Landscapes and Landforms of Namibia

Landscapes and Landforms of Namibia
Author: Andrew Goudie
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 164
Release: 2014-10-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 940178020X

The landscapes of Namibia are of world-class quality in beauty, diversity and interest. This book provides the first ever overview of the most important of these landscapes, explains why they look as they do, and evaluates why they are of note. Writing from a geomorphological perspective, the authors introduce the key processes and controls which influence landscape and landform development in Namibia. Geological and tectonic background, climate now and in the past, vegetation and animals (including humans) are all identified as crucial factors influencing the landscape of Namibia today. The book presents twenty one richly-illustrated case studies of the most significant landscapes of Namibia, ranging from the iconic Etosha Pan at the heart of the biggest wildlife conservation area in the north, to the famous dunes and ephemeral river at Sossus Vlei in the heart of the Namib desert. Each case study also contains a full list of the key references to the scientific work on that landscape. The authors provide an assessment of the current state of conservation of these landscapes, and their importance to tourism. The book is recommended reading for anyone with a professional or amateur interest in the spectacular and intriguing landscapes of this part of southern Africa. It provides a useful handbook for those travelling around Namibia, and an invaluable reference guide for those interested in how landscapes develop and change.

Critical toponomy

Critical toponomy
Author: Peter E Raper
Publisher: UJ Press
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2019-03-01
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1928424252

Critical Toponymy: Place names in political, historical and commercial landscapes contains a selection of double-blind peer-reviewed papers from the 4th International Symposium on Place Names that took place 18-20 September 2017 in Windhoek, Namibia. These papers present current thinking on how the critical turn in social sciences is manifested in toponymic research, not only locally but also internationally. As such it includes research on place names from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Austria, Slovenia, Central America and even the former Czechoslovakia. The contributions show that the etymology of place names are never purely linguistic – social, political, commercial and other factors influence the giving, use and adaptations of these linguistic and cultural artefacts. Furthermore, given their high symbolic content, place names also serve as political and commercial currency. Place names are therefore important symbolic markers in preserving or changing cultural identities, and in marking or facilitating socio-political changes and relations. Critical Toponymy showcases the many ways in which the representational potential of place names can be deployed in different contexts. Scholars as well as practitioners in toponymy and sociolinguistics will find this an illuminating read.

The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names

The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names
Author: John Everett-Heath
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 1854
Release: 2019-09-19
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 0192602543

This unique and informative dictionary explores the history, meanings, and origin of place names around the world. In over 11,000 entries it covers an enormous geographical range, including continents, countries, islands, cities, mountains, rivers, and much more. Key historical facts are incorporated into each entry, as well as a record of the place name in the local language for an accurate and comprehensive account. For this fifth edition, 134 entirely new entries have been added, including Byzantine Empire, Lac qui Parle, Nasr, Sauk City, and Yekaterinogradskaya. Existing entries have also been fully updated to reflect recent socio-political and geographical changes, most notably in Eswatini and Northern Macedonia. In addition to the entries themselves, the dictionary contains invaluable supplementary content to support the text. There is a glossary of foreign word elements which appear in place names, as well as a list of personalities and leaders who have influenced the naming of places around the world.

The Political Economy of Namibia

The Political Economy of Namibia
Author: Tore Linné Eriksen
Publisher: Nordic Africa Institute
Total Pages: 380
Release: 1989
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9789171062970

Research institutes and documentation centres.