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IS IT REALLY CALLED THAT?. OR Why is that creek called a school? (Because it’s full of fish?!). Researched. Geomorphic features 605,000+ (50 states + DC). Geomorphic Features. PLAN OF ATTACK. Determine the true generic Compare the true generic to the feature class
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IS IT REALLY CALLED THAT? OR Why is that creek called a school? (Because it’s full of fish?!) COGNA 2005 Presentation Jane Messenger
Researched • Geomorphic features • 605,000+ (50 states + DC)
PLAN OF ATTACK • Determine the true generic • Compare the true generic to the feature class • Ask “Does the generic fit the class?”
PLAN OF ATTACK • 1st pass through I made last word = generic • 2nd pass through 2nd word = generic • 3rd pass through 3rd word = generic • 4th pass through 4th word = generic • 5th pass through 5th word = generic • 6th pass through 6th word = generic
PROBLEM • Not all names downloaded from GNIS are truly the last word of the name • Dipper, The - OR • Feature class - valley • Not all last words are the generic • Mount Saint Helens, OR • Feature class - summit
PLAN OF ATTACK • Determine the true generic • North Prong South Fork Little Medicine Bow River, WY • Real Generic is Prong • Class is Stream • East Bay Little Saint Germain Lake, WI • Real Generic is Bay • Class is Lake • Lava Falls Rapids, AZ • Real Generic is Rapids • Class is Rapids
PROBLEM • Not all names are in American • Aawela, HI (Summit) • Aa = rough lava; wela = hot • Hot rough lava • Puerto Grande, NM (Cliff) • Puerto = port, harbor, refuge, mountain pass • Grande = large, big, great, grand • Large port or harbor or refuge or mountain pass • Cap au Gris, IL (Ridge) • Cap = cape • au = of • Gris = grey • Cape of Grey OR Cap (Eng.) + of Grey (Fr.)??
PLAN OF ATTACK • Translate what names I could
PROBLEM • I do not understand any Native American languages (but my Hawaiian is improving) • My Spanish is so-so (but a whole lot better now than it was) • My French is worse than my Spanish was • My Cajun is the pits • I can recognize German (I think)
PLAN OF ATTACK Physically look at all names • > 8 words (3) • > 7 words (10) • > 6 words (95) • > 5 words (590) • > 4 words (3,413) • > 3 words (21,965) • > 2 words (111,307) • > 1 word (602,885) • All words (605,116) (VERY QUICKLY)
PLAN OF ATTACK • Determine the true generic • North Arm Three Arm Bay, AK • Middle Arm Three Arm Bay, AK • South Arm Three Arm Bay, AK • Real Generic is Arm • Class is Bay • Three Arm Bay, AK • Real Generic is Bay • Class is Bay
PLAN OF ATTACK • Compare real generic to GNIS recognized generics • For the feature’s identified class • GNIS now recognizes 1900+
PROBLEM • Feature names without a generic • The Eye Opener, AK • Feature class - Island • Witches Cauldron, OR • Feature class - Crater • Shakespear Shoulder, AK • Feature class - Summit • Turn Off the Wash, AZ • Feature class - Bend • The Ant and the Yellowjacket, ID • Feature class - Arch
PROBLEM • Feature names without a GNIS recognized generic • Cerritos de Jaspe, NM • Spanish for Small Hills of Jasper • Feature class - Ridge • Ben Nevis, WA • Is it Scottish for Mount Nevis? • Or is it a commemorative name for Mr. Ben Nevis? • Feature class - Summit • Rattlesnake Gutt, MD • Feature class - Stream
PROBLEM • One word names • Califernia, AK, Oklahoma, MO & Egypt, MO • Feature class - Area • Oak, NY • Feature class - Cape • Palisades, OR • Feature class - Cliff • Hogback, CA • Feature class - Ridge • Pothole, AZ • Feature class - Lake
RESULTS • 26,756 (4.4%) names I consider questionable • 21,520 generics in the exact or related form • 16,840 Found in GNIS but not for the associated class • False Generic • 4,665 Found in GNIS not spelled the same as name generic • GNIS Recognized TermReal Generic Slue Slu Cataract Cataracts Palisades Palisade
RESULTS • 26,756 names I consider questionable • 4,312 nouns used as generics not recognized by GNIS • Egypt (MO, UT, WA) • Jumpingqbranch, AR • 938 names that I have no idea what they mean
Recommendations • States verify questionable names • Correct • Translate • Validate • Information may be in Description or History fields • May require field research
Recommendations • GNIS update list of recognized generics for a class • GNIS provide translation of name • In Description Field • In a new field • Provide translation as a search result
SO… IS CASTLE SCHOOL, KY REALLY A STREAM? COGNA 2005 Presentation Jane Messenger