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>Hello,  I find this question interesting and under the title of political
>bias when it comes to map place names. There are many examples on world
>and national maps of this bias. I think the name should be Persian Gulf
>since that is the way it has been for awhile, and I know the British
>starting using the name The Gulf 15 years ago. Some maps use both Persian
>Gulf and Arabian Gulf.      Ernie Woodson,  SUNY  Buffalo
>
 
The US Board on Geographic Names relies heavily on local usage when
deciding on the official name of a feature.  My understanding is that
people in the "Persian Gulf" area refer to that body of water as "Arabian
Gulf," this coming from an Iranian student of mine.  We as Americans have
the habit of imposing our ways on the rest of the world.  This simple name
is an example.  The name should be Arabian Gulf because that is what the
people in that area call it.
 
Paul Larson
 
_________________________________
Paul R. Larson. Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Geography
Physical Science Department
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, Utah 84720
 
tel: (801) 865-8244
fax: (801) 865-8051
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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