----------------------------Original message---------------------------- The US Board on Geographic Names gazetteers show the "Persian Gulf" as the "approved" name form. "Arabian Gulf" is shown as a variant cross-referenced to Persian Gulf. However, this is US policy, which does not apply to Canada, etc. However, there is a Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographic Names which may have a policy on Canadian official use of the name. The CPCGN is the counterpart to the US BGN and British Permanent Committee on Geographic Names. Check at: www-nais.ccm.emr.ca/cgndb/english/cpcgn.html Ed Taylor GEOname Digital Gazetteer, GDE Systems, Inc. Home Page: http://www.gdesystems.com/IIS/Slipsheets/GEONAME.html On Fri, 20 Sep 1996, James Boxall wrote: > ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- > A small disagreement has developed among a few persons here at my > institution (it's not nasty..yet). I have given some information and an > 'informed' opinion about the names "Persian Gulf " and "Arabian Gulf", but I > believe a greater body of learned opinion exists on MAPS-L which can provide > some mediation in this situation. (They did not like the idea of calling the > area "The Gulf") > > You may be interested to know that one producer of maps ( John Bartholomew & > Son) labeled the water body "Persian Gulf" on a 1977 map of Iran, and then > "Arabian Gulf" on a map titled "Arabian Gulf ", also 1977, which focused on > the Gulf States. I would gather that this is an indication of the 'politics > of maps', but I would be interested to know if this was done to avoid > upsetting users of the Iran map and users of the map showing Arab Gulf States. > > We, like many libraries, have instituted policies to deal with concerns > about the materials collected in our library. However, the persons who > created the policies had not imagined that maps would become an issue (I > tried to warn them :-)) > > > By the way, some dictionaries/gazetteers use Perisan - see Arabian, others > use Arabian - see Persian. (The 1984 Websters Geographical Dictionary > states Arabian Gulf - see Perisan Gulf, and then proceeds to say either can > be used.)(Chambers World Gazetteer states Persian Gulf -see Arabian) > > Hmmm?? How's that for a friday morning question ?! > > Cheers > James > > > James Boxall (Map Curator) > Map Collection, Science Services > Killam Library, Dalhousie University > Halifax, Nova Scotia > Canada B3H 4M8 > (t) 902-494-3757 > (f) 902-494-2062 > (e) [log in to unmask] > > http://www.library.dal.ca/~science/mapcoll.html > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > "What in observation is loose and vague > is in information deceptive and treacherous" > Francis Bacon, 1621 > --------------------------------------------------------------------- >