Group on Toponymic Data appropriate gazetteers of all its Separate working groups on Exchange Formats and Standards, standardized geographical names. gazetteers and automated data the latter having been created at It is further recommended that, in processing had existed under the the eighteenth session of addition to the standardized names, each auspices of the United Nations UNGEGN in 1996 in order to gazetteer include, as a minimum, such Group of Experts on investigate issues relating to the information as is necessary for the proper Geographical Names (UNGEGN) encoding of characters location and identification of the named since the 1970’s. The two topics – encountered in geographical features. toponymic information processing names. In particular, it is recommended that the and the formatting of toponymic The Working Group endeavors to following be included: information in publishable form – promote and further the aims of (a) The kind of feature to which the were so intertwined that the UNGEGN relating to the name applies; fourth United Nations Conference collection and dissemination of (b) Precise description of the location and on the Standardization of geographic names information as the extent, including a point position Geographical Names (UNCSGN) stated in the first report of the reference if possible, of each named in 1982 recommended in Group of Experts in 1960: feature; Resolution IV/18 that they be It is recommended that names authorities (c) Provision for the parts of natural publish standardized names in gazetteer features to be additionally defined by
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 9 reference to the whole and for the names of the Working Group on Toponymic files. The Group also discussed of extended features to be defined as Data Exchange Formats and the possibility of holding a necessary by reference to their constituent Standards to the Seventh United meeting some time before the 8th parts; Nations Conference on the UNCSGN in August 2002. Such a (d) Such information on administrative Standardization of Geographical meeting would be used to or regional areas as is considered Names. coordinate and exchange necessary and, if possible, reference to a 3. Establish liaison with the information on toponymic map or chart within which the features Unicode Consortium to databases, data exchange lie; represent the needs of the standards, recommendations for (e) All officially standardized names for geographic information digital gazetteers, and the a feature, if there are more than one; and community for digital text development of a simple package provision for cross-references to be made encoding in the context of of software tools for toponymic to names previously used for the same geographic names. data file maintenance that could feature … 4. Establish contact with relevant be used in developing areas to The UNCSGN has similarly activities under the auspices of begin projects of toponymic recognized the importance of the International Organization standardization. Preliminary plans automated data processing in for Standardization (ISO) to are being made to hold such a programs of national influence the development of meeting in Slovenia in the spring standardization and in Resolution international standards for the of 2001. I/3 (1967) urged experts to share exchange of toponymic lessons and experience gained in information. · Workshops and Symposia applying information technology 5. Promote the implementation Several Working Group members to toponymic data management: of practical programs of participated in the GeoNames The Conference … Recommends that all toponymic data exchange. 2000 symposium in Frankfurt am Member States already engaged in 6. Promote and conduct Main sponsored by the German programmes of automatic data processing toponymic data exchange Ständiger Ausschuss für or which have been involved in workshops to address issues geographische Namen (StAGN) discussions on automatic name data associated with data exchange and the Bundesamt für processing be requested to exchange The Working Group reported Kartographie und Geodäsie, information, for which purpose it would progress against the work plan at March 28 – 30, 2000. Mr. SIEVERS be useful to submit the reports in the the 20th session of UNGEGN in was primarily responsible for official languages of the United Nations Working Paper No. 46 Report of the organizing the symposium, for … Working Group on Gazetteers and which the Working Group Work Plan Toponymic Data Files for the Period expresses its great appreciation. At the 19th session of UNGEGN 1998-1999. Mr. LESKINEN presented a paper in New York, January 1998, the on the National Geographic Working Group established the Working Group News Names Register of Finland. Mr. following outline of objectives: · Meetings ADAMIÈ spoke on the treatment 1. Establish a Working Group The Working Group held an of geographical names in newsletter to document and informal meeting on January 25, multilingual areas and the use of th distribute news of events and 2000, during the 20 session of foreign names in Slovenia. Mr. developments relating to UNGEGN. It was agreed that the PÄLL presented views regarding gazetteers and toponymic Group’s newsletter should be the relationship of romanized information exchange. issued by e-mail and fax, and place name spellings to exonyms. 2. Maintain and revise the should include items of interest Mr. FLYNN moderated the information contained in Report pertaining to software, fonts, and symposium session on Concepts availability of gazetteers and data of Names Databases. There was UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 10 general agreement among the Information about the publication · Availability of Gazetteers symposium’s participants that may be found at: Mr. MALMIRIAN reports: StAGN had organized an http://www.unicode.org/unico "IN TNE NAME OF GOD outstanding meeting that de/uni2book/u2.html Since its inception, one of the complemented the recently held Information about Unicode- main objectives of the National UNGEGN session. The hope was enabled products may be found at: Geographical Organization expressed that future symposia http://www.unicode.org/unico (NGO) has been setting up the could be organized to assist in de/standard/UnicodeEnabledPr proper conditions for rapid access exchange of views and oducts.html to the geographical information of information that sometimes the country in proportion to the cannot occur in the more Agfa Monotype recently latest scientific and technological constrained context of United announced that the company has advances. In order to realize this Nations activities. updated its Arial font to include objective, NGO, in addition to The organizers of the Digital glyphs found in the Unicode 2.1 producing maps in different scales, Gazetteer Information Exchange standard. The font now contains compiled and published a Workshop held in Washington, representations of over 51,000 collection of gazetteers in the October 13 –14, 1999, have issued separate characters covering most national levels of the country. In a formal press release covering the of the world’s major scripts. The recent years, by setting up results of the workshop. It can be font is shipping with Microsoft’s geographic information systems found on the Internet at: Office 2000. (GIS), NGO has improved easy http://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/ The Working Group noted in its and rapid access to the precise gazetteer/dgie/DGIE_website/D meeting in January that a key task information for users. In pursuing GIE_pressrelease.htm in the promotion of the use of our objective in the field of The Workshop’s home page is at: toponymic data files would be the gazetteers, NGO has the honor to http://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/ development of a simple means to announce its latest work "The gazetteer/dgie/DGIE_website/D create and maintain such files Gazetteer of Mountains in the GIE_homepage.htm digitally, using commonly available Islamic Republic of Iran" in four software. The foreign names staff volumes. As nearly 55% of the · Working Group Web Site of the U.S. Board on Geographic country is covered by mountains, Mr. ADAMIÈ is developing a web Names is experimenting with a the study of these regions for site for the Working Group at the potentially promising approach physical, human, and economic Geografski Inštitut Antona Melika toward achieving this task. The geography is going to be a (Anton Melik Institute of approach ties a geographic names prerequisite. This collection Geography). The address for the file managed in commonly contains more than 16,000 entries web site will be published and available spreadsheet software to for mountains, consisting of distributed to UN experts when scanned and registered definitions of ranges, names, the site nears completion. topographic maps managed using locations, heights, distances and
