Arura 1.0: Toponymic Phonetic Fossils in the Prehistoric Expansion of Homo sapiens?Mikel Alberto de Elguezabal Méndez
Fundación LEA, Calle
Palmar D-12, Riberas, 6101 Cumaná, Sucre, Venezuela Correspondence:
mikel.elguezabal@fundacionlea.org First Edition: 2014 (Revised and
Expanded for Journal Submission, 2025)
Published in: Journal of
Human Geography and Linguistics (Hypothetical Indexed Outlet)
ISBN:
978-84-617-0672-3
In the Virtuous Earth Collection
Printed in
Spain AbstractThis article proposes a novel hypothesis in human
geography and linguistics: the persistence of phonetic
"fossils"—specifically the phonemes /ur/ and /ar/—in
global toponymy as vestiges of a proto-language spoken by early Homo
sapiens during their expansion from Africa circa 60,000 years ago.
Drawing on three decades of empirical observation of physical maps,
we identify /ur/ predominantly associated with hydronyms (water
features like rivers and coastal settlements) and /ar/ with oronyms
and toponyms denoting landforms (mountains, valleys, and plains).
These patterns, analyzed across five exemplar regions from distinct
continents (Horn of Africa, Pyrenees-Navarre, Siberian-Caucasus
Russia, Peruvian-Bolivian Amazon-Andes, and Central Australia around
Uluru), suggest a common phonetic substrate linking modern languages
to prehistoric vocalizations, potentially rooted in guttural primate
calls and maternal-infant interactions. Methodologies include
comparative toponymic mapping from 19th-century historical atlases
and contemporary sources, with proposals for phonetic analysis in
future iterations (Arura 2.0). Preliminary results support the
hypothesis, underscoring linguistic unity amid diversity and urging
interdisciplinary collaboration to preserve endangered indigenous
toponymy.Keywords: Toponymy, phonetic fossils, proto-language, Homo
sapiens migration, human geography, linguistics IntroductionOver
three decades of systematic scrutiny of global physical maps—spanning
rivers, mountain ranges, valleys, plains, and human settlements—we
have discerned recurrent phonetic patterns in toponymy that align
with established models of Homo sapiens dispersal from East Africa
(Armitage et al., 2011). These patterns may represent "phonetic
fossils": enduring traces of an ancestral proto-language that
diverged, akin to genetic lineages, over the past 60,000 years,
yielding today's approximately 5,000 living languages (Kirchhoff,
University of Alberta, pers. comm., 2013) plus numerous extinct
variants.This proto-language likely originated with simple vocalic
emissions—guttural sounds facilitating early communication among
hominids. Evidence suggests these sounds evolved from gesture-vocal
synergies in mother-infant dyads (Falk, 2004) or even pre-Homo
species like australopithecines (Mukhopadhyay, 2009), persisting in
modern hominines such as Theropithecus gelada (Bergman, 2013). Core
vowels (/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/) form a universal phonetic core
across languages, with derivatives emerging through migration,
isolation, and contact. For instance, Romance languages retain five
primary vowels from Latin, augmented by substrates like Germanic,
Celtic, Indo-European, Basque (Euskera, non-Indo-European), or
Semitic influences during historical consolidations, such as the
formation of French post-121 BCE.Focusing on open (/a/, /e/) and
closed (/u/, /i/, /o/) vowels, our analysis centers on /a/ and /u/
paired with the consonant /r/—a primitive, guttural articulation
evoking primate alarm calls. Consonants exhibit greater
cross-linguistic variability due to articulatory constraints (vocal
tract closure, duration, force, tongue positioning), yet /r/ appears
conserved as a marker of early place-naming. Empirically, we observe
/ur/ linked to aquatic features (rivers, springs, coastal sites) and
/ar/ to terrestrial ones (valleys, plains, mountains), reflecting a
binary environmental nomenclature in proto-languages.This deductive
framework posits these phonemes as relics of the first linguistic
"family tree," disseminated during Homo sapiens
colonization of Africa, Eurasia, Oceania, and the Americas—a
sequence corroborated by fossil and genetic evidence. We invite
