Tlalli. Revista de Investigación en Geografía

Topónimos y geografía: el nombramiento de diversos espacios desde la interdisciplina

Jesús Israel Baxin Martínez — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

How Seri Toponyms Tell Us Something about the Landscape

Oscar Castillo Tapia, Carolyn O'Meara — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This article focuses on the study of some place names in the Seri language—or Cmiique Iitom—a language isolate spoken in the state of Sonora, Mexico, by the Comcaac (Seris). The objective of this work is to explore ways in which aspects of the Comcaac’s territory and daily life are expressed through such terms, the majority of which are complex expressions (multimorphemic), with only a few being simple (monomorphemic). The majority, if not all, of the complex place names are morphologically and semantically analyzable by Seri language speakers, which means that they could likely lexicalize information relevant to their referents. We put together a database of Seri place names that are georeferenced as part of a geographic information system (GIS) in order to look at a subgroup of some recurrent simple nouns in the place names in order to see if they give us clues regarding their referential properties, in particular regarding the type of landscape objects that are named by them. We found that some of the nouns correspond to the type of landscape object that the place name refers to, but that is not always the case.

Proposal for the Classification of Toponyms in the Insular Regions of Mexico

Ariadna Neith Guerrero Gómez — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This article explores the importance of toponymy within geography, focusing on a less-studied aspect: the names of Mexico’s insular features, including islands, keys, and reefs. Of the 4110 recorded insular bodies distributed across six regions, only 1031 possess a toponym. The article presents a classification exercise using criteria proposed by authors such as Anaya Monroy, Guzmán Betancourt, and García Sánchez, alongside a new classification framework tailored to include specific features. These include coastal morphologies (geomorphological terms and pareidolia), biological characteristics (flora and fauna), and historical and cultural elements (anecdotes, surnames, constructions, demonyms, and saint names). The Gulf of Mexico is used as a case study, comprising 322 insular bodies with toponyms. Within this region, some homonyms are identified and differentiated using Roman numerals or cardinal directions to simplify searches. The study also examines the evolution of insular toponyms over time, revealing significant changes in historical cartography. This research emphasizes the rich toponymic diversity of Mexico’s insular regions and the value of systematically updating databases to ensure accurate and careful management of geographic names.

The Territory Speaks to Us: An Approach to the Study of the Place Names of the “Muysca” Area of the Cundiboyacense Territory

José Manuel Gómez — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Currently, a good part of the studies on the place names of the Cundiboyacense region and in particular of the area commonly called Muysca come from a research tradition that has not developed a clear, diverse, and critical working methodology for them. The territorial, human, cultural, and linguistic diversities of said space are not considered, and rather homogeneity as well as generalization is assumed, which has resulted in these studies presenting decontextualized, unreliable, and even invented toponymic interpretations that unfortunately are quite widespread and seem to conclude the discussion in this field of knowledge in which the contribution of multiple sources, disciplines, researchers, perspectives, etcetera, is still very necessary. This article seeks to consider and expose the diverse panoramas at the territorial, human, cultural, and linguistic level of the aforementioned area; to propose and evaluate the relevance of some sources that allow access to toponymic data; to propose criteria for the identification and collection of said data, as well as an analysis methodology for them using the Muysca language of Bogota or Muysc Cubun; and to evaluate their possible lexical motivations within the framework of particular territories, peoples, and cultures.

The Tének Toponymy of the Huasteca Potosina

Imelda Aguirre Mendoza — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Numerous communities and towns in the Huasteca Potosina region have names in the Tének language or derived from it. The purpose of this article is to provide an organized compendium of toponyms in this language. To achieve this, the article brings into dialogue original data obtained through ethnographic fieldwork and information gathered by prominent pioneering authors in the field, such as the visitor Antonio J. Cabrera, the philologist Rudolph Schuller, and the researcher Guy Stresser-Péan. Based on this, a classification of Tének toponyms is presented, grouped into various categories, including anthroponyms, oronyms, hydronyms, as well as names related to local flora and fauna. These groupings facilitate an understanding of the Tének ethnoterritory as an interconnected system characterized by recurring elements. Tének toponyms are interpreted from local perspectives, prioritizing the opinions, knowledge, and experiences of the inhabitants in relation to their territory. In this way, they are conceived as inscriptions within an ethnoterritory shaped by this group over time. Toponyms are understood not only as a resource for reproducing the territory but also as tools that enable the transmission and persistence of oral tradition and the native language, making them repositories of memory.

