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14 a Study on the Sources of Country, Archipelago And

14 a Study on the Sources of Country, Archipelago And

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ И ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION TOM IX (4) 2013 VOL. IX (4) 2013

A STUDY ON THE SOURCES OF COUNTRY, ARCHIPELAGO AND ISLAND NAMES IN

Alaattin Kizilçaoğlu

ПРОУЧВАНЕ НА ПРОИЗХОДА НА ИМЕНАТА НА СТРАНИТЕ, АРХИПЕЛАЗИТЕ И ОСТРОВИТЕ В ОКЕАНИЯ

Алаатин Кизилчаоолу

ABSTRACT: Oceania Continent is substantially comprised of archipelagos and islands in the Pacific Ocean. Sources of the names of these islands are compiled in this study with the help of related work. Investiga- tion of the sources of the island names has made it possible to obtain information about the geographical char- acteristics of the countries and islands, important geographical discoveries and native people and colony move- ments. The countries and islands in Oceania were generally named by European explorers who organized expe- ditions to these areas, by colonists or by the natives of the islands. Names of many countries and islands in Oce- ania carry the trace of colonialism since the majority of the islands were named after the explorers, the home- lands of the explorers, European statesmen or exploration ships. Key words: World Regional Geography, Oceania, Place names, Geography

Introduction about the geographical characteristics of the countries and islands, important geographical Sources of place names are included among discoveries and native people and colony move- the research topics of the science of geography ments. because place names are important to obtain information about the geographical characteris- Pacific Ocean, Countries, Archipelagos and tics of locations (Alagöz, 1984). An interesting Islands in the Continent of Oceania topic related to place names is the investigation of the sources of country names. Güner Pacific Ocean, the largest ocean in the world, (2001;23) states that sources of country names lies between the east of Asia and the west of are based on ethnic elements, historical process- America Continents. Pacific Ocean is different es, legends, religious elements, economic re- from the other oceans in terms of geographical sources and geographical elements. Güner goes formations. Although there are many islands in on to say that etymological research is crucial in the Indian and Atlas oceans, their surface areas obtaining information regarding the historical are not very large (Özey, 2001; 111). However, development of political organizations, ethnic Pacific Ocean hosts rather large land masses situations, religious characteristics and the geog- such as , and raphy of the area. Current study presents the and also consists of more than 300.000 large and sources of the names of countries, archipelagos small islands (Map 1). Their total surface area is and islands in Oceania. There are 14 independent about 8,9 million km2 (Güner-Ertürk, 2006; 375). countries, many overseas territories and archipel- Surface area of the Pacific Ocean is 170,8 mil- agos and islands under colony status. Meanings lion km2. Therefore, this ocean has a total surface of the country and islands names in Oceania have area of 179,7 million km2 along with its islands been compiled by using various works (Room, (Özey, 2001; 112). Portuguese sailor Ferdinand 2006; Özey, 2001; Güner, 2001; Appleton- Macellan called the ocean “Mar Pacifico” which Appleton, 1992; Everett-Heath, 2000; Matthews, meant the calm sea since he did not observe any 1972; Mills, 2003; Pawley et.al., 2007; Watts storms in his voyage from Tierra Del Fuego to 2004). Investigation of the sources of the island Philippines in 1520. Later, this name was names has made it possible to obtain information changed to Pacific Ocean

14 (Room, 2006:284). Sailors such as Guillaume oceans in terms of surface area (Özey, 2001; Delisse and Buache called the Pacific Ocean 118). “The Big Ocean” since it is the largest of the