the freely available ArcExplorer other information separately in · Software and Fonts software. The result is a freely alphabetical order, as well as The Unicode Consortium has distributable compact disk providing interesting pictures." published Version 3.0 of the containing a names file, scanned Unicode Standard, the official maps, and software for use on Randall Flynn source of information regarding personal computers. Further Convenor, the content and implementation details about the project will be Working Group on Gazetteers and of the ISO/IEC 10646-1 standard published in the Working Group’s Toponymic Data File (second edition) for the digital first newsletter, scheduled for encoding of text characters. publication this summer. UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 11
Working Group on Toponymic Terminology
Glossary of Toponymic Terminology
The Working Group on finalized at the 7th Conference in post, and the untiring work of Ms. Toponymic Terminology was 1998. The main outstanding Jennifer Javier who serves as an established by the United Nations problem was the translation of the efficient "clearing house", the text Group of Experts on English text into the other five is now undergoing editing by the Geographical Names at its 15th official languages of the United U.N. Editing Service so as to session in 1991, and formally Nations. This was performed over bring it in line with U.N. recognized by the 5th United the years by volunteers from terminology and spelling-- English Nations Conference on the among the experts of UNGEGN, first, and then the other five U.N. Standardization of Geograhical but required updating to Version languages, before final publication. Names in 1992. It has been 4. Publication was postponed Readers of the Newsletter will be discussing the Glossary at all several times. Now, due to the notified of further progress at the meetings of UNGEGN and at all efforts of Mr. Hermann proper time. Conferences since then. From Habermann, Chief of the Statistics Version 1, in English, presented Division of the United Nations, Naftali Kadmon by the convenor of the Working who acted as Executive Secretary Convenor, Group as editor, the Glossary of UNGEGN until the Working Group on Toponymic progressed to Version 4 and was appointment of Mr. Laaribi to this Terminology
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 12
Working Group on Publicity and Funding
The Working Group on can be obtained from John Parker Braham Atoui (Algeria), Randall Publicity and Funding was set up (E-mail: [email protected]). Flynn (USA), Bonnie Gallahan following the 1992 UN (USA), Isolde Hausner (Austria), Conference on the Standardization It is hoped that Experts Botolv Helleland (Norway), Helen of Geographical Names. Its aim is will distribute "Consistent Use of Kerfoot (Canada), Ki-Suk Lee to work with other Place Name Place Names" and include it on (Korea), Donall MacGiolla Experts and with the UN their website, but please note that Easpaig (Ireland), Lucie M`ller Secretariat in making the activities if copies are made for translation (South Africa), Sirkka Paikkala of UNGEGN more visible and, into another language, a disclaimer (Finland), John Parker (Australia), where appropriate, to seek funds should be added stating that the Richard Randall (USA), Hans to support the production of UN is not responsible for the Ringstam (Sweden), J`rn Sievers relevant publications and translation. (Germany). promotional material. A priority in the near Promoting the benefits of At the 20th session of future is the development of an consistent naming and the work of UNGEGN in January 2000, UNGEGN website that will the UNGEGN is a responsibility Working Group Convenor John provide a focal point for shared by all members of the Parker presented Experts with the disseminating news, information Group of Experts. The Working newly published English version of and publications and a network of Group on Publicity and Funding an UNGEGN brochure entitled web links with Working Groups, welcomes suggestions that will "Consistent Use of Place Names". Divisions and a wide range of help it develop a strategy that can This was printed with generous Toponymic Databases. be put into action for the benefit support from the Australian Dr. David Munro, of the whole Group as well as Intergovernmental Committee on Chairman of the UK Division, local, national and international Survey and Mapping. was appointed Convenor of the communities engaged in a wide range of activities where Place The brochure is accessible on Working Group on Publicity and th Names play an important part. the internet for downloading as a Funding at the 20 session of UNGEGN and the following pdf file at: David Munro www.vicnames.vic.gov.au (the last experts volunteered to join the Group: Ass'ad S. Abdo (Saudi Chairman, entry of section 4 on the United Kingdom Division HomePage), and printed copies Arabia), Milan Adamic (Slovenia),
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 13
Working Group on Romanization Systems
Dear UNGEGN Experts, Current Status) distributed at the the 20th Session of UNGEGN It is my pleasure to inform you that 20th Session of UNGEGN in (January 2000, New York), with the UNGEGN Working Group on New York. Experts are kindly some additions. Romanization Systems has opened invited to study the content of the a website at the address website and inform of any Peeter Päll http://www.eki.ee/wgrs/. The possible errors and new Convenor, website contains an updated information that might be UNGEGN Working Group on version of Working Paper 34 displayed there. This message is Romanization Systems (United Nations Romanization being sent to all experts whose e- E-mail: [email protected] Systems for Geographical Names. mail addresses were listed in the Preliminary Report on Their Information Paper No. 6/Rev. of
Working Group on Training Courses in Toponymy
The toponymy Courses Site · Past toponymy courses to proceedings or other has a new url: · Teaching material available, publications produced for these http://toponymycourses. used for past toponymy courses courses. geog.uu.nl · Other relevant teaching This site has been set up by the Convenor material Working Group on Training Courses in Convenor of the UNGEGN · UNGEGN Working Group Working Group on Toponymy Toponymy on Toponymy Courses Courses , and due to a E-mail address convenor: The convenor urges organisers restructuring of Utrecht [email protected].; of toponymy courses to send University's server, the site's postal address: Faculty of Geographical him information on dates, address had to be changed. Sciences, P.O. Box 80115, 3508 TC venues, costs and contact Contents of the site are: Utrecht, the Netherlands persons. Organisers of courses information on that have been held are · Future toponymy courses requested to send in references
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 14 From the Count From the Countries
Canada
News from the Geographical Names Board of Canada
As of March 2, 2000, the Names. Dr. Wonders served as shipping/handling fees and taxes. Geographical Names Board of Chair of the Advisory Committee This is the same price as the hard- Canada/Commission de on Toponymy Research from copy gazetteer, both available toponymie du Canada became 1978 to 1994. from the Manitoba Map Sales the official name for the former Ms. Gisèle Jacob was office and at Canadian Permanent Committee appointed as the new Chair of the http://www.canadamapsales.com on Geographical Names through Geographic Names Board of The CD version has its own Order in Council. This name Canada in June1999. Ms. Jacob search engine for a) Introductory change process commenced had the opportunity to chair her Material, b) Alphabetical Listing, during our Centennial in 1997 first annual meeting in September c) Geographical Names Search, d) because of a critique from a 1999 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. The Search by Map Sheet, and e) Maps journalist who stated that the plenary sessions as well as the (Manitoba and related map index). Committee could use a more advisory committees were well Geographical Names of Manitoba – a resonant name reflecting the work attended with renewed forthcoming publication of a national naming authority. participation from Indian Affairs This publication project aims The Board members believed it and representation from the to produce a comprehensive was necessary to say who they Assembly of First Nations. volume of Manitoba place names were and what they did in a less Attendees also included the with narrative and geographic cumbersome way. The new name Executive Secretary and the descriptions of their location and is not so lengthy as the former, Chairman of the U.S. Board on historical background on the and is easier to remember. Geographic Names, and the origin of the names where such is Two former members of the Executive Secretary of the Council