Study on the characteristics of toponymic original motivation and division of toponymic layers in Nantong

Abstract

This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the characteristics of toponymic original motivation for primary-level administrative unit names in the four districts of Nantong. (1) An indicator system is constructed for the characteristics of toponymic original motivation from three dimensions: Surrounding Environment, Human Activities, and Cultural Significance, and 23 categories are identified through cluster analysis, revealing the unique physical environment characteristics and socio-cultural history of the Nantong area. (2) All toponymic categories are classified into 6 layers, which reveal the diverse manifestations of physical environmental factors, human activity types, and socio-cultural characteristics. (3) The combination of toponym clustering and toponymic layer division reveals the temporal and spatial complexity of the influencing factors and the resulting diversity of toponymic categories. This paper deepens our understanding of the interactive mechanism between toponyms and regional human-environment relationships, providing a theoretical basis for the preservation of toponymic cultural heritage.