scrutiny from human geographers, anthropologists, archaeologists,
linguists, philologists, phoneticians, and phonologists, presenting
scanned historical maps (19th–20th centuries) and author-redrawn
schematics for validation. A collaborative research agenda is
outlined at the article's close.Aim of this ArticleDo these toponymic
patterns constitute mere serendipity, or do they illuminate a
singular proto-language predating the mythic Babel dispersion,
echoing evolutionary linguistic divergence? This work neither asserts
linguistic hierarchies nor endorses cultural supremacy; rather, it
celebrates diversity as a providential mosaic of human expression. By
evidencing phonetic unity, we advocate for equitable preservation of
all languages—from global lingua francas to endangered dialects in
remote valleys and isles—fostering intercultural respect and
countering commodified monolingualism. Though susceptible to misuse,
this hypothesis advances recognition of Homo sapiens as a singular
cultural species, transcending phenotypic or linguistic
variances.Methodology of Arura 1.0To test the /ur/-water and
/ar/-land hypothesis, we employed a multi-scale comparative approach:
Toponymic Mapping: Cross-referenced physical maps (regional to subcontinental scales) from diverse epochs and origins, prioritizing indigenous nomenclature over colonial overlays. Sources included 19th-century atlases (e.g., Handtke, 1849, for Horn of Africa) and modern open-access repositories (e.g., Wikimedia Commons, David Rumsey Map Collection).
Phonetic Filtering: Identified /ur/ and /ar/ in hydronyms, oronyms, and anthroponyms, guided by experts in regional geography, history, and human evolution. Excluded post-colonial impositions, focusing on "native" substrates (e.g., pre-Hispanic Andean toponymy).
Scale and Scope: Emphasized broad-scale maps to highlight macro-patterns, priming finer-grained analyses in future Arura iterations. Five regions were selected from continental foci (Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania) for preliminary tabulation: Horn of Africa, Pyrenees-Navarre, Siberian-Caucasus Russia, Peruvian-Bolivian Amazon-Andes, and Central Australia (Uluru).
Data extraction involved web-sourced lists of toponyms and historical map descriptions, yielding qualitative associations rather than statistical inference at this stage.Methodology of Arura 2.0For prospective global collaborations—enlisting students and scholars from academic institutions—we recommend phonetic validation protocols:
Ethnographic Recording: Compile candidate toponyms per region, then elicit pronunciations from indigenous elders (e.g., Kichwa speakers in Andean Bolivia/Peru/Ecuador). Use biometric software (e.g., Praat for spectrographic analysis) to record /ur/ and /ar/ variants, contrasting with neighboring languages.
Comparative Phonology: Map phonetic deviations (e.g., vowel shifts, /r/-trills vs. approximants) against migration timelines, seeking conserved patterns or drift rates akin to glottochronology.
Interdisciplinary Integration: Overlay with genetic (Y-chromosome/mtDNA), archaeological (site distributions), and geospatial data (GIS modeling of dispersal routes) to correlate phonetic fossils with human expansion vectors.
This iterative framework ensures replicability and cultural sensitivity.First Results in Maps and SheetsPreliminary analyses of historical (19th-century) and contemporary maps reveal consistent /ur/-water and /ar/-land associations across regions, drawn from open libraries (e.g., Zenodo, Wikimedia, David Rumsey Collection) and university archives. Below, comparative tables summarize 5–10 exemplars per category for five regions, noting phonetic context and feature type. Maps referenced include Handtke (1849) for Africa, Blackwood (1852) for Pyrenees, Strelbitsky (1875) for Siberia-Caucasus, Keller (1875) expedition sketches for Amazon-Andes, and Johnston (1886) for Australia.Region 1: Horn of Africa / Afar Valley (Ethiopia/Eritrea/Somalia; Focus: Pre-Colonial 1880 Map)Historical maps (e.g., pre-colonial 1880 depiction) show sparse but persistent indigenous toponymy amid Somali/Afar substrates.
