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From Limbabwe to Walifornië: metaphorical toponyms in the Low Countries

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Abstract

This paper examines toponymic nicknames which express a metaphor and are composed of (1) an element referring to a given geographical feature A (mostly a country, province or region) and (2) an element referring to a geographical entity B, with which A is being compared. For example, Chicago is nicknamed Chiraq (< Chicago, Iraq) because the multiple shootings reminded of the war in Iraq. This paper focuses on Dutch and French toponymical nicknames in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels). Especially, the following questions will be examined. First: Does the first name element always correspond with entity A, as in the Chiraq case, or can it also refer to B?, as in the case of Bulgique (< Bulgaria, Belgium). The article will suggest that the last mentioned order is rather exceptional. Secondly: Which properties are referred to? Thirdly, some pragmatic aspects will be dealt with: (a) Who were the name givers? (b) If outsiders gave the name, was it subsequently adopted by the mocked group?

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Fig. 1
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Source: http://belhamel.artexanis.be/cartoons/cartoons.htm (accessed 2-11-2016

Fig. 4

Source: http://bigthink.com/strange-maps/sweet-home-walabama-portmanteau-toponyms-as-double-edged-insults

Fig. 5

Source: https://www.vlaamsbelang.org

Fig. 6

Source: https://www.vlaamsbelang.org

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Notes

  1. For a more detailed definition, see Booij and Mugdan (2000: 952).

  2. There is some evidence, though, that at least some language users feel that the source word order in blends is not quite arbitrary. When scientists crossbred a sheep and a goat, (Booij and Mugdan 2000: 955), they called the offspring a geep, though other scholars preferred shoat.

  3. Kelly (1998: 582) examined the problem that syllable number and word frequency are not quite independent of each other. In blends in which the first and second source word s had the same number of syllables, the first source word still tended to be more frequent than the second one.

  4. In Dutch, peper en zout is the preferred order.

  5. Exceptionally, metaphorical non-nicknames hace been found; for example: Zandfoort. This blend denotes a location consisting of an artificial river beach plus restaurant in the city of Amersfoort, and alludes to the seaside resort of Zandvoort, located at the North Sea coast.

  6. I am indebted to the internet forum Naorser for some name suggestions.

  7. http://www.experienceproject.com/question–answer/Good-Afternoon-Europe-How-Are-Things-In-Belgikistan-Malmobad-Babylondon-Al-Amsterdam-And-Birminghamabad/2257274. Accessed February 25, 2016.

  8. The latter names, obviously mayflies, can be found in http://lavenirestentrevosmains.skynetblogs.be/archive/2013/12/11/des-chiffres-8011540.html. Accessed 25-1-2016. Less serious attempts to introduce metaphorical nicknames are Flalaska (Flanders + Alaska), FlHawaii, Fleutschland; see https://twitter.com/tmoens/status/342334473221832704. Accessed 25-2-2016. Cf. also Brabantowakije and Antwaarpistan (http://sargasso.nl/quote-du-jour-fusie-nederland-vlaanderen/; accessed 25-2-2016) and Walibrux (Volkskrant 22-7-2016; see LexisNexis Academic).

  9. http://www.aspergeconfrerielimbourgondie.com/globals/1Wat_is/start.php. Accessed 25-2-2016.

  10. See Wikipedia List of fictional countries.

  11. Outside the Low Countries is the example of Saudi Campania: http://www.asphalto.org/go/post_id/1582323/page_start/0. Accessed 26-2-2016. Another example is Babylondon (see footnote 4). Variation in the order of source names is also seen in the metaphorical blends from personal names mentioned in Zimmer (2005), for example Bushitler (< George W. Bush + Hitler) versus Hitlery (Hitler + Hillary Clinton).

  12. http://weekup.be/antwerpen/de-koning-van-belgarije. Accessed 26-2-2016.

  13. Including influx of Moroccan immigrants (Borgerokko).

  14. https://www.stormfront.org/forum/t272687-40/. Accessed 26-2-2016. Namur is Wallonia’s capital.

  15. http://lavenirestentrevosmains.skynetblogs.be/archive/2014/02/07/revue-8097068.html. Accessed 26-2-2016.

  16. http://lavenirestentrevosmains.skynetblogs.be/archives/category/liberte-d-expression/index-21.html/. Accessed 26-2-2016.

  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNElNgi2yfE. Accessed 26-2-2016.

  18. http://oldblog.marcelsel.com/marcelsel/bruxelles-va-construire-le-stade-de-flandre.html. Accessed 25-2-2016.

  19. Limburgs Dagblad 26-6-1984 (see Delpher).

  20. Vandoren (2015: 195).

  21. The earliest Dutch-language source dates from 2010. (http://www.powned.tv/nieuws/buitenland/2010/09/luchtruim_belgie_tot_morgenmid.html; accessed 25-2016).

  22. Some years before, in 2010, the three names in the school textbook had drawn the attention of one Laurent Eschenauer; this had not resulted, however, in a widely shared indignation in francophone Belgium, like it would in 2013. See https://twitter.com/eschnou/status/7732452508303360 (accessed 25-2-2016).

  23. https://www.tripadvisor.fr/ShowUserReviews-g1081531-d5936099-r219247851-Ville_de_Marche-Marche_en_Famenne_Luxembourg_Province_The_Ardennes_Wallonia.html (accessed 25-2-2016).

  24. http://thisisantwerp.be/node/762. Accessed 25-2-2016.

  25. Lauryssens (2005) (no pagination).

  26. Groen and Kranenberg (2010: 57).

  27. http://www.dagelijksestandaard.nl/2014/02/amsterdams-d66-groter-dan-pvda/. Accessed 26-2-2016.

  28. http://agauchetoute.skynetblogs.be/archive/2004/02/20/tempete-dans-un-verre-d-eau.html. Accessed 25-2-2016.

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    Riemer Reinsma

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Reinsma, R. From Limbabwe to Walifornië: metaphorical toponyms in the Low Countries. GeoJournal 84, 1135–1148 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-018-9910-3

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