Getty Thesaurus Geographic Names: An Online Gazetteer

The question asks to classify the "Getty Thesaurus of Geographic names online". Let's break down the options to understand the nature of this resource.

Understanding Geographic Name Resources

Resources that deal with geographic names serve various purposes. It's important to distinguish between them:

• Thesaurus: Primarily a reference book that lists words grouped together according to similarity of meaning (containing synonyms and sometimes antonyms). While the Getty resource has "Thesaurus" in its name, its core function goes beyond just listing synonyms for place names.
• Gazetteer: A geographical dictionary or index. It lists places (like cities, countries, mountains, rivers) with associated information, such as location, population, historical significance, or administrative divisions. It essentially acts as an index to places.
• Journal: A periodical publication containing articles, research papers, or essays on a particular subject.
• Catalogue: An itemized list of things, often giving brief descriptions. This is commonly used for libraries, museums, or products for sale.

Why the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names is an Online Gazetteer

The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (TGN) is a comprehensive database that includes names of places, along with information about their history, relationships between places, and other associated data. Its main purpose is to provide structured information about geographic locations. This aligns directly with the definition of a gazetteer.

Key aspects that make TGN an Online Gazetteer:

• It indexes specific geographic locations.
• It provides factual data and attributes related to these locations.
• It helps in identifying and locating places consistently.

Even though the name includes "Thesaurus," the primary function and structure of the TGN database make it fit the definition of a gazetteer more accurately than a simple online thesaurus.

Evaluating the Options

• Online Thesaurus: Incorrect. While it might contain related terms, its main focus is not synonyms but structured geographic data.
• Online Gazetteer: Correct. It functions as a detailed geographical index and dictionary of place names.
• Online journal: Incorrect. It is not a periodical publication.
• Online catalogue: Incorrect. It does not primarily list items for sale or simple collection items; it catalogues geographic entities with detailed information.

Therefore, the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic names online is best described as an Online Gazetteer.