«Loquella barbarica» (VIII). The Etymology of Porto-salè (Formentera, Balearic Islands): A New Proposal

Abstract

Porto-salè is the name of a portion of the island of Formentera. Its etymology has been put in relationship with the salt that was extracted from the ponds laying near there. A version of this toponym can be found in the Compasso de Navegare (13th Century). This, together with the comparative study of other toponyms like Binissalem, in Mallorca, or Grazalema, in Cadis, allows us to propose that Porto-salè is a Berber clanic toponym, being, in fact, the loan translation of the Arab form Marsa Salama or Marsa Salāma.