Map 1. Countries, Archipelagos and Islands in the Continent of Oceania (Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/au.htm ) Oceania is the common name for the seas and Melanesia Islands ( New Guinea, Solo- the islands in the Pacific. The term was first used mon Islands, , ), 5 are in Micronesia in 1812 by Dutch geographer Conrad Malte- Islands (, Federated States of Micronesia, Brun. The name Oceania comes from Oceanus, , , ) and 3 are in one of the Greek Titan Gods (Room, 2006; 276). Polynesia Islands (, and West Sa- Oceania is called Australia in some sources but moa) (Güner-Ertürk, 2006:400). There are Australia is only one of the islands in this conti- archipelagos and islands in Oceania which are nent albeit the biggest one. Many of the experts dependent on USA, New Zealand, Australia, in geography accept Oceania or Austral- and . ia/Oceania instead of Australia Continent. The The continent of Oceania consists of continent is called Oceania since it does not con- thousands of volcanic islands and coral atolls in stitute only a land mass but forms a unity with the South Pacific Ocean that includes Melanesia the Pacific Ocean which includes many islands. and Polynesia groups. Oceania also consists of Oceania is the name of all the large and small Micronesia that are the island groups scattered in islands that are distributed throughout the Pacific a wide area alongside the north and south sides Ocean (Özey, 2001; 112). Oceania consists of of the Ecuador. the islands in the west, south and central of the The group of islands in the southwest of Oce- Pacific Ocean. The archipelagos that are in close ania and in east of Australia between New Guin- proximity to America and Asia can’t be held ea and New Zealand are called Melanesia. The separate from these continents. Therefore, Kuril, Greek words “black” and “nesoi-islands” were Philippines and archipelagos are ac- combined to mean “black islands” (Room, 2006, cepted in connection with Asia and Galapagos 244). The island is called black islands since the and Aleut Islands are regarded as American. skin of the natives that live in these islands are , Midway Islands and is much darker compare to the inhabitants in the considered outside Oceania. other islands (Özey, 2001; Güner-Ertürk, 2006). There are 14 independent states in Oceania. The main islands in Melanasia are Papua New Out of these 12 continent countries excluding Guinea, Fiji, , Vanuatu (New Australia and New Zealand, 4 are located in Hebrides) and .

15 There are island chains called Micronesia were called pua-pua in the Malay language (small islands) between the International Date which means curly (Room, 2006; 287). Line and and in the east of Melanesia Is- 4-Fiji: It is a country of islands that consists lands. Most of the Micronesia islands are coral of 330 islands in the southernmost part of Mela- islands (Güner, 2001; 43). The main islands of nesia Islands in the South Pacific. It was previ- Micronesia are Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuva- ously known as the Cannibal Islands since barba- lu, Nauru, Palau, Caroline Islands, , rous natives used to live there (Web-2). It was , Saipan, and first discovered in 1643 by Dutch explorer Abel Micronesia. Tasman but he did not attempt to get on the is- Polynesia islands are located in the central land due to the existence of the cannibals (Web- Pacific and in the east of Oceania. They are the 3). Fiji was named after the native people of the island groups scattered in a wider area in the east islands, the Fijians (Güner, 2001; 43). The term of the line from New Zealand to Hawaii through Fiji was officially used by first and Western Islands (Özey, 2001; 113). The was accepted in time (Web-3). word Polynesia comes from the Greek “polus 5-Kiribati: It is a country of islands located nesoi” which meant many islands (Güner-Ertürk, between Hawaii and Australia. It has islands on 2006; 376, Room, 2006; 298). The main islands the sides of both the Ecuador and the prime me- in Polinesia are West Samoa, Tonga, French ridian. The island was discovered by English Polynesia, , , Admiral John Byron in 1765. Captain Thomas , Islands, Islands, Gilbert reached the island in 1788 after he re- Phoenix (Kiribati), Line Islands (Kiribati) and leased the inmates in Australia. The islands were Pascalia Islands. started to be called Gilbert Islands in 1820s. The name was changed to Kiribati after the island Sources of Names of Independent Coun- obtained independence in 1979. The name origi- tries in Oceania nates form native dialect (Gilbertese) (Room, 1-Australia: The name of Australia originates 2006; 197). from Latin “ incognita” which 6-Micronesia: Micronesia is the group of is- means “unknown Southern country”. This name lands in the north of Ecuador in the Western was given to the continent because in the old Pacific. The name Micronesia was given to the world maps, Australia and was con- island in the beginning of 19th century. The fused and mixed with each other. While the meaning of Micronesia originating from Greek western part of Australia has been known as “mikros nesoi” is “small islands” (Room, 2006; “New ” since the 17th century, the eastern 248). It is formed of smaller islands compared to coastline was named as “New South Wales” by the Melanesia Islands. Micronesia gained inde- James Cook (1770). When it was understood that pendence from USA in 1991. the two sections were really the parts of a whole, 7-Marshall Islands: It is a group of islands the name “Australia” was started to be used” between Hawaii and Australia in the Western (Güner, 2001; 42). Pacific. The islands were discovered in 1788 by 2-New Zealand: It is the country of islands in English Captain John Marshall and Thomas Gil- the southwestern Pacific. It was discovered by bert (Room, 2006; 239). The name of the island Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1642 originates from the name of the English Captain (Web-1). Thinking that he found a continent, John Marshall who first set foot in the island in Tasman called the island “New Zealand” (Nieuw 1788 (Güner, 2001; 43). Marshall Islands gained Zeeland) by associating the name with his coun- independence from USA in 1986. try Zeeland (which means the sea country) 8-Nauru: It is an island country in the south- (Güner, 2001; 42). ernmost part of Ecuador in Southwest Pacific. 3-New Guinea and : The origin of the island’s name is unknown. The New Guinea Island is located in the north of island was called Pleasant Island since English Australia in South Pacific. Spanish explorer I. sailor John Frean was greeted warmly by the Ortiz de Retes called the island New Guinea natives when he set foot on the island in 1798 since he thought the people living there resem- (Room, 2006; 263). bled the people living in Guinea. Papua New 9-Palau: It is a country of islands in the Guinea named after the Papuans, the native na- Western Pacific in the north of the Ecuador and tion, is situated in the east of New Guinea Island. in the southeast of Philippines. The islands Since the natives have dense and curly hair, they gained independence in 1994. Islands form the

