3. Linguistic preparation

First steps

• Language map & Glossary (after analysis of existing maps)

• Language boundaries shown in map (if available) should not be taken for granted.

• Linguistic assistance required! Hire an interpreter if needed.

• How to record pronounciation?

• Provisional orthographic rules

• Glossary should contain:

• Generic terms

• Recurrent non-generic elements (like north, south, uper, lower small, large, old, new, etc.)

Representation of pronunciation

• Potentially confusing phonemes – those being similar to the toponymist's ears – should be identified.

• Choose a standard notation of pronunciation!

• Concentrate on (combinations of) letters that represent more than one phoneme (Enschede contains the vowel e three times but their pronunciations are not similar. The first e is pronunced like e in men. The second e is like e in wonderful, and the third one is like ay.