Cartographic representation of toponymic evolution in Southern Africa
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Raper, P.
1 Email: raperpe2@gmail.co.za
Abstract
Sequential habitation of Southern Africa by a wide variety of ethnic groups has resulted in a toponymiic landscape consisting of names from Bushman (San), Khoikhoi, European and Asian languages. Language contact over millennia has rsulted in the occurrence of geographical names ancient and modern, current and extinct, displaying intra- and interlinguistic development including phonological and orthographic adaptation, translation, semantic loss and reinterpretation, and the phenomenon of multilingual allonyms for many geographical and cultural features, some still in use, some obsolete, some recorded, some requiring reconstruction. Research over the past decade is revealing a hitherto unrecognized substructure of Stone Age hunter-gatherer influence. This paper discusses the potential, sources, methods and challenges of digital cartographic representation of reconstruction of extinct Bushman toponyms with Bantu and European cognates. From historical and modern maps and archival and other sources a cartographic representation can reveal and visualize synchronic and diachronic allonyms for geographic features. A layered digital cartographic model is envisaged that may be consulted to ascertain the linguistic evolution involved. Cognizance is taken of United Nations resolutions recommending the preservation of indigenous toponyms as part of the intangible heritage of people, and disseminating the results. This is also in accordance with the stipulations of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Keywords
Cartographic representation; toponymic evolution; Southern Africa