A Study on the Etymology of the Place Names 'Myeongryang' and 'Noryang'

지명 '명량(鳴梁)'과 '노량(露梁)'의 어원 고찰

  • Published : 2006.12.30

Abstract

Place names are generally composed of first half and second half, whether the originality of those names comes from Korean or Chinese. The first half, modifying the second half, represents the naming flexibility of the name, while the second half of the name points out its directive object, which refers to a branch of the name. For example, 'Myeong' in 'Myeongryang' and 'No' in 'Noryang' represent their naming flexibility while 'Ryang', constituting the second half, points out the name's directive object. The purpose of this study was to investigate the etymology of place names, 'Myeongryang' and 'Noryang', by figuring out the meanings of those two elements. In order to search for the meaning of the second half, 'Ryang', other examples presented in the related literature have been examined. The finding indicated that 'Ryang' means 'dol', or 'do', which refers to 'moon(door)'. Furthermore, it is found out that the meaning of 'Ryang' has been transferred from 'dol' or 'do' to 'moon(door)', furthermore, to the straits. Upon looking into the origins of those names on the field, it is interpreted that 'Myeong Ryang' has been meant as a door in which huge and rough waves cry out, and 'No Ryang' has been meant as a door in which huge and rough waves rise up.

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