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The use of the term depends on your cultural orientation.  Iranians tend to
refer to the Gulf as the Persian Gulf (ethnic Persians), whereas the other
countries tend refer to it as the Arabian Gulf (all majority ethnic Arab
states).  US usage was determined by its foreign policy which used to have good
relations with Iran and poor relations with the Arab states.  One wonders if the
usage would be changed if the Saudi's and Kuwaiti's lodged a diplomatic protest?
 
 
NB  this information is based on a conversation I had with a middle east policy
expert at the US State Department, while I was a map librarian there about 3
years ago.  Take it with a grain of salt.
 
 
Quinn R. Koller                 [log in to unmask]
Map Librarian
GeoSystems Global Corp.
 
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Persian or Arabian Gulf ?
Author:  Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]> at Internet
Date:    25-09-96 4:14 PM
 
 
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>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>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]
__________________________________