Nahua Glyphic Toponymy and Its Graphic Reminiscences in the Native and Indo-Spanish Maps of the Meridional Acolhuacan, ca. 1579-1613

Daniel Martínez González — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This article aims to highlight the vitality of the native cartographic tradition and the use of glyphic toponymy in one of the codex maps from the region of Tezcoco, northeast of Mexico City. Additionally, it seeks to shed light on the process by which certain glyphic toponyms in other land maps from the same region ceased to be painted and written in the traditional manner, undergoing a form of graphic fossilization through the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The visual evidence contained in the cartographic creations mentioned here suggests that, although native forms of place-naming—including maps, indigenous plans, painters, bodies of knowledge, and theoretical-practical expertise—remained in use even in relatively late periods following the European-Mesoamerican contact, within a short span of time, glyphic toponyms in land maps ceased to be painted as signs of a logosyllabic writing system. This study proposes that the fossilization of some traditional toponymic graphic forms corresponds to the disappearance of the last cartographers trained in native map-making and the emergence of a fully colonial New Spanish cartography.

Hispanic-indigenous Iconography in Two Land Grant Maps of from Tenancingo, 16th Century: The Use of Toponyms for the Representation of Geographical and/or Political Entities

Juan Barrientos Cruz — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

In various cultural areas of Mesoamerica, including present-day Central Mexico during the 16th and early 17th centuries, maps were created with a strong pictographic component and a unique style that combined two perspectives: the indigenous and the European. Such is the case of 16th-century land grant maps from Malinalco and Tenancingo, in what is now the State of Mexico, which feature numerous pictographic elements from both styles, making them of interest for studying the cultural area to which they belong. Therefore, the present study is framed within a regional investigation whose main objective is the iconographic analysis of maps from this important region. In this context, this article aims to analyze the Hispano-indigenous iconography of two examples of these maps, originating from 16th-century Tenancingo, and, from this analysis, explain the use of toponyms to represent geographic and/or political entities. This was carried out through various disciplines, such as iconography, ethnography, and history, as well as geographic information systems (GIS), in order to develop a more comprehensive study of all their characteristics, as it is worth noting that these maps lacked an in-depth analysis of their content. Finally, the study also seeks to highlight that the importance of analyzing this type of pictographic manuscripts lies in preserving the regional and local history of these territories. This, in turn, fosters a greater sense of identity and belonging, as their value also has implications for the re-signification of their territorial symbolism, many of which have been lost over time due to various natural and anthropogenic factors.

Housing Cooperativism and Social Production of Habitat: The Case of Guendaliza’a in Mexico City

Luisa Corina Ambríz Hernández, Luis Alberto Salinas Arreortua — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

In Mexico, a system of access to social housing ownership has been consolidated, primarily through the granting of mortgage loans by public housing funds. Through a theoretical analysis, this study aims to discuss alternative proposals, drawing on the main characteristics of the social production of habitat and the housing cooperative model in Latin America, including a regional perspective on housing policies focused on alternative social housing production through various approaches such as self-management and cooperativism. Subsequently, the legislation, policies, and current programs in Mexico that are guided by the principles of the social production of habitat are presented. The study examines the significance of the Charter for the Right to the City and the Community Project for the Production and Social Management of Habitat as foundational programs for the pilot experience that led to the Guendaliza’a case study in Mexico City. Using a qualitative methodology with an interpretive approach in close collaboration with the organization, the research seeks to understand the pathways of alternative processes today, as well as the relevance of these proposals in the pursuit of access to affordable housing and the right to inhabit the city.

Uninhabited Housing in Tizayuca (Hidalgo, Mexico): An Approach from the Fragmented City 2010-2020

Alfredo Pastén Hernández, Guillermo Lizama Carrasco — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The goal of this paper is to study the uninhabited housing distribution and its relationship with closed or fragmented urban characteristics. The study uses quantitative methodology by means of thematic cartography and multiple regression models. The results suggest that variables such as less marginalization index, mobility restrictions, higher population, distance from the Municipal Presidency Building (the place considered as the traditional downtown area), and recently created residential areas have an impact on the growth of uninhabited housing explanations. The available evidence contributes elements to the discussions about this problem, specifically to finding uninhabited housing in peri-urban areas that do not necessarily present lacks in public services as has been documented in other investigations. Furthermore, this study considers two periods (2010-2020), so it is possible to identify the urban growth and people’s tendency to inhabit places with closed characteristics, configuring the phenomenon of fragmented city. The results provide insights for policymakers and academics by highlighting additional factors that influence inhabited dwellings, such as the proliferation of closed urban areas. This phenomenon has increased in recent years, particularly in cities with limited regulatory frameworks or governmental measures to mitigate its impact on surrounding neighborhoods.