Toponyms

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of place naming conventions (toponyms) in the Indigenous languages of Australia. The chapter covers semantics, etymology, the structure of toponyms, including the syntax and morphology of naming strategies, as well as the semantic structure of naming systems, and transparency and opacity in naming strategies. Dual or multiple naming strategies are also discussed. Australian speech communities vary considerably as to how analysable or compositional their place names are (or are felt to be). That is, communities are not uniform in how easy it is to give single meanings to toponyms, even if linguists suggest that forms are etymologically analytical. Examples are taken from across the continent.