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. 2023;88(1):767-788.
doi: 10.1007/s10708-022-10640-5. Epub 2022 Apr 16.

Citizen science characterization of meanings of toponyms of Kenya: a shared heritage

Nyangweso Daniel  1 , Gede Mátyás  2
Affiliations

Citizen science characterization of meanings of toponyms of Kenya: a shared heritage

Nyangweso Daniel et al. GeoJournal. 2023.

Abstract

This paper examines the toponymic heritage used in Kenya's Authoritative Geographic Information (AGI) toponyms database of 26,600 gazetteer records through documentation and characterization of meanings of place names in topographic mapping. A comparison was carried out between AGI and GeoNames and between AGI and OpenStreetMap (OSM) volunteered records. A total of 15,000 toponymic matchings were found. Out of these, 1567 toponyms were then extracted for further scrutiny using AGI data in the historical records and from respondents on toponyms' meanings. Experts in toponymy assisted in verifying these data. From the questionnaire responses, 235 names occurred in more than one place while AGI data had 284. The elements used to characterize the toponyms included historical perceptions of heritage evident in toponyms in their localities, ethnographic, toponymical and morphology studies on Kenya's dialects. There was no significant relationship established between the same place name usages among dialects as indicated by a positive weak correlation r (438), = 0.166, p < 0.001 based on the effect of using the related places and the distance between related places. The weak correlation implies that the one name one place principle does not apply due to diverse language boundaries, strong bonds associated with historical toponyms in the form of heritage and significant variations on how names resist changes to preserve their heritage.

Keywords: AGI; Gazetteer; Heritage; Toponyms; VGI.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThere was no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Area of study map
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Methodology diagram
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Visualization of VGI toponym data sources (https://orongo.web.elte.hu)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a Related places based on AGI, b Related places based on AGI. [Source: http://mercator.elte.hu/~kdncx6/relationss.html]
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Language map of Kenya with 284 uniquely related places extracted from AGI records
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Map with related places (n = 438, unique place 235), Source: http://mercator.elte.hu/~kdncx6/relations.html)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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