La Noscea name origin

Hello there everyone!

I was wondering where does the "La" particle comes from in "La Noscea" name. I'm French and not really used to seeing "La" before a city/region name. Is this "La" a toponymy prefix or something else entirely? Just wondering.

I always assumed it was just a subtle reference to the La Theine Plateau zone from FFXI which La Noscea closely resembles. But as to it's actual meaning, if any, I have absolutely no idea. One of the Loremasters in the Lore section might know though.

A big hint comes from the La Thagran Sightseeing Log entry.

Quote:

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When the Galadion fell victim to the Navigator's fury and ran aground on the southern shores of Vylbrand 700 years ago, it was her two helmsmen, Jean De Nevelle and Guy La Thagran, who were tasked with exploring the newfound island--the former heading east, the latter, west. To this day, their routes still serve as La Noscea's two main thoroughfares.

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I'd always imagined that the Galadion was crewed by Roegadyn, with all the Sea Wolves around in Lominsa, but thems not Roegadyn-like names.

La may be Spanish too, why French?, there are many place names with La: La Habana, La Coruña,... though Noscea sounds more Italian than Spanish.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JonBigwood

La may be Spanish too, why French?, there are many place names with La: La Habana, La Coruña,... though Noscea sounds more Italian than Spanish.

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Yeah, I searched a bit into this too. As for "Why French?" It's because I actually am :] And as a French, I don't see "La" before any city/name in my country, none that I remember of. Even in our translation of the game, the "La" disappears when we're talking about the regions of La Noscea. In English, it's "Western La Noscea, Eastern La Noscea", but in French it's "Noscéa Occidentale" and "Noscéa Orientale", no more "La". ^^

There are several examples in the United States of 'La <noun>' from French explorers and map notations.
Alaska has: La Chaussée Spit
California has: La Grange, La Porte
Arkansas has: La Grue, La Fave
Colorado has: La Salle
Hawaii has: La Pérouse Bay
Idaho has: La Fleur
The list really goes on, but it seems to amount to: because that's how it's written on the map.

Okay. Thanks for that answer :D