Questions tagged [geography]
Questions related to geography.
85
questions
1
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2answers
87 views
Why do we say latitude and longitude instead of longitude and latitude? [closed]
Latitude measures degree from the equator and longitude measures the degree from the prime meridian, each corresponding to the x-axis and y-axis of the world. However, normally when we are talking ...
-2
votes
2answers
92 views
Why ‘western Europe,’ not ‘western region of Europe’? [closed]
Why is it ‘western Europe,’ and not ‘western region of Europe’? ‘Western Europe’ implies there are four Europes and one of them is western Europe.
6
votes
2answers
253 views
What is the English word for “rinconada”
In general a "rinconada" is an incoming angle formed at the intersection of two houses, two streets, or two roads.
In geography a "rinconada" is the land between two mountain ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
When referring to an event held in a country whose name has changed, should you use the new or old name
If I'm referring to an event that took place in Yakutsk in 1960, should I refer to Yakutsk, USSR, or Yakutsk, Russia?
1
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0answers
38 views
Northwest vs Northwestern [duplicate]
At its height, The Almohad Caliphate controlled much of the Iberian
Peninsula and Northwest Africa.
or
At its height, The Almohad Caliphate controlled much of the Iberian
Peninsula and Northwestern ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Naming advice for a start-up [closed]
I'm preparing to open up a start-up. Because of some personal reasons, I'd like to name it after the small town in China I was born in. It's named 下关 (dry translate to down-gate or down-fort).
That ...
21
votes
2answers
2k views
Countries ending with -Y vs. -IA: What is the pattern?
I wonder why some country names in English are suffixed with -y (Lombardy, Italy, Hungary, Saxony, Sicily) and some with -ia (Bulgaria, Austria, Bavaria, Sardinia).
I understand the etymology:
"-...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
Why 'The' always comes in front of 'The United Kingdom' but the same does not always apply to 'Great Britain'? [duplicate]
Why 'The' always comes in front of 'The United Kingdom' but the same does not always apply to 'Great Britain'?
0
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1answer
290 views
Is there an etymological relation between Albania the country and St Albans, the city in Hertfordshire, England?
Is there an etymological relation?
(some more words to keep validator happy)
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Word for geopolitical division of the world
In Norwegian, we have two words: "verdensdel" and "kontinent". The former is a word that describes a geopolitical division of the world, "verdens" = "world's" ; ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
What do we call a place, which is a plane land just beneath a mountain range?
I want to describe about a village. It is not a mountain village. It is located just at the border from where hills started to rise.
1
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0answers
85 views
Why do 120 or so geographical region names end in a and ia?
The web contains lengthy lists one with about 120 names of major geographical regions that end in a and ia. Is there any merit to the idea that this might go back to the Hebrew words raqa and raqia? (...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
Does the word relitigate imply legal proceedings?
I understand the word, "litigate" to indicate some kind of legal action. However, I have recently come across the word "re-litigate" in a context that implies a difference of opinion that has not (yet?...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
What is the geographic term for a landmass separated by two rivers?
If there is a region of land that sort of makes an island with the two rivers (which are fare apart). What would you call it.
For Example there is a region in Iraq/Syria that almost forms this (the ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
A geography word [closed]
What is the word for the point when a river leaves a mountain to flow out onto a plain or such?
0
votes
1answer
170 views
Pronunciations of the geographical name 'Orion' [closed]
Which (3) ways is Orion pronounced as relative to (3) meanings, Orion Township, Lake Orion (Lake), and Lake Orion (town)?
1
vote
0answers
62 views
'Czech'/'Swiss' to refer to the country?
An increasing number of my friends in India and the United Kingdom use 'Czech' to refer to the Czech Republic (and a smaller number do the same with saying 'Swiss' for Switzerland). When politely ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
What are analogous words to “occidental” and “oriental” for southern and northern? [duplicate]
Definitions
Occidental: "1: relating to the countries of the West"
Oriental: "1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Orient, or East; Eastern."
So, occidental is effectively a word that is a ...
3
votes
1answer
989 views
What does “water rich area” mean?
I am unsure how to specifically define a water-rich area. I assume that it is an area of water surplus but I am led to believe it has a more specific definition for I have been asked it as a separate ...
2
votes
1answer
194 views
A proper universal name for any city or town, regardless of its size [duplicate]
I'm facing a pressing issue with choosing a proper way to call a place (city, town), regardless of its size.
1) Has to describe places of any size (from pop. 5 to 5 mil.)
2) Must describe any ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Guiding tables below the maps and color-coded tables in English [duplicate]
Usually, there is a guiding table below the maps and color-coded tables, to help reader what is the meaning of each color or element. What is that table called in English?
0
votes
1answer
214 views
Northwest Territories and Papal States
The Northwest Territories of Canada are only one territory, and the Papal States in Italy consisted of only one state. Why is the plural used? (In Italian, one says "Stato Pontificio", which is ...
3
votes
2answers
4k views
The Southern US, or the southern US? [duplicate]
To my understanding, specific geographic regions are always capitalized.
For example, Southern US is proper because it is a specific region.
However, a co-author argues that southern should not be ...
0
votes
1answer
428 views
Terms for different types of soil (pictures included)
As a non-native speaker, I'm struggling to describe environments comprehensibly and detailedly.
The following picture shows typical ground in a forest, and I would most likely call it earth or soil.
...
2
votes
1answer
158 views
Why is the phrase “coal country” uncountable in this sentence? Does it mean a particular region?
Why is the phrase "coal country" uncountable in this sentence? Does it mean a particular region?