16 westernmost part of Caroline Islands (Web-4). visited the islands in 1819. The name Tuvalu was The origin of the islands’ name is unknown given to the island when the country gained in- 10-Samoa: It is located in South Pacific dependence in 1978. The country is composed of among the Polynesia Islands Group. It is the first 9 archipelagos. The name Tuvalu is the combina- Polynesia nation who gained independence in tion of the native word “valu” (that means eight) 1962 while under the rule of New Zealand. It and native word “Tu” (to refer to the other is- was previously called Western Samoa. It is be- land) (Room, 2006; 386). lieved that the word Samoa originates from a 14-Vanuatu: It is a country of islands located native word meaning “the place of Moa” or the in the west of Fiji in the Southwest Pacific. Cap- name of a native tribe chief (Room, 2006; 330). tain Cook called the islands New Hebrides in 11-Solomon Islands: Solomon Islands, the 1744 by statişng that they resembled the Hebri- country of islands in Southwest Pacific, are lo- des Islands in the northwest of Scotland (Web-6). cated in the north of Papua New Guinea and in The island was called New Hebrides until 1980 the south of Ecuador. Spanish explorer Alvaro de when the country gained independence (Güner, Mendana de Neira was the first person to reach 2001; 43, Room, 2006; 392). The current name Solomon Islands in 1568. According to the leg- of the country originates from Bismala, one of end, Neira met the natives wearing golden jewels the official languages in the country and the root when he reached the islands (Room, 2006; 353). “vanua” means “our land, our soil” (Room, Neira, believing that the islands had substantial 2006; 392). natural wealth, named the islands Solomon, king of the Jews famous with his wealth (Güner, Sources of Names of Dependent Islands in 2001; 42). Solomon Islands gained independence Oceania form the United Kingdom in 1978. Many of the countries and islands were 12-Tonga: They are the archipelagos ruled by named after the explorers who organized voyag- monarchy in the east of Fiji in Southwest Pacific. es to Oceania. There are dependent islands in The word “Tonga” means “island” in the native Oceania that were named after English and language. The islands were discovered by the Dutch explorers (Table 1). The independent Dutchmen in 1616. Since Captain Cook was Marshall Island was named after European John greeted pleasantly when he visited the islands in Marshall who first set foot on the island. 1773, he used the term Friendly Islands. The Explorers named some of the islands in Oce- term Friendly Islands is still used in some ania (Table 2) after the shios that arrived at those sources and some of the modern atlases as an islands. alternative name for Tonga (Room, 2006; 378). Individuals who organized expeditions named 13-Tuvalu: It is a county of islands located in some of the islands after statesmen, public organ- the Southwest Pacific. The previous name of the izations and ship owners (Table 3). By doing so, islands was Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Spanish they wanted to show commitment to the man- explorer Mendana reached the islands in 1568 agement and honor the individuals who provided (Web-5). The islands were called Ellice when financial support for the expedition. Canadian cruise line owner Alexander Ellice Table 1: Oceania Islands named after the explorers Date of Name of Island and Dependency Explorer and His Country Exploration Furneaux Islands (Australia) 1773 English Tobias Furneaux Cook Islands (New Zealand) 1773 English James Cook Stewart Island (New Zealand) 1809 English William Stewart Schouten Islands (Papua New Guinea) 1616 Dutch Willem Schouten Rennell Island (Solomon Islands) 1793 English James Rennell Tasmania (Australia) 1642 Dutch Abel Janszoon Tasman Gambier Islands (-France) 1797 English James Gambier Starbuck Island (Kiribati) 1823 English Vincent Starbuck Wake Island (USA) 1796 English William Wake * Island (France) 1767 English Samuel Wallis Pitcairn Island (United Kingdom) 1767 Scottish Robert Pitcairn *The origion of the name Futuna is unknown Some of the island names in Oceania were still used without any changes. Some of the is- given by the natives (Table 4). These names are land names in the Pacific Ocean come from the

