https://www.academia.edu/9912290/In_Search_of_Water_Hydrological_Terms_in_Oman_s_Toponyms

http://www.maneyonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/0027773814Z.00000000094

by Nafla S. Kharusi and Amel Salman

 

http://www.cis.cam.ac.uk/visiting-academics/visiting-scholars/past-visiting-scholars

from the Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.

in

Volume 63, Issue 1 (March 2015), pp. 16-29

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In Search of Water: Hydrological Terms in Oman’s Toponyms

Nafla S. Kharusi; Amel Salman

Author Affilations

Keywords: Arabic, ethnophysiography, landform categorization, landscape ethnoecology, landscape features,place names, traditional environmental knowledge (TEK)

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/0027773814Z.00000000094

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Abstract

This study investigates Arabic terms related to fresh water sources expressed in Oman’s toponyms. It presents their classification and discusses the semantic and structural properties of both the place names and the hydrological lexicon. A description of oasis agriculture among the inhabitants is also given as necessary background for understanding the importance of locating water and its effect on landscape delimitation and categorization. In an environment without permanent water bodies, the significance of this resource is reflected in the way people conceptualize their landscape, minutely classifying its hydrological features and expressing them in toponyms. Historically, their knowledge of water sources has contributed to better land use management and sustainability of Oman’s oasis agriculture.

Keywords: Arabic, ethnophysiography, landform categorization, landscape ethnoecology, landscape features, place names, traditional environmental knowledge (TEK)