Talk:Neman River
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Shouldn't this be at "Niemen"? That's what I've always seen it as. john k 20:21, 14 Jul 2004 (UTC)
No, it should be at "Nemunas" which is both a lithuanian and english name. Neman is an anglicized russian name. Space Cadet 20:27, 14 Jul 2004 (UTC)
On what basis do you say "Nemunas" is the English name? I've never seen it before. The river, it should be noted, flows through Russian and Belarussian territory as well as Lithuanian. A google search of English pages revels 20,000 for "Niemen" and only 5,000 for "Nemunas". On the other hand, a comparison of "Niemen River", "Nemunas River" and "Neman River" puts "Nemunas River" in the lead...I dunno. Columbia has its article at "Neman River", as does Britannica... john k 21:11, 14 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Odra river flows through Poland (a bit through Czech republic) and only alongside part of German border, but the "official English name" is supposedly Oder. Russian name is Nyeman. But I'll go along with "Neman". The Polish name Niemen would raise hell in edit wars, considering the semi-official anti-Polish profile of the WIKI.Space Cadet 02:53, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)
I thought I was the anti-Polish zealot. At any rate, "Niemen River" is most commonly used in historical descriptions. For instance, one always says that Napoleon and Alexander met on a raft in the Niemen (not the Memel or the Neman or the Nemunas). But it seems to be idiosyncratic enough that just going with Britannica and Columbia would probably be best. john k 19:49, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Just to add, that the Oder/Odra River is "supposed to be" called the Oder because that is what people call it in English. I have no particular idea what people use in English for the Neman/Niemen/Nemunas/Memel River. My Lonely Planet guide says "Nemunas", encyclopedias seem to use "Neman", history books usually use "Niemen"...I can only say that Memel is almost certainly inappropriate... john k 20:00, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Just Google "Odra river" and see if Odra is not used in English. I'm definitely behind going with Britannica on the Neman issue. Space Cadet 20:52, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Odra is sometimes used in English, certainly. As, apparently, is Nemunas. With river names, the local names are often used when referring to them. For instance, we also see English usage of, say, Maas River, or Rhein River, occasionally. But the more generally used names are Oder, Meuse, Rhine. I don't particularly mind articles specifically about Polish geography using "Odra" to describe the river, so long as the article itself remains at Oder, but you're the one who's always on about consistency... john k 21:52, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Yes I am. Space Cadet 22:53, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)