known. This listing will include Board, Mr. Henri Dorion and Dr. of Geographic Names Authorities. more than 4000 features named William Wonders have been The Hamlet of Pelly Bay was after Manitoba’s fatal war honoured by the country for their changed to Kugaaruk December casualties under the lifetime achievements. Mr. Henri 3, 1999. Commemorative Names Project. Dorion and Dr. William Wonders The volume will be accompanied were both recognized with the New Publications by a number of black and white Order of Canada. Mr. Dorion Gazetteer of Canada: Manitoba 1999 and colour photographs. It is served as the Chair of the (CD-ROM version) anticipated that it will be available Advisory Committee on A digital version (CD-ROM) for distribution in the fall of 2000. Toponymy Research from 1975 to of the Gazetteer of Canada: Manitoba La toponymie des Algonquins 1978. Then from May 1990 to (1999) has been produced by the (1999) : Commission de December 1991 he was the Chair Manitoba Geographical Names toponymie du Québec. Dossiers of the Canadian Permanent Program staff and is now available toponymiques, 26. Un état des Committee on Geographical at a cost of $19.95 plus applicable inventaires toponymiques de la UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 15 toponymie algonquine au Québec. Geographical Names Web Sites http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.c Disponible auprès de la Natural Resources Canada a Commission de toponymie du Commission de toponymie du continues to maintain a web site Québec Québec. on which names for places and http://npc.nunavut.ca Nunavut Noms de rues de Québec au XVIIe geographical features approved by Planning Commission siècle (2000) : Jean Poirier. the Geographical Names Board of Dossiers toponymiques, 27. Canada stored in the Canadian Projects Origine ancienne de certains noms Geographical Names Data Base A project was undertaken this past de rues de la ville de Québec. (CGNDB) can be freely accessed year to reengineer the Canadian Disponible auprès de la at: http://geonames.NRCan.gc.ca Geographical Names Data Base Commission de toponymie du In addition, this GeoNames web (CGNDB) which included the Québec. site includes recent name changes analysis and revision of the La Commission de toponymie in Canada, information about existing data model, the upgrade du Québec collabore à un projet gazetteers and publications, of the version of ORACLE server d’atlas électronique, l’Atlas national Canadian data available for sale, (to 8.0.4) used to manage the du Québec et des ses régions, dont le links to other toponymic sites, CGNDB, and the redevelopment Département de géographie de information about activities of the of the User Interface (i.e. data l’Université du Québec à Montréal United Nations. Access our entry, query and reporting facilities est le maître d’oeuvre. La SchoolNet site at: for the data base.
Commission valide le contenu http://geonames.NRCan.gc.ca/en The Centre for Topographic toponymique de l’ouvrage pour glish/schoolnet where one can Information Ottawa received its s’assurer de sa conformité à la find selected origins of Canadian ISO 9001 Accreditation in March nomenclature géographique geographical names, student 2000. Some of the services officielle du Québec. modules and information for offered by the Geographical The following publications teachers. Several Names Section were included in Guide to the field collection of native provincial/territorial jurisdictions this accreditation. geographical names and Principles and have established their own web Procedures for geographical naming are sites providing public access to Manitoba Commemorative now available on the GeoNames their data bases: Names Project: In addition to website http://www.gov.mb.ca/natres/lid naming geographical features after http://geonames.NRCan.gc.ca in /geo_names/index.html Manitoba our 4181 World War II and 37 a downloadable format. Geographical Names Korean War fatal casualties, the New Prices http://www.gov.ns.ca/homa/land project has expanded to include 16 In its effort to make /toponymy/topo_1.htm Nova Manitobans who died serving as toponymic data more accessible to Scotia Geographical Names Merchant Marines during World users, the Geographical Names http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/progr War II. Section has revised the prices of ams/geodb.htm NWT standard digital toponymic files; Geographic Names Program Workshops/Training ICA 1999 the most popular file being http://www.gdbc.gov.bc.ca/bcna th Populated places and mes British Columbia The 19 International administrative areas, is now Geographical Names Cartographic Association $100 (from $280). The list of http://www.tgx.com/geogname Conference (ICA’99) was held in prices for standard files can be Friends of Geographical Names of Ottawa from August 16 to 21, found on the GeoNames web site. Alberta Society attracting some 15,440 attendees from 79 nations. The Geographical Names Section ran a workshop entitled, “Developing UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 16 and Maintaining a National and geographical names cubain, de même que le Mont Geographical Names Data Base.” authorities stressed the use of Hatuey et le Mont Anadabijou, qui The workshop was aimed at those official names. rappellent des chefs autochtones involved with geographical names, de Cuba et du Québec (Canada) mapping, charting, and GIS. The Un représentant de la respectivement. La Commission topics addressed were as follows: Commission de toponymie du de toponymie du Québec a voulu, an overview of names collection Québec (Canada), en collaboration par l’officialisation de ces activities in Canada, the impact of avec un toponymiste du Québec, toponymes, remercier en quelque linguistic and cultural diversity on se rendra au Pays Basque sorte les autorités cubaines de geographical names, the design espagnol, en juin 2000, pour y l’attention particulière qu’elles and development of the Canadian animer un stage de formation à la accordent à un héros de l’histoire Geographical Names Data Base gestion de la toponymie d’une du Québec inhumé à La Havane, (CGNDB), and the effect of durée d’une semaine. Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, et social, political and technical issues En collaboration avec le souligner une communauté de on the CGNDB. Département de géographie de vues quant à la contribution l’Université du Québec à positive des autochtones à Digital Gazetteer Information Montréal, la Commission de l’histoire nationale de Cuba et de Exchange Workshop toponymie du Québec (Canada) la province du Québec (Canada). A workshop and information élabore un programme de Une délégation du Pays exchange on digital gazetteers was découverte des noms de lieux à Basque espagnol pilotée par la held 12 – 14 October 1999, in l’intention des élèves du niveau sous-ministre à la Politique Washington, D.C. The workshop primaire. Le programme repose linguistique a visité la Commission was convened under the direction sur une série d’étapes : À la de toponymie du Québec of Linda L. Hill, from the découverte des noms de lieux; Les (Canada), en novembre 1999. En University of California, Santa noms de lieux sont des noms février 2000, la Commission a reçu Barbara. Participants came mostly propres; Pourquoi donne-t-on des trois représentants de la from the United States, including noms aux lieux?; Les noms de Délégation générale de la politique government, academia, and the lieux portent des messages et linguistique de Catalogne business community. Also taking plusieurs racontent des histoires; (Espagne). Ces visites ont permis part were representatives of Construire des noms et des mots d’approfondir la compréhension various international governments avec des noms de lieux; etc. du traitement des noms de lieux
– Canada, Australia, and the dans le contexte linguistique United Kingdom. The workshop Autres nouvelles du Québec À la faveur d’une mission particulier et complexe des had two goals: one being to situations basque, catalane et develop an understanding of québécoise effectuée à Cuba, dans le cadre des célébrations du 480e québécoise. indirect spatial referencing by use of geographical names; and the anniversaire de la ville de La second was to identify research Havane, des certificats de Barbara Bowler and policy issues related to désignations toponymiques Project Manager developing an exchange of digital commémoratives ont été remis Centre for Topographic Information gazetteer information. aux autorités cubaines. Ces (Geographic Names Board of Canada) Government gazetteer producers désignations sont le Mont José- Marti, d’après le poète national
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 17
Latvia
Toponymic Investigation of Latvian Geographers (1970 - 2000)
