NEWFOUNDLAND TOPONYMY

Shamus MacDonald

MUCH OF WHAT WE KNOW about place names and associated legends in Newfoundland comes from the same kind of fieldwork that was required to compile the Dictionary of Newfoundland English (Story, Kirwin and Widdowson 1982). Indeed, in many cases the same researchers were involved. This essay explores some of the ties between toponymy, history and folklore in Newfoundland. In so doing, it draws on the rich resources of the Memorial University Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).