17 names of the natives that live in those islands named by using different words used in the na- (Güner, 2001; 23). For example, the name of tive languages. Samoa Islands were named after Papua New Guinea was inspired from the Papu- a native tribe chief. The previous name of the Fiji ans, the name of the Fiji islands take their name Islands was Cannibal Islands based on the exist- form the Fijians. Some of the islands in Oceania ence of barbarous natives in the islands. (Vanuatu, Guam, Tongatabu, Bora Bora) were Table 2: Oceania Islands named after the exploration ships/vessels Date of Name of Island and Dependency Explorer and His Country Exploration Bounty Islands (New Zealand) 1788 English Captain Chatham* Islands (New Zealand) 1791 English William Robert Broughton Palmyra Island (USA) 1802 American Captain Sawle *Name of the ship originates from the Chatnam Port of England (Room, 2006:85). Table 3: Oceania Islands named after statesmen* Name of Island and De- Date of Explorer and His Country In the Name of/in ….’s honor pendency Exploration Norfolk Islands (Australia) 1774 English James Cook 9. Norfolk Duke Edward Howard Admiralty Islands (Papua Royal English Army which provided finan- 1616 Dutch Willem Schouten New Guinea) cial support for the exploration ** Caroline Islands (Micro- 1686 - Spanish King Charles II nesia) Spanish Governor Marguis Antonio de Men- Marquesas Islands (French Spanish Alvaro de Mendana 1595 doza who provided financial support for the Polynesia-France) de Neira exploration Northern Mariana Islands 1668 - Austrian Queen Mariana (USA) Banks Islands (Vanuatu) 1793 English William Bligh Bligh’s boss, Sir *Source: Compiled from Room, 2006 **The name was given by English marine Philip Carteret (Everett-Heath, 2000:5). Table 4. Oceania Islands named by the native people* Name of the Words that They Meaning of the Name of Island and Dependency Native Tribe Used Word Guam (USA) Chamorro Guahan We have Tongatabu (Tonga) Tabu Holy Tonga Bora Bora Island (French Polynesia-France) Polynesian Bora Bora First born Niue (New Zealand) Niue Niue - *Source: Compiled from Room, 2006 Explorers named some of the islands in Oce- ing was generally done by adding the word ania after their homelands or regions in their own “new” at the beginning of the specific locations countries (Table 5). Resemblance of the discov- such as New Britain, New Ireland, New Caledo- ered land to the homeland or colonial thoughts nia, , New South Wales, New Zea- played a role in this approach. This type of nam- land, New Guinea and New Hebrides. Table 5: Islands in Oceania named after place names in Europe* Date of Explorer and The reason of selecting the particu- Name of Island and Dependency Exploration His Country lar name 1699 English William Similarity to Britannia New Britain (Papua New Guinea) Dampier 1616** English Philip Proximity to New Britannia Island, New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) Carteret closeness and being smaller than the (1767’de) New Britannia Island 1774 English James Similarity to Caledonia in Scotland New Caledonia (France) Cook which consists of high plateaus 1568 Spanish Alvaro The explorer named it after Guadal- Guadalcanal Island (Solomon Islands) de Mendana de canal settlement in Andalusia region Neira of Spain which was his homeland *Source: Compiled from Güner, 2001 and Room, 2006 **Discovered by Dutchmen but was not named The geographical characteristics (natural and naming some of the islands in Oceania. The human) of the islands sometimes played a role in countries, archipelagos and islands that have the