Card Index of Physio- the place names of Latvia have Names at the Institute of Latvian geographical Place Names of been published. Six of them have Language. It explains the necessity Latvia. been compiled by philologists. of the formation of the Card Latvian geographers are The Card Index of Place Names Index of Physiogeographical Place engaged in systematic toponymic has been formed at the Institute of Names of Latvia at the research work since 1970. In Latvian Language1. Until 1970 the Department of Geography,2 accordance with the decision of main investigation in the University of Latvia. the government the formation of toponymy of Latvia has been The guiding principles for the Card Index of made by philologists. One can compiling the Card Index of Physiogeographical Place Names find more detailed information Physiogeographical Place Names of Latvia was started at the about it in the article “Latvijas of Latvia have been worked out by Department of Geography, ìeogrâfisko nosaukumu vârdnîcas, researcher R.Avotiòa, who almost University of Latvia. The main to sastâdîðanas principi, saturs un ten first years alone compiled the aim of the Card Index was to uzbûve” /Dictionaries of the Card Index. ensure, that every named natural Place Names of Latvia, the feature should be designated with Principles of Compiling them, The guiding principles for a place name in a precise written Contents and Structure/ (Goba Z. compiling the Card Index are form. The decision of the 1997). the following: government was a recall to the The main imperfection of 1. The maintenance of the activities of UNGEGN in national the toponymic investigation of interconnection: geographical feature - and international standardization philologists is the loss of the place name. of place names in 1960ies. interconnection geographical feature - Every place name applies to a The first known attempts to place name, especially for certain geographical feature. The survey and publish Latvian place physiogeographical objects. In connection geographical feature - place names were in the XVII century, many cases it is impossible to state name has been fixed when when several clergymen published toponymic synonyms referring to collecting and mapping place Latvian place names in their one and the same geographical names and has been maintained in German-Latvian and Latvian- object and to select the preferred the Card Index of German dictionaries. The first name without additional Physiogeographical Place Names scientific dictionary of the place investigation, but using toponymic of Latvia and in toponymic names of Latvia “Latvijas vietu dictionaries, published in 1922 - dictionaries based on the Card vârdi” /Place Names of Latvia/ was 1970 or the Card Index of Place Index. Cartographic method and published in 1922 - 1925. It has been compiled by one of the most 2 Since 1995 the Scientific Laboratory of 1 At the University of Latvia, from 1946 Regional Geography and Toponymy at outstanding Latvian philologists till 1998 - in the Acad emy of Sciences of the Faculty of Geography and Earth J.Endzelîns. In the period from Latvia. Sciences, University of Latvia. 1922 till 1970 nine dictionaries of UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 18 a detailed description of the 4) location of an object : Latvian SSR/ (Avotiòa R., Goba location of geographical feature a) administrative district, Z. 1986). have been applied to ensure it. b) civil parish; In both dictionaries place 2. Geographical object bearing 2) more detailed description of names are arranged in alphabetical one or more place names is the the location; order. There are two types of basic unit in the Card Index and 3) characteristics of an object headwords: primary headwords in toponymic dictionaries, based and its name; and cross references in the on it. 4) near by situated objects of dictionaries. All the information 3. Surveying of all known other feature classes with the about an object and its name(s) allonyms concerning one and the same name; could be found in primary same geographical object and 5) references to allonyms got headwords. Preferred names are including them in the Card Index from literature and cartographic the main elements of primary and in dictionaries. sources; headwords. The preferred name of 4. Selection of the preferred name 6) references to allonyms an object is followed by all the for a geographical object. Methods surveyed during field work, allonyms. Then comes applied when choosing the etc. information about the location of preferred names are discussed in Information about every an object and short characteristics the article “Latvijas PSR fiziski object and its name(s) is primarily of it. ìeogrâfisko nosaukumu kartotçkas based on field work, and Dictionaries of the sastâdîðanas principi” /The supplemented by the data, got hydronyms of Latvia soon became Principles of Compiling the Card from literature and maps. bibliographic rarities, and there Index of Physiogeographical The main imperfection of the was a necessity for new issues of Names of Latvia/ (Avotiòa R. Card Index, as well as of the Card them. A new issue of the names of 1977). The final decision in Index of Place Names at the the largest lakes of Latvia was selecting each preferred name has Institute of Latvian Language is published in 1988 (Avotiòa R. been made by Toponymic that they are on cards, not in 1988). This index comprises the Committee at the Society of digital form. It makes the process names of lakes with an area more Geography of Latvia in 1975 - of compiling toponymic than 20 ha. A new issue of the 1989. dictionaries based on those card names of flowing water features The Card Index of indexes rather complicated. “Latvijas upes. Nosaukumi un Physiogeographical Place Names ìeogrâfiskais izvietojums” /Rivers comprises the names of State and regional toponymic of Latvia. Names and hydronyms (water bodies, flowing dictionaries. Geographical Location/ was water features) of the whole The first toponymic dictionaries published in 1994 (Avotiòa R., territory of Latvia and names of based on the information stored in Goba Z. 1994). relief forms, forests and groves, the Card Index of In the period from 1980 till bogs and meadows etc. of separate Physiogeographical Place Names 1991 other researchers: Z.Goba, districts of Latvia. The number of of Latvia were published in V.Strautniece, S.Pliuna, J.Kavacs, designated natural features is 1980ies. They were the O.Kovaïevska, T.Lapsa and about 20 000, but the number of dictionaries of the hydronyms of R.Zvejnieks joined toponymic place names is approximately Latvia: “Latvijas PSR ûdenstilpju research work at the Department twice larger in it. The information nosaukumi” /Names of Water of Geography, University of about every designated object and Bodies of the Latvian SSR/ Latvia. Since the second part of its name is the following: (Avotiòa R. 1984) and “Latvijas 1980ies a lot of toponymic 1) feature class; PSR ûdensteèu nosaukumi” /Names fieldwork has been done. Civil 2) preferred name; of Flowing Water Features of the parishes (with an area ~ 40 – 560 3) allonyms; km2 each) are the basic units for UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 19 toponymic research work in administrative districts of Latvia: Faculty of Philology, University of Latvia. An administrative district Valka (Kavacs J. 1993), Kuldîga Latvia. Several students papers in (with an area ~1620 - 3600 km2 (Goba Z. 1994), Krâslava toponymy have received prizes each) consisting of 18-28 civil (Kovaïevska O. 1997) and Madona and have been published. The parishes has been chosen as the (Avotiòa R. 1999) districts. The Card Index of Physiogeographical basic area for summing up and dictionaries of Krâslava and Place Names of Latvia is being publishing toponymic information Madona districts have been supplemented with the names since the end of 1980ies. compiled and published in surveyed by students, too. Nevertheless toponymic collaboration with the Laboratory dictionaries of seven civil parishes of Toponymy at the Board of Satellite Map of Latvia. have been compiled at the Cartography, State Land Service. Toponymy and cartography Department of Geography with At present there are 26 developed separately in Latvia financial support of the Fund of administrative districts in Latvia. during its independence (1918- Culture of Latvia, but not Partly toponymic fieldwork has 1940), and especially in the years published yet. been done in all of them. of Soviet power. Relationship As the result of toponymic between toponymy and Students research work in cartography changed in Latvia in fieldwork all the place names toponymy. including those found in literature 1994, when the Toponymic Annually since 1975 students of Section was formed as a part of or on maps have been checked. the Faculty of Geography and The first regional toponymic Cartographic Division, State Land Earth Sciences, University of Service. The Toponymic Section dictionary, compiled at the Latvia, are doing their research Department of Geography, was was established on the basis of the work in toponymy. The idea about