Georeferencia, análisis y función del patrimonio toponímico del cantón Cuenca: parroquia rural de Baños

Abstract

This abstract entitled: Georeferencing, Analysis and Function of the Toponymic Heritage of the Canton of Cuenca: rural parish of Baños. It is an investigative contribution that pursues the purpose of raising awareness of the importance of toponyms or existing local names. These ones are associated with particular fields of knowledge such as history, geography, anthropology, linguistics, botany, among others. They are a testimony of human-location relationship, perception of place, time, and nature, throughout time. These are ultimately a philosophy of life itself. A study has been conducted based on written sources belonging to archives and bibliographical documentation. Furthermore, this study was also based on field work which consisted of gathering information about toponimies through oral interviews of local stakeholders in the parish that concerns this study. We have assigned geographic-spatial references to the names of the sites; that is, flat and geographic coordinates for subsequent georeferencing. Within the technical process of georeferencing, ArcGIS 10.1 software is used for the purpose of developing a Geographic Information System (GIS). The database consists of information connected to the toponyms such as location, etymology, origin, literal meaning, and reason. These will allow the displaying and analysis of geographic-historical and linguistic information from the toponyms. Throughout the study, it will be established the logical relationship between the toponyms and the territory. Although some may be incomprehensible, due to linguistic peculiarities, that is, names written in Cañari, Quichua or perhaps in some other language, which is significant in the still existing cultural heritage. Therefore, that is why it is necessary to preserve it.