18 word “island” in its body are Melanesia, Micro- were called Line Islands since they lay along a nesia, Polynesia, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Tu- line in the north and south of the Ecuador. Ani- amotu Islands. are named after mals, one of the bio-geographical elements, were the coral reefs and Pohnpei Island was named also used in island names. Islands that have an after the existence of the rocky areas. Tokelau abundance of kangaroos in the south of Australia Island where northern winds are dominant was are called Kangaroo Islands. named Tokealu which meant northern wind in The numbers of islands whose names are the native language. The quiet island of the USA, based on legends are limited. Solomon Islands Saipan was called Saipan by using the native can be given as an example for legend-based language to emphasize the solitude. Some of the naming. Spanish explorer Neira’s observations in islands were named after teh geographical char- the island caused him to name the island after a acteristics that they have. Islands were legendary character. named after the fact that it is opposite the The responses of the natives to the explorers Greenwich. Sudest Island (which means south- during expeditions were also important in island east in French) located in the southeast of Papua names. John Frean, Nauru’da and James Cook, New Guinea were named sudest due to its loca- called the island Tonga as “Pleasant Island” and tion. “Friendly Islands” since they were greeted The direction that the islands lay in Oceania warmly. was also a factor in island names. Line Islands Table 6: Islands in Oceania named after their geographical characteristics* Name of Island and Dependency Geographical Characteristics that inspired the name Coral Sea Islands (Australia) Islands are formed of coral reefs Tokelau, which means north winds in the native language was used Tokelau (New Zealand) to name the islands where northern winds are strong (Pawley et.al., 2007) Since the island is opposite the prime meridian and is located in the Antipodes (New Zealand) farthest point around the 180 east meridian, it was named “anti” Since it is located in the southeast of Papua New Guinea, it was Sudest (Papua New Guinea) named “Sudest” which means southeast in French Pohnpei is dependent on the Karolin Islands of Micronesia and the Pohnpei Island (Micronesia) name of the island means rocky islands in the native language Saipan Island (USA) “Saipan” means desolate or uninhabited Name of the island comes from the word “Pikinni”, a combination of Bikini Island (Marshall Islands) native word “pik” that means “formation” and native word “ni” that means coconut The meaning of the name of the island is small island, originating Tahiti Island (French Polynesia-France) from the native word “otahiti” Word “Tuamotu” means far islands in Tahiti language Tuamotu Island (French Polynesia-France) The name was given to the island since a copious amount of kanga- Kangaroo Island (Australia) roos live in the south of Australia The term Line was used since the islands lay along a line on the Line Islands (Kiribati) north and south of Ecuador *Source: Compiled from Room, 2006 Religious elements and economic sources or the natives of these islands. Many of the is- were not generally taken into account when nam- lands were named after the explorers, homelands ing the countries, archipelagos and islands in of the explorers and European statesmen. Place Oceania. names in the continent provide us with infor- mation about the geographical characteristics of Discussion the countries and the islands.

As we all know, the geographical explora- References tions and discoveries after the 16th century made it possible to discover and colonize Oceania by 1. Alagöz, C.A., (1984), Some Thoughts on the Europeans. Many country and island names Placenames in Turkey, Turkish Placenames carry the traces of colonization period. Names of Communiqué Symposium, 11-13 September, the countries and islands in Oceania were gener- Başbakanlık Basımevi, p.11-23, Ankara. ally given by the European explorers, colonists

19 2. Appleton, R.; Appleton B., (1992), The 12. Web-1: Cambridge Dictionary of Australian Places, http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/o Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ceania/nz.htm 30 December 2012 3. Everett Heath, J. (2000), Place Names of 13. Web-2: the World, Oxford University Press Inc. New http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/o York. ceania/fj.htm 30 December 2012 4. Güner, İ., (2001), “A Study on Country 14. Web-3: Names” Turkish Geography Journal, Issue:37, http://www.fiji.gov.fj/index.php?option=com_co p.23-46, Istanbul. ntent&view=article&id=645&Itemid=196 1 5. Güner, İ.; Ertürk, M., (2006), Geography January 2013 of the Continents and the Countries, Nobel Yayın 15. Web-4: Dağıtım, Nobel Yayın No:775, Social Sciences http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/o Series:57. ceania/pw.htm 1 January 2013 6. Matthews, C.M., (1972), Place Names of 16. Web-5: the English-speaking World, Charles Scribner’s http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/o Sons, 1st Edition. ceania/tv.htm 2 January 2013 7. Mills, A.D., (2003), A Dictionary of 17. Web-6: British Place-Names, Oxford University Press. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/o 8. Özey, R., (2001), Geography of the ceania/vu.htm 2 January 2013 World and the Countries, Aktif Yayınevi. 9. Pawley, A.; Osmond, M.; Ross, M., (2007), The Lexicon of Proto Oceanic: The Cul- Associate Prof. Dr. Alaattin Kızılçaoğlu ture and Environment of Ancestral Oceanic So- Balıkesir University ciety, ANU E Press, Australia. Necatibey Faculty of Education 10. Room, A., (2006), Placenames of the Social Sciences Teaching Department World, Second Edition. Balıkesir-Türkiye 11. Watts V., (2004), The Cambridge Dic- [email protected] tionary of English Place-Names, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

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