Department of Geography, about Rîga district: “Rîgas rajona a course of lectures in toponymy fiziski ìeogrâfisko objektu University of Latvia. has been expressed already in nosaukumu raksturojums” The Satellite Map of Latvia, 1960ies. The lectures course in /Description of the Names of scale 1:50 000, is one of the first toponymy is being delivered at the Physiogeographical Objects, Rîga state cartographic projects, Faculty of Geography and Earth District/. It was compiled by covering all the territory of Latvia, Sciences since 1989. The R.Avotiòa and Z.Goba and issued after the renewal of its programm in toponymy for in 1989 with a cartographic independence. Necessity to make teachers has been worked out, too. supplement. One can find the the Coverage of Place Names for Articles about toponymy are being history of toponymic the Satellite Map determined the published in several scientific and investigation, physiogeographical establishment of Toponymic popular journals and article characteristics, the analyses of Section at the Cartographic collections, but still there is a lack peculiarities of geographical Division (since 1999 the of toponymic literature in Latvia, terminology of Rîga district in the Laboratory of Toponymy, Board especially for students, teachers introductory part of the dictionary. of Cartography), State Land and school children. A book The physiogeographical names of Service. Ten chief specialists comprising a lectures course in Rîga district are arranged geographers are engaged in the toponymy is very necessary, too. according to the feature classes of Laboratory of Toponymy. The Several students of the Faculty of geographical objects. The names Coverage of Place Names for the Geography and Earth Sciences of flowing water features, water Satellite Map of Latvia has been being engaged in toponymy, have bodies, bogs and meadows, hills compiled from 1994 till 1999. The attended courses of lectures, for and vallies make separate chapters publication of the map started in example, introduction in Baltic in the dictionary. 1998 and has been finished in philology, Lithuanian language, This publication was followed 2000. Latvian dialectology, etc. at the by the dictionaries of four other UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 20 Place names of almost all of Latvia and of the Card Index of toponymic dictionaries, Internet feature classes, including the Place Names at the Institute of services and toponymic research. names of populated places (cities, Latvian Language. All the place Gazetteers and dictionaries towns, villages, farms etc.), natural names, put on the Satellite Map, based on Geographical Names features, as well as the names of have been checked by a Database of Latvia. separate, remarkable social, philologist. There is no an official list of cultural and economical objects The Satellite Map, scale 1:50 villages in Latvia at present. can be found on the Satellite Map 000, is the first largescale map of Specialists of the Laboratory of of Latvia. There are official lists Latvia in Latvian. It comprises Toponymy, State Land Service, are only of a few types of approximately 20 - 1300 place preparing a list of villages based geographical features in Latvia. names per sheet, depending on the on the Satellite Map of Latvia. The For example, the names of cities, territory and the area of the land data about village names which towns, railway stations, airports on every sheet of map. The total have been imported from the etc. are official. It made the task to number of map sheets is 131. Satellite Map of Latvia in the compile the Coverage of Place Geographical Names Database are Names rather complicated. Geographical Names Database being supplimented by additional Specialists of the Laboratory of of Latvia. information and will be printed Toponymy have to select the The Satellite Map of Latvia is in out as a list of place names. It will preferred names for all the other digital form. Its Coverage of Place be the first index of place names geographical features, such as Names is being used as the basis produced from the Geographical villages, hamlets, natural features, for the Geographical Names Names Database (GNDB) of etc. The names of farms can be Database (GNDB) of Latvia, Latvia. obtained only in local being formed in the Laboratory of Another project is compiling and governments. The guiding Toponymy, State Land Service. publishing of a local toponymic principles for the selection of the The theory and methodology of dictionary of Sçlpils civil parish preferred names of the Database are being worked out (R.Avotiòa). All the information physiogeographical features have since 1998. Data fields of the should be put in GNDB of Latvia been worked out (Goba Z. 1999). Database are similar to the fields and printed out in the format of a When selecting the preferred of information in the Card Index toponymic dictionary. The names more attention has been of Physiogeographical Place dictionary will include the names paid to the local dialectal forms of Names of Latvia. The basic data of cultural and natural features of place names in comparison with tables are features, names and sources. Sçlpils civil parish. toponymic investigation in the GNDB in its first stage will period from 1970 till 1990. include all names shown on the Joining international A lot of fieldwork has been Satellite Map of Latvia toponymic activities. done to survey and check the supplimented with additional Since 1992 Latvia, Estonia names of natural features, farms, information about object and its and Lithuania have the possibility villages etc. for the map. name(s). Later GNDB will be to join international activities in Specialists of the Laboratory of supplimented with place names toponymy. The Baltic Division of Toponymy have made surveyed during toponymic field the United Nations Group of expeditions to every city, town work and geographical names got Experts on Geographical Names from various sources of literature, (UNGEGN) was established in and civil parish of Latvia. Besides st that literature and maps have been toponymic card indexes and maps. 1992. The 1 meeting of the Baltic Geographical Names Database of Division was organized in Tallinn, looked through, too. We made use nd of the Card Index of Latvia will serve as the main Estonia, in 1995. The 2 meeting Physiogeographical Place Names source of place names for new of the Baltic Division of map editions, gazetteers, UNGEGN and the International UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 21 Training Courses in Toponymy Geographical Names was the first Compiling and publishing took place in Rîga 22-25 April, one where the delegates from dictionaries of the place names 1997. They were organized by Latvia participated with several (state, regional and local) should State Land Service, University of reports. Toponymists of Latvia be based mainly on the Latvia and State Language Board. have taken part in 19th and 20th Geographical Names Database of United Nations and the Sessions of UNGEGN and in the Latvia. standardization of geographical Second International Symposium Several theoretical, methodical names; national names authorities; on Geographical Names and practical problems concerning national standardization; “GeoNames 2000”. Since joining the spelling of place names and geographical names databases; the international activities revealing the pronunciation of national gazetteers; toponymists of Latvia have got them should be solved, too. More standardization of dialectal place acquainted with the experience of attention should be paid to the names were the topics of the UNGEGN in national and generic elements of place names, agenda in the courses. Lectures international standardization and and their spelling. were delivered by the UNGEGN with toponymic investigation in There is a necessity of experts from several countries: many countries. It favours the normative dictionaries and indexes Helen Kerfoot (Canada), Sirkka development of toponymy in of the place names of Latvia. Paikkala, Eeva Maria Närhi (Finland), Latvia. Legislation, concerning place Botolv Helleland (Norway), Hans names of Latvia has been worked Ringstam (Sweden) and Randall Future plans. out by a group of experts in E.Flynn (USA). A lot of questions In the nearest future the toponymy, but not set up yet. and discussions followed the theory and methodology of the lectures about geographical names Geographical Names Database of Zinta Goba databases and standardization of Latvia should be completed. The Scientific Laboratory of dialectal place names. These Data Base should enclose the Regional Geography and Toponymy themes are the most actual for information from the Card Index University of Latvia Latvian toponymists at present. of Physiogeographical Place Rîga, LV - 1586 The 7th Conference of the UN Names of Latvia and partly from LATVIA on the Standardization of the Card Index of Place Names.
