The..sea..Caspean sea..lake?

[nq:1]The Caspean Sea. However, my student asked me a funny question. This sea is a lake, so shouldn't it be "Caspean SEA" as we do not write THE in front of lakes?[/nq]
But it's called the Caspian Sea, just like the Baltic Sea or the Bering Sea.

Einde O'Callaghan

Uzytkownik "Einde O'Callaghan" (Email Removed) napisal w wiadomosci
[nq:2]The Caspean Sea. However, my student asked me a funny ... as we do not write THE in front of lakes?[/nq]
[nq:1]But it's called the Caspian Sea, just like the Baltic Sea or the Bering Sea. Einde O'Callaghan[/nq]
After a short discussion students on their own reached that conclusion. Fortunatelly, they did.
Pa

[nq:2]But it's called the Caspian Sea, just like the Baltic Sea or the Bering Sea.[/nq]
[nq:1]After a short discussion students on their own reached that conclusion. Fortunatelly, they did.[/nq]
Near Stoke-on-Trent, where I grew up, there is a small town called Meir, which is essentially the same word as "mere" meaning lake. Locally it is usually referred to as "The Meir" although you don'

[nq:1]Near Stoke-on-Trent, where I grew up, there is a small town called Meir[/nq]
And Meir Heath nearby, which always brought Golda's Green to mind.

Paul Burke

[nq:1]Near Stoke-on-Trent, where I grew up, there is a small town called Meir, which is essentially the same word as ... to as "The Meir" although you don't see the "The" on signposts. Rules concerning names are rarely hard and fast.[/nq]
On the Staffs and Worcs Canal there is a flight on three locks (which are among my favourite locks on the UK canal system) which are sometimes known as "Brat

[nq:1]On the Staffs and Worcs Canal there is a flight on three locks (which are among my favourite locks on ... Locks" (which is the usual form for such names) but sometimes referred to as "The Bratch". I've never discoverd why.[/nq]
This is probably the usage among canal users, to distinguish that particular set of locks. However, locals may well refer to them as "The Locks", just as "Cannock

[nq:1]Near Stoke-on-Trent, where I grew up, there is a small town called Meir, which is essentially the same word as ... to as "The Meir" although you don't see the "The" on signposts. Rules concerning names are rarely hard and fast.[/nq]
Lye near Stourbridge was called "The Lye" by locals. I don't know the origin.

Phil C.

In English, one refers to "The Ukraine". Historically, its name had been Rus, south of Belarus. I suspect Rus was Semitic RoSH = head and Ukraina was a loan-translation to Greek kranion (Latin/English cranium)... and not Slavic u kraina = to/at the border.

The narrow neck of land between the Black Sea (formerly Pontus Euxinus) and the Caspian Sea is Georgia, probably from Semitic GaRGeret

[nq:1]In English, one refers to "The Ukraine". Historically, its name had been Rus, south of Belarus. I suspect Rus was Semitic ..[/nq]
Why does all this remind me of that sketch in "Goodness Gracious Me"?

Paul Burke

[nq:1]In English, one refers to "The Ukraine".[/nq]
We refer to "Argentina", but Argentines (I think they prefer that to "Argentinians") prefer "The Argentine".

John Briggs