As with life in general, there is a kind of “generation gap” in “the dimension of place names” and this dimension makes the word incomprehensible in its literal significance. Place names come into being because when their users used them, they knew that they were speaking of the same things and places. The place name itself should be a guide to the traveler, as did Ákšujuvnjälmkuoškâ, or “Aksujoki River Mouth Rapids”. The name tells us that there is a river mouth in Aksujoki River, but at that place in Kaamasjoki River, there are also rapids. The name Piergivärjäävrih, ”Pierki Ridge Lakes” also tells us something similar. The traveler knows that near Pierki Ridge there are at least two lakes.

The narrative within place names with an appellative basis works fairly well though the name may be hundreds of years old, but when it is linked to a personal name it is a different story. At the southern end of Nammijärvi Lake there is an island named Maarit já Anttii Váábu jävillyevláássáš, “In Maaret and Antti’s Valpu’s Lichen Bed”. The name tells us that in the lake there is a little island where Maarit and Antti’s Valpu had a bed of lichen, but nothing else. We can draw the conclusion that they probably used to pick lichen at this particular island, but we can never be completely certain. This is where the narrative of the name ends and the “generation gap” previously mentioned becomes apparent.

The Background to the Name Láássáš

In their time these individuals were surely well known, but their characters are vague to people today. We know that Valpu’s father was Antti, but we only know Maaret from her forename. We can be sure at least about Antti’s Valpu as we know where she has influenced the place name. She has probably lived at Nammijärvi Lake and that already reduces the range considerably.

We know that somewhere near Nammijärvi Lake the Sarres and the Morottajas lived. We then looked up these two families. There was no Valpu found in the Morottaja family tree whose father was Antti, but two potential candidates were found from the Sarres. Closer investigation showed that in 1860 Valpu Antintytär Sarre lived at Paatsjoki, so she was out of the question. But on the other hand, she had a niece, Valpu Antintytär Sarre, who lived at Nammijärvi Lake and was born in 1892. We thus have the person we are looking for with probable certainty.

The Dating of a Place Name

We can conclude that the age of this place name was at the most 100 years ole. And as if to confirm the fact, we got to know that she married Heikki Matinpoika Walle in 1915 and moved to Hiiriniemi to live. She was probably picking lichen (for their reindeer) as a young girl before marrying and moving to Hiiriniemi, because it would not have made any sense to travel ten kilometers from Hiiriniemi to the island on Nammijärvi Lake to get lichen when it is certain that she could get it from nearer by. In addition to this, Heikki Matinpoika Walle, who was widowed in 1913, had five small children; for this reason Valpu, who was their stepmother, could not have had time to go to Nammijärvi Lake. Valpu and Heikki had at least one common child and, as can be guessed, her name was Valpuri.
In impassable generation gap is confronted when one gets to know old and great names, such as Aanar Inari, Njiävđám Näätämö, Lemmee Lemmenjoki, Ucjuuhâ Utsjoki, Kärigâsnjargâ Karigasniemi, Vääččir Vätsäri, etc. There are presumptions concerning the etymology of these place names, but for the time being they remain presumptions.

Ilmari Mattus