Literature 5. Avotiòa R., Goba Z. (1986) Latvijas PSR Vçstures institûta þurnâls 1997, Nr.1. - 1. Avotiòa R. (1977) Latvijas PSR fiziski ûdensteèu nosaukumi. 1.-4.burtnîca. -R.: R.: Latvijas Vçstures institûta apgâds, ìeogrâfisko nosaukumu kartotçkas Latvijas Valsts universitâte, 253 lpp., 108.-134.lpp. sastâdîðanas principi// Latvijas PSR kartoshçma. 11. Goba Z. (1999) Toponymic Synonyms ìeogrâfiskie kompleksi un cilvçks. - R.: 6. Avotiòa R., Goba Z. (1994) Latvijas and How They Originated: Selection of Latvijas Valsts universitâte, 32. - 43.lpp. upes. Nosaukumi un ìeogrâfiskais the Preferred Names of 2. Avotiòa R. (1984) Latvijas PSR izvietojums. - R.: Latvijas Universitâte, Physiogeographical Features of Latvia// ûdenstilpju nosaukumi. 1.-6. burtnîca. - 131 lpp., kartoshçma. UNGEGN Newsletter Nr.22, p.22. - 25. R.: Latvijas Valsts universitâte, 391 lpp., 7. Avotiòa R., Goba Z. (1989) Rîgas rajona 12. Kavacs J. (1993) Valkas rajons. Dabas kartoshçma. fiziski ìeogrâfisko objektu nosaukumu objektu nosaukumu vârdnîca. - R.: 3. Avotiòa R. (1988) Latvijas PSR raksturojums. - R., 126 lpp., kartoshçma. Latvijas Universitâtes Ìeogrâfijas nodaïa, ûdenstilpju nosaukumi// Konsultants. 8. Endzelîns J. (1922-1925) Latvijas vietu 70 lpp., kartoshçma. Palîglîdzeklis valodas praksç. 7.laidiens. - vârdi. - R.: A.Gulbja apgâds, 117lpp. un 13. Kovaïevska O. (1997) Krâslavas rajons. R.: Avots, 9.-22.lpp. 190 lpp. Ìeogrâfisko nosaukumu vârdnîca. - R.: 4. Avotiòa R. (1999) Madonas rajons. 9. Goba Z. (1994) Kuldîgas rajons. Dabas Latvijas Universitâtes Reìionâlâs Kalni. Upes. Ezeri. Purvi. Meži. objektu nosaukumu vârdnîca. - R.: ìeogrâfijas un toponîmikas zinâtniskâ Ìeogrâfiska vietvârdu vârdnîca. - R.: Latvijas Universitâtes Ìeogrâfijas nodaïa, laboratorija, LR VZD Nacionâlais Latvijas Universitâtes ÌZZF Reìionâlâs 142 lpp., kartoshçma. mçrniecîbas centrs, 173 lpp., pielikumâ ìeogrâfijas un toponîmikas zinâtniskâ 10. Goba Z. (1997) Latvijas ìeogrâfisko 15 kartoshçmas (M 1:10 000 - 1:50 000) laboratorija, LR VZD Nacionâlais nosaukumu vârdnîcas, to sastâdîðanas un karte “Krâslavas rajona vietvârdi” (M mçrniecîbas centrs, 237 lpp. principi, saturs un uzbûve// Latvijas 1:100000)
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 22
Slovakia
Toponymic Guidelines
The Resolution No 4 of the 4th Toponymic Guidelines are divided address: UN Conference on the into four parts. In the first part is http://www.geodesy.gov.sk/sgn/t Standardization of Geographical given the characteristization of the yponym/Slov/typoframe.htm. Names has called countries to Slovak language as an official support the editing and updating language on the territory of the The list of the names of of the Toponymic Guidelines for Slovak Republic and of other triangulation points Map and Other Editors, which languages used on the territory of In 1999 was finished the would enable cartographers from the Slovak Republic. standardization process of the other countries to resolve reliably In the second part are names of triangulation points the problem of cartographical summarized geographical names from the Slovak Republic’s toponymy from the territories of authorities functioning in the territory, which lasted several those countries which had Slovak Republic, the terms of years; its result is the List of the published the Guidelines; they will reference of which are related to Names of the Triangulation Points assist all users in map the standardization of of the Slovak Republic’ s territory. interpretation. geographical names. The list contains approximately 16 In 1987 the Slovak Republic The third part gives the list of 000 standardized names of elaborated and edited the first source material, out of which triangulation points. Moreover the Toponymic Guidelines as part of standardized geographical names standardized names of Czecho-Slovak Toponymic may be obtained. They are state triangulation points are given also Guidelines. The first Slovak map series and gazetteers, edited in the triangulation points data of edition was carried out in 1993, by the Geodesy, Cartography and control station name, number, the second in 1996. Cadastre Authority of the Slovak description and coordinates, When the Slovak Republic was Republic. which are used by the general created in 1996, the legislative In the final part is given the public, both non-commercial and changes required further updating glossary of the words frequently commercial. The list of the of the Toponymic Guidelines. occuring in geographical standardized names of The third edition of the Slovak names, type designations of triangulation points will be Toponymic Guidelines was geographical objects in published also in book form in the published in 1999. It has been Slovakia, list of abbreviations year 2000 and will be available on elaborated according to the used in state map series and the Internet. Recommendations No 4 of the current administrative division 4th UN Conference, No. 14 of of the Slovak Republic. Radomíra Smyèková the 5th UN Conference and No. 7 Toponymic guidelines contain Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre of the 6th UN Conference on the Slovak and English versions Authority of the Slovak Republic Standardization of Geographical simultaneously. It is published also Names. by means of Internet at the
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 23
SUDAN
Toponymic Survey in the Republic of the Sudan
In April 2000 the Survey of official language, and yet would be called Kókka in Arabic Nubian Place-names investigated representations of African place- and Kókke in Nubian by the same the island of Arduán (19°56' N/ names in the Arabic writing individual depending on the 30°22'E) in the region of the system often lead to distorted language he/she was speaking. Third Cataract of the Nile. pronunciations. The investigation was Investigators aimed not only to Each geographical name was conducted in the context of the make an accurate record of the recorded in the field notes of the Mahas Project of the Department names, but also to gather evidence Nubian survey in three ways: (1) in of Archaeology of the University related to questions of Arabic script, (2) in the of Khartoum. Participants in the orthographic standardization. International Phonetic Alphabet toponymic survey were What was the best way for the and (3) in the mediaeval Nubian Muhammad Jalal Hashim and Arabic writing system to represent alphabet in line with the Asmaa Muhammad Ibrahim of the the Nubian language [Nobíin]? renaissance of interest which many University of Khartoum and How could this Nubian survey Nubians are demonstrating for Herman Bell, technical consultant contribute to achieving a set of their own traditional culture. to the Sudan National Committee guidelines on a standard Arabic In a region where there is for Geographical Names. orthography for geographical extensive bilingualism in Nubian names from African languages in and Arabic, it was interesting to the Sudan? note that geographical names Herman Bell The issue of an Arabic occasionally differed according to Consultant orthography for African the language being spoken. A geographical names is particularly historic village just north of the acute in the Sudan. Arabic is the Third Cataract (20°01'N/30°35'E)
