Cool

[shipperx]

i09 has a map of the U.S.where the original meaning of the state names have been translated.  It's like something out of GRRMartin or Tolkien.

Examples:



Nebraska: Land of the Shallow Water
Minnesota: Land of The Cloudy River Water
Utah: Land of the Sun
Idaho: Light on the Mountains
Missouri: Land of the People with Dugout Canoes
Alabama: Land of the Thicket Clearers
Indiana: Land of the Flowerland People
Iowa: Land of the Palefaces
Tennessee: Land of the River
Kentucky: Meadowland
Nevada: Snowy Land
Florida: Blooming Land
Michigan: Land of the Big Lake
Mississippi: Land of the Great River
Alaska: Lands Towards Which The Sea Flows


Oddest?
New Mexico: New Navel of the Moon
Illinois: Land of Those Who Speak Normally


Also fun landmarks:
* Sibling Love
* River of the Coffin Makers
* Pit Dweller's Town
* Castle of the Peaceful Ruler
* Men Defenders Town
* Son of Mercygod
* Hair People
* Strait of the Tattooed


and best of in the comments:

The French took the Peoria word for the area, thinking it sounded like their word for monk, making it "Of The Monks." Though actually the Peoria translation was "shitface." Making the actual name "Of The Shitfaces," and the Des Moines River is actually "Shitface River."

There's a similar map for Canada and Britain

Comments

[shapinglight]

Land of the People Who Speak Normally?

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Heh.

I think much like "Alabama" being the name of tribe of Native Americans (and it does translate to "Thicket Clearers", they managed forest in the area and were farmers) that "Illinois" was the name of the people who lived there.

I would guess, they didn't like other people all that much. ;)

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Eh, well, most network broadcasters speak with an Illinois accent, so there is that. ;-)