Were he frustrated in Congress, the president would surely fall back on areas where he has a free ...
1
vote
2answers
578 views
Etymology of “Dubai”
I need to etymologize the city name Dubai (United Arab Emirates) for a project. Etymonline only lists the origins as "uncertain" and Wiktionary traces it to دُبَيّ, the Arabic term for it (pronounced ...
-1
votes
1answer
121 views
Wallonia or Walloon Region? [duplicate]
What is the preferred way to refer to la Wallonie in English -- Wallonia or Walloon Region?
3
votes
3answers
255 views
The grammatical number of “Newfoundland and Labrador”
Some of the confusion among the posted answers causes me to add this prefatory note: There is one province called Newfoundland and Labrador. There is no province called Newfoundland and there is no ...
5
votes
1answer
393 views
Etymology of “Djibouti”
The country name Djibouti has no etymology listed on both Etymonline and Wiktionary. I do know that's it named after the city for sure, but where did that come from?
I tried to research it, but all I ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Capitalising names of geographical/tourist terms
I'm translating a series of short tourism-related texts from Croatian to English and I can't find definitive answers for some of my dilemmas:
Names of waterfalls / caves / trails & word order
...
4
votes
4answers
5k views
A word to describe the point of land at the confluence of two rivers?
I'm seeking a word that best describes the point of land created by the confluence of two rivers. The parcel of land in question would be situated in between the two rivers as their flow combined to ...
2
votes
4answers
632 views
Is there a word for a road or river that runs almost “vertical” in the map?
Is there an adjective to describe a road or a river whose orientation is nearly north to south (e.g. looks vertical in the map)? An example sentence would be, "the [word] highway between Foopolis and ...
4
votes
2answers
490 views
Name for the peak of a plateau
The highest point; the flatland.
Ex: Summit is to mountain/hill as _____ is to plateau.
Would summit just be acceptable in itself?
7
votes
7answers
3k views
Word for crossing the bottom of a valley
To refer to the highest point on a hill, one might use the word "crest":
He walked up to the crest of the hill, and surveyed his surroundings.
On the other hand, one might also use "crest" as a ...
3
votes
1answer
183 views
Term for derogatory suffix used with city names?
When speaking of a city in negative terms one might attach a prefix/suffix to the city name. This nickname is a portmanteau that implies a derogatory tone. Most often this will be a negative term but ...
1
vote
2answers
4k views
Another word for a single line of trees on a hilltop, as seen from a distance
There's definitely a single word that is used to describe, when seen from a distance, a single row of trees on a hilltop. I searched quite a bit but am unable to find the word.
3
votes
1answer
2k views
How do you write “deep south”?
How does one write "deep south?" It is a proper noun so I believe South is capitalized but what about d/Deep ?
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2answers
2k views
What do you call someone from the Americas if not American? [closed]
Someone from Europe is European.
Someone from Africa is African.
Someone from Asia is Asian.
Someone from Oceania is presumably Oceanic.
But you can't call a person from the Americas an American due ...
6
votes
4answers
220 views
Is there a process name for an island becoming unisolated?
I previously asked this on the history stack exchange but unfortunately had no good luck, and I was recommended to give this stack exchange a go, so:
Basically I would like to know if there is an ...
4
votes
2answers
903 views
The definite article with geographical terms
I know in English you can use the definite article with geographical expressiones such as the sea, the country, the land, the city, the beach, the seaside, but what about other geographical terms? Can ...
0
votes
2answers
8k views
Should “global south” be capitalized?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North%E2%80%93South_divide
In a context such as,
The harsh realities as the result of the socioeconomic conditions plaguing the global south
Should it be "Global ...
17
votes
3answers
4k views
Why 'prefecture' for Japanese administration areas?
There are many ways of labeling the smaller administrative areas of a country: states. For the US, provinces for Canada, counties for Ireland for English speaking countries, and departments (or ...
-1
votes
1answer
891 views
Is it wise to specify a country name in brackets when referring to foreign city in an official document
While writing a formal document in an English language, I would like to know whether it's wise to specify a country name in brackets when referring to foreign city in an official document. For example,...
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Term for all landmasses connected to Europe?
I'm looking for one phrase that refers to the entire landmass that makes Europe, Africa, and Asia without having to name each continent separately, much like how I can say the Americas to refer to ...
21
votes
14answers
3k views
Word for inlets of a mountain
Can the word inlet be used for mountains, too? I'm looking for a word that describes valleys that reach into the mountain, but don't go across it.
Here is a picture that tries to describe what I'm ...
7
votes
6answers
758 views
Expression for an abrupt change in height
Is there an expression for an abrupt change in height? I’m looking for a word for the edge of the change, like in the German word Geländekante.
1
vote
1answer
14k views
Why do the names of so many places end in -ia? [closed]
Many countries, continents, states, and cities have an English name ending in ‘-ia’:
India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Asia, Alexandria, Philadelphia, California, …
What is ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Another word for “kisses” or “slightly touches” or “barely makes contact”
I'm specifically trying to find the perfect word for this phrase I'm adding to Wikipedia:
Oman's Musandam peninsula kisses the gulf at the Strait of Hormuz.
But kisses really isn't the right word. ...
7
votes
1answer
941 views
Why do we say “Eastern Europe” but “East Asia”?
My girlfriend, who is not a native English speaker, asked me this yesterday: why are some geographical regions prefixed with the nouns North, South, East and West, but others are prefixed with the ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
Capitalisation of geographical entities in lists
I cannot seem to find an agreement on the proper capitalisation of geographical entities that use common nouns as part of their full name.
Specifically my example is:
...was found in the Pacific, ...