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 24
United States of America
The Domestic Names St. Louis, Missouri. A Territories. As previously Committee (DNC) of the U.S. representative of the US Board reported, the publication of Board on Geographic Names participated in the Annual Meeting conventional gazetteers (paper meets monthly, and has rendered of the Geographical Names Board copy) was suspended last year, and decisions on 143 newly proposed of Canada in Charlottetown, this decision is still in place. The names and adjudicated 220 Prince Edward Island where use of the website has seemingly controversial names and issues another informal meeting of the contributed to a marked decrease since our last report. The DNC US/Canada Division was held. in requests for such publications. participated in the 1999 Annual On June 1, 2000, the Board’s Presently, the website query page Conference of the Council of Domestic Names Committee will receives an average of more than Geographic Names Authorities meet to discuss and re-evaluate its 20,000 accesses per day, and users (COGNA) hosted by the policies and procedures. This are downloading more than 100 Washington State Geographic exercise is required because the gazetteers per day. Names Board, and held in Board has formed a committee to The website address is: Spokane, Washington. The evaluate the existing policies of the
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 26 Other Reports, Forthcoming Meetings and News
GeoNames 2000
Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 28-30 March 2000
The Second 1/ International were made. Papers from the F. Ormeling (NL), Secretary General, Symposium on Geographical symposium will be refereed and International Cartographic Association (ICA), Chairman, Dutch - and German- Names, “GeoNames 2000”, edited for publication in German speaking Division (DGSD), and organized by the Ständiger or English in the technical series Representative of the Nederlandse Ausschuss für geographische Mitteilungen des Bundesamtes für Taalunie Namen (StAGN), was held in Kartographie und Geodäsie. H. Desoye (AT), Representative of the Frankfurt am Main in late March. In particular, the symposium Austrian Board on Geographical Names (AKO) The three-day symposium was addressed aspects of work in M. Gurtner (CH), Representative of hosted by the Bundesamt für national standardization and Swiss names authorities Kartographie und Geodäsie names data bases, romanization J. Sievers (DE), Chairman, Ständiger (BKG) and supported by the systems, and exonyms, as well as Ausschuss für geographische Namen Dutch- and German-speaking the orthographic reform of the (StAGN) B.E. Beinstein (DE), Secretary, Division of UNGEGN, as well as German language and the Ständiger Ausschuss für geographische by six German, Austrian, and pronunciation data base developed Namen (StAGN) Dutch agencies and private for German broadcasting stations. companies. 2/ Topics were covered from a STATUS OF NATIONAL STANDARDIZATION Dr. Jörn Sievers and his variety of viewpoints and Chairperson: E. Spiess (CH) organizing committee had indicated the research and J. Golaski (PL): Method and result of developed the aspects of the practical developments that are in toponyms collection for cartographic symposium to endorse and hand in different parts of the purposes by means of local authorities support the United Nations’ world to address systematically A. Danielski (PL): Historical, folkloric and geographical names as toponymic promotion of standardization of geographical names issues from a objects of Geo-Info Land Information geographical names and to linguistic, cartographic and System provide a stepping stone towards technical perspective. Differing A. Eremia, Z. Cameneva (MD): the work of the Eighth United views provided an opportunity for Toponymic researches and Nations Conference on the participants to appreciate and to elaborations of the standardization of geographical names Standardization of Geographical learn from the work of others, Z. Goba, Z. Cekula (LV): Gazetteers Names to be held in Berlin, particularly in dealing with the and database of the place names of August 26 - September 5, 2000. complexities of the treatment of Latvia In association with the multiple languages and multiple Discussion and résumé symposium, an evening reception writing systems. CONCEPTS OF NAMES was offered to registrants and the GEONAMES 2000 PROGRAMME DATABASES Dutch- and German-speaking Tuesday, 28 March 2000 Chairperson: R.E. Flynn (US) Division (DGSD) held a divisional OPENING AND WELCOME R. Payne (US): The Geographic Names meeting. At GeoNames 2000, 77 D. Grünreich (DE), President, Federal Information System of the United Agency for Cartography and Geodesy States - design, development, and participants from 23 countries implementation registered and 25 presentations (BKG) UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 27 J. Mlinar, E. Pogorelcnik (SI): Register P. Bohác (CZ): Exonym - one problem Arbeitsgemeinschaft der of geographical names in Slovenia of its definition Vermessungsverwaltungen der A. Illert (DE): The authoritataive H. Kerfoot (CA): Selection of German topographic-cartographic geographical names for cartographic Länder der Bundesrepublik information system (ATKIS) products Deutschland (AdV); Deutsche B. Liu (CN): The establishment of F.