[Seavox] Extensions to the C19 vocabulary

[Ouellet, Mathieu]

Hello everyone

Since the example mentioned is a Canadian toponym, I’d like to mention that the Canadian authority is the Geographical Names Board of Canada:
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geography/place-names/search/9170

The record for St. Marys River is here: http://www4.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/FDTBK . As you can see, the official name lacks the genitive apostrophe. This is not the case of all Canadian toponyms. There are other rivers in Canada known as St. Mary’s River, with the apostrophe.

The use of “St.” in English Canadian toponyms seems prevalent, but there could be exceptions.

A familiar case which summarizes the lack of rigid grammar rules when it comes to toponymy (Canadian at least), would be that of the cities of St. John’s (Newfoundland) and Saint John (New Brunswick). The distinct spelling allows us to refer to either city without having to specify which one.

My preference would be to stick to official toponyms designated by local authoritative bodies.

As for the polygon question, perhaps this image can shed some light: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Marys_River_%28Michigan%E2%80%93Ontario%29#mediaviewer/File:StMarys-River.png

Regards


Mathieu Ouellet

Océanographie et données scientifiques
Direction générale du Service hydrographique canadien et des services océanographiques
Secteur des sciences, des écosystèmes et des océans
Pêches et Océans Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
mathieu.ouellet at dfo-mpo.gc.ca<mailto:mathieu.ouellet at dfo-mpo.gc.ca> / Tél. : 613-990-8570

Oceanography and Scientific Data
Canadian Hydrographic Service & Oceanographic Services Directorate
Ecosystem and Oceans Science Sector
Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Government of Canada
mathieu.ouellet at dfo-mpo.gc.ca<mailto:mathieu.ouellet at dfo-mpo.gc.ca> / Tel: 613-990-8570




De : Greg Reed [mailto:greg at metoc.gov.au]
Envoyé : 15 janvier 2015 08:06
À : Lowry, Roy K.
Cc : seavox at mailman.nerc-liv.ac.uk
Objet : Re: [Seavox] Extensions to the C19 vocabulary

Hi Roy
1. St.  IHO uses St. Lawrence, St. Charles etc.
2. The trend is to drop the apostrophe but I note that IHO still uses them, e.g. St David's Head, St Govan's Head, etc
cheers, Greg


On 15 January 2015 at 23:40, Lowry, Roy K. <rkl at bodc.ac.uk<mailto:rkl at bodc.ac.uk>> wrote:
Dear All,

Happy New Year.

David Hart (producer of the Winsconsin Coastal Atlas) has kindly made available geometry polygons for a number of named water bodies in the NE United States for inclusion in the 'SeaVoX salt and fresh water body gazetteer'.  A list of the names is in the attached Word document.  The geometries are large - anyone who would like to look at any of them please get in touch with Pauline Weatherall (paw at bodc.ac.uk<mailto:paw at bodc.ac.uk>) and she will arrange FTP access.   One specific question for those with local knowledge is whether the St. Mary's River polygon should extend to the boundary with Lake Superior.

The data set has raised a couple of general naming standardisation issues on which your opinions would be appreciated.


  1.  Abbreviation for 'Saint' in names such as 'Saint Lawrence'. My preference would be 'St.' - any alternative views.
  2.  Should possessive appostrophes be included - i.e. 'St. Marys' or 'St. Mary's'. Coming from an old fashioned grammar school background I would tend to include them, but are there any reasons why we shouldn't?

Any comments on this proposed extension to C19 or the specific points above welcome.

Cheers, Roy.


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