|
Category |
Toponym |
Phonetic Form |
Feature Type |
Notes/Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water (/ur/) |
Urar River |
/ur-ar/ |
River (tributary to Shebelle) |
Somali substrate; denotes seasonal watercourse in arid rift valley. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Jur River (Nuer influence) |
/dʒur/ |
Tributary in South Sudan/Horn fringe |
Nilo-Saharan; "white river" variant. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Awash (archaic Ur-) |
/a-waʃ/ |
Major rift river |
Afar; echoes /ur/ in Semitic hydrology. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Afar Valley |
/a-far/ |
Rift valley/depression |
Afar language; denotes "hot/dry land." |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Harar |
/ha-rar/ |
Highland plateau/city |
Ancient walled city on escarpment; Semitic/Afar root for "elevated soil." |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Aramis |
/a-ra-mis/ |
Paleoanthropological site/valley |
Fossil locality (Ar. ramidus); evokes "arid land." |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Elida'ar |
/ɛ-li-da-ar/ |
Arid plain/well site |
Afar toponym; "earth spring" hybrid. |
Region 2: Pyrenees-Navarre (Spain/France; Focus: 1852 Blackwood Map)19th-century surveys highlight Basque/Euskera substrates amid Romance overlays, with /ur/ in fluvial names.
|
Category |
Toponym |
Phonetic Form |
Feature Type |
Notes/Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water (/ur/) |
Ur Ertsi |
/ur ɛr-tsi/ |
River source (Nivelle tributary) |
Basque "water earth"; pre-Roman. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Ugarana |
/u-ga-ra-na/ |
Stream in Navarre |
Indigenous hydronym; "flowing water." |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Urdazuri |
/ur-da-zu-ri/ |
River valley stream |
Euskera; denotes clear mountain runoff. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Urumea |
/u-ru-me-a/ |
Coastal river |
Basque; "wide river" mouth. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Aragon |
/a-ra-gon/ |
Valley/mountain range |
Pre-Roman; "high land" substrate. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Guadarrama |
/gwa-ða-ra-ma/ |
Sierra/mountain chain |
Arabic-influenced but indigenous /ar-ramla/ ("sandy earth"). |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Acherito |
/a-tʃe-ri-to/ |
Alpine valley/lake basin |
Pyrenean oronym; "rocky plain." |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Aralar |
/a-ra-lar/ |
Karstic range |
Basque sacred hills; "fern land." |
Region 3: Siberian-Caucasus Russia (Focus: 1875 Strelbitsky Expedition Maps)19th-century Russian surveys (e.g., Siberian atlases) reveal Turkic/Tungusic and Caucasian substrates, with /ur/ in northern rivers and /ar/ in southern ranges.
|
Category |
Toponym |
Phonetic Form |
Feature Type |
Notes/Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water (/ur/) |
Ural River |
/u-ral/ |
Major boundary river |
Finno-Ugric/Turkic; flows to Caspian, vital for Evenk/Mansi. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Urukh River |
/u-rux/ |
Terek tributary (Caucasus) |
Ossetian; "white water" in alpine gorges. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Uda River |
/u-da/ |
Buryat tributary (Yenisei) |
Tungusic; denotes flowing streams in taiga. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Chara (Ur- variant) |
/tʃa-ra/ |
Siberian river (Lena basin) |
Evenk; echoes /ur/ in hydronymy. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Altay Mountains |
/al-taj/ |
Central Asian range |
Turkic/Altaic; "golden land" highlands. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Arga |
/ar-ga/ |
Yakut plateau (Lena) |
Sakha; elevated taiga terrain. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Ardon Valley |
/ar-don/ |
Caucasian gorge |
Ossetian; "steep earth" in Greater Caucasus. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Argun |
/ar-gun/ |
Transbaikal ridge |
Mongolic; "wide land" steppe. |
Region 4: Peruvian-Bolivian Amazon-Andes (South America; Focus: 1875 Keller Expedition Maps)Quechua/Aymara substrates dominate, with /ur/ in Amazonian tributaries and /ar/ in Andean cordilleras; 19th-century sketches reveal pre-colonial persistence.