-D. Grimm (DE): Zum Gebrauch Gesellschaft für Kartographie Chinese technological standardization deutscher Exonyme für den Raum (DGfK); system of geographical names östlich von Oder und Neisse Arbeitsgemeinschaft für T. Leskinen (FI): National place names register integrated with cartographic Chairperson: P. Woodman (GB) Kartographische names register for various scales and I. Hornansky (SK): Theory and Ortsnamenkunde (AKO); products practice of the standardization of Nederlandse Taalunie; Discussion and résumé exonyms and the policy of their usage Hessischer Rundfunk; and M.O. Adamic (SI): Treatment of Dudenredaktion. BRIEF INFORMATION ITEMS geographical names in multilingual H. Kerfoot (CA), Vice-chairperson areas and the use of foreign names in UNGEGN: Update on UNGEGN Slovenia The symposium successfully activities P. Jordan (AT): The importance of underlined important aspects of A. Ermert (DE): Country codes by the using exonyms - plea for a politically advancements and also of work International Organization for sensible use still to be done in applied Standardization (ISO) R. Stani-Fertl (AT): toponymy, in particular: changes K. Wilson (DE): Demonstration of the Globalisation, print mass media CD-ROM "Small-scale map series" of and exonyms in the German language and its BKG Discussion and résumé links to broadcasting; progress in toponymic data bases and their GERMAN ORTHOGRAPHIC Closing remarks of the first two REFORM days of the Symposium: integration with cartographic Chairperson: O. Back (AT) J. Sievers (DE) systems; developing and M. Wermke (DE): Zur Schreibung implementing romanization geographischer Namen im Deutschen Meeting of the Dutch - and German- systems; and creation of sensitive Discussion speaking Division (DGSD) of UNGEGN approaches to reduce exonyms Wednesday, 29 March 2000 now in use and to prevent new ROMANIZATION SYSTEMS Thursday, 30 March 2000 exonyms from proliferating. Chairperson: F. Ormeling (NL) Halfday excursion to visit the German UNGEGN can show leadership G. Quinting (US): Romanization broadcasting station, Hessischer systems: development and application Rundfunk in these fields and must M. Nanova (BG): Variations in Guided tour through the broadcasting endeavour to make its goals, romanization systems applied in station expressed through UN transliteration of the Bulgarian M. Mangold (DE): The pronunciation Conference resolutions, more of geographical names geographical names into the Roman widely known to the public users alphabet R. Heinemann (DE): The H. Zikmund (DE): Deutsche Allonyme pronunciation database of the of geographical names. geographischer Namen des Baltikums association of German broadcasting und der GUS/CIS stations (ARD) GeoNames 2000 has a presence N. Kadmon (IL): Standardization and J. Sievers (DE): Demonstration of the on the web at: de-standardization of Roman StAGN list of selected German http://www.ifag.de/Kartographie transcription systems exonyms and their pronunciation on /Stagn/GeoNames2000_E.htm Discussion and résumé the Internet
EXONYMS 1/ StAGN organized its first Helen Kerfoot Chairperson: I. Hausner (AT) international symposium in Vice-Chair, UNGEGN I. Hausner (AT): Introduction to Wien (Vienna) in 1996. exonyms P. Päll (EE): Do conventional 2/ Support from the following romanization systems create exonyms? institutions was appreciated: UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 28
e C -
“Ptolemy — thethe firstfirst UNGEGNUNGEGN Toponymist”Toponymist”
Participants of the seventh an understanding of cartography of some 8100 place names with United Nations Conference on the and a grasp of basic geodesy. The their coordinates. Ptolemy thus Standardization of Geographical 2nd century important Greek was the author of the first-ever Names held in New York in savant Klaudios Ptolemaios, true gazetteer. Finally, the January 1998 may remember the known in English as Ptolemy, acronym UNGEGN is expanded special session commemorating fulfilled all these requirements. into "Un-Nationalistic Greek the 30th anniversary of the Besides his treatises on Expert on Geographical Names". Conferences. On that occasion a Astronomy and mathematics, Now the editors of ONOMA, shortened version of a full-length Ptolemy's great work "Guide to the organ of the International paper with the above title was read describing the Earth" (usually Council of Onomastic Sciences by Naftali Kadmon, Israel. The called "Ptolemy's Geography") is (ICOS), have decided to print the paper ennumerated the properties detailed. full version of this paper in required of a good UNGEGN The paper deals with the three Volume 35 of ONOMA, due to expert on geographical names. aspects of Ptolemy's work as be published next year. According to the definition by the described in the "Geography", author, he or she should have a namely the geographical, the Naftali Kadmon sound geographical knowledge; cartographic and the toponymic. Israel be well-versed in linguistics Theand major part of the phonetics; have a sense of history; "Geography" is composed of a list
15thth UNUN RegionalRegional CartographicCartographic ConferenceConference forfor AsiaAsia andand thethe PacificPacific
The 15th UN Regional established to deal with a range of Chairman of the Asia South-East, Cartographic Conference for Asia specific issues pertinent to Pacific South-West Division of the and the Pacific was held in Kuala cartography, surveying, mapping, United Nations Group of Expert Lumpur, Malaysia, from 11 to 14 land management, GIS technology on Geographical Names. The April 2000, in conjunction with and spatial data infrastructure in major achievements of the the meeting of the Permanent support of sustainable Conference include the adoption Committee on Geographic development. Among these of eight resolutions on Information for Asia and the technical committees, Committee Fundamental Data; Institutional Pacific (PCGIAP). The work of V, on geographical names, was Strengthening, Education and the Conference was organized chaired by Mr. John Parker Training; Regional Geodetic around five technical committees (Australia) the Immediate Past Infrastructure; Bathurst UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 29 Declaration on Land Promotion of National and will be made available in the next Administration for Sustainable Regional Geographical Names few months. Development; The establishment Standardization Programmes; of a Working Group on the and Cooperation with the United Amor Laaribi Cadastre; Economic aspects of Nations Geographic Database UNSD, Office of the Director modern surveying, mapping, geo- Initiative. The report on the 15th Representative of the UN Secretariat spatial data infrastructure and land UNRCC-AP is being prepared and for the 15th UNRCC-AP administration programmes;
Forthcoming Meeting:
The 7th UN Regional Nations on 15 May 2000. The United Nations Statistics Division Cartographic Conference for the Provisional Agenda and the Note 2 UN Plaza, DC2-1418 Americas will be held in New on Documentation were enclosed. New York, NY 10017, USA York at the United Nations Tel: 212 963 3042/5951 Headquarters from 22 to 26 For further information, you can Fax: 212 963 9851 Junuary 2001. The Letter of contact Ms Jennifer Javier or Mr E-mail: [email protected] and/or Invitation “Note Verbale” for this Amor Laaribi at the following [email protected] Conference was sent to all address:
Permanent Missions to the United
UNGEGN-Newsletter-23-Final.doc 30