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From: dik@cwi.nl (Dik T. Winter)
Subject: Re: need English names of non-English cities and countries
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 23:00:45 GMT
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu sci.lang:40190 sci.lang.translation:2279

In article <3rnav6$fhp@bone.think.com> sandee@Think.COM (Daan Sandee) writes:
 > |> Continuing the Celtic theme, "Dublin" for Baile Atha Cliath, among many others.
 > 
 > Well, the locals call it Dublin (although I'm sure you will find the old
 > name on the city's Great Seal).
 > 
I did some research about this because I had conflicting information.
According to my latest source, the city was called ca. 10th century
"Baile Atha Cliath Duibhlinn".  So according to that the names have
the same age.  The meaning of "Baile atha Cliath" is "town of the
hurdles" (after a rivercrossing made from hurdles).  The meaning of
"Duibhlinn" is "black pool" (coincidentally the English city of
Blackpool is sitting on the other side of the Irish sea).
But I have also sources that say that Duibhlinn is the older name.
And sources that tell it the other way around.
-- 
dik t. winter, cwi, kruislaan 413, 1098 sj  amsterdam, nederland, +31205924098
home: bovenover 215, 1025 jn  amsterdam, nederland; e-mail: dik@cwi.nl