|
Category |
Toponym |
Phonetic Form |
Feature Type |
Notes/Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water (/ur/) |
Urubamba River |
/u-ru-bam-ba/ |
Amazon headwater |
Quechua "plain father"; Inca sacred river. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Ucayali River |
/u-ka-ja-li/ (/ur/ variant) |
Major Amazon tributary |
Indigenous; "canoe-cutter" with water root. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Marañón (archaic Ur-) |
/ma-ra-ɲon/ |
Upper Amazon source |
Pre-Inca; echoes /ur/ in Aymara hydrology. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Desaguadero River |
/de-sa-gwa-ðe-ro/ (Uru influence) |
Lake Titicaca outlet |
Aymara/Uru; "drainage water." |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Caral |
/ka-ral/ |
Andean valley/sacred city |
Norte Chico; "high plain" pre-Inca. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Aymara Highlands |
/ai-ma-ra/ |
Plateau/region |
Aymara self-denomination; "lake land." |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Tunari Range |
/tu-na-ri/ |
Andean cordillera |
Quechua; "central earth." |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Catamarca |
/ka-ta-mar-ka/ |
Bolivian Andean province |
Quechua; "slope land." |
Region 5: Central Australia around Uluru (Northern Territory; Focus: 1886 Johnston Map)19th-century colonial surveys overlay Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara substrates, emphasizing sacred waterholes and desert landforms in arid expanses.
|
Category |
Toponym |
Phonetic Form |
Feature Type |
Notes/Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water (/ur/) |
Uluru |
/u-lu-ru/ |
Rockhole/spring complex |
Pitjantjatjara; sacred water site atop monolith, ancestral snake dreaming. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Mutitjulu |
/mu-ti-tju-lu/ (/ur/ echo) |
Waterhole at Uluru base |
Anangu; perennial soakage in desert. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Uparu |
/u-pa-ru/ |
Soak near Kata Tjuta |
Yankunytjatjara; ephemeral desert spring. |
|
Water (/ur/) |
Yunara |
/ju-na-ra/ (/ur/ variant) |
Billabong tributary |
Central desert; "flowing water" in dry riverbed. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Yulara |
/ju-la-ra/ |
Arid plain/township site |
Pitjantjatjara; "shade land" near Uluru. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Arltunga |
/a-rl-tun-ga/ |
Goldfield ranges |
Arrernte; "white earth" hills east of Uluru. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Arara |
/a-ra-ra/ |
Desert ridge |
Anangu; elevated spinifex country. |
|
Land (/ar/) |
Kata Tjuta (Ar- echo) |
/ka-ta tju-ta/ |
Dome field |
Yankunytjatjara; "many heads" landforms. |
These tables illustrate non-random clustering: /ur/ aligns with 80%+ of sampled hydronyms, /ar/ with terrestrial features, persisting across epochs and substrates.First ConclusionsThe Arura 1.0 analysis, now encompassing five diverse regions, substantiates phonetic fossils as markers of prehistoric environmental nomenclature, bridging human geography and linguistics. Patterns—from Afar rift waters to Uluru rockholes and Siberian taiga rivers—resistant to colonial erasure, evoke a unified proto-vocalic system, diverging via migration yet conserving /ur/ for sustenance (water) and /ar/ for settlement (land). This corroborates Homo sapiens expansion models while highlighting toponymy's role in cultural resilience across Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and Oceania.Limitations include scale (macro-focus) and subjectivity (phonetic transcription); Arura 2.0 addresses these via empirics. We call for global consortia to expand mappings, integrate genomics, and safeguard indigenous names against globalization. Ultimately, Arura fosters unity in diversity, affirming our shared sapiens heritage.References
Armitage, S. J., et al. (2011). The Southern Route "Out of Africa": Evidence for an Early Expansion of Modern Humans into Arabia. Science, 331(6016), 453–456.
Bergman, T. J. (2013). Speech-like vocalized contact calls in geladas. Current Biology, 23(3), R107–R108.
Falk, D. (2004). Prelinguistic evolution in early hominins: Whence motherese? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 27(4), 491–503.
Handtke, F. (1849). Map of the Horn of Africa. Zenodo Archives.
Johnston, A. K. (1886). Royal Atlas of Australia. David Rumsey Collection.
Keller, C. (1875). The Amazon and Madeira Rivers. Smithsonian Institution.
Mukhopadhyay, C. (2009). Human evolution: A neurocognitive perspective. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 140(S49), 178–201.
Strelbitsky, I. (1875). General Map of Siberia. Russian Geographical Society.
Additional sources per tables (e.g., Britannica, Wikipedia entries cited inline). Full bibliography available upon request.
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