A source note should capture the exact place-name form used by the cited source, identify that source, and explain the context in which the name applies. For a name drawn from UN M49, it should record that the names are based on the United Nations Terminology Database (UNTERM). For historical data, it should preserve the nomenclature and code associated with the reference period rather than silently substituting a current label.
What the Source Note Should Record
| Element | What to capture |
|---|---|
| Place-name form | The exact spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and wording shown by the source. |
| Source | The publication, database, or other material from which the name was taken. |
| Naming basis | For UN M49, the basis in the United Nations Terminology Database (UNTERM). |
| Time context | Whether the name belongs to a current listing or to the nomenclature used during a historical reference period. |
| Code, if shown | The code as presented by the same source and within the same time context. |
A reusable structure is:
Place name: [exact sourced form]; source: [source name]; naming basis: [basis]; time context: [reference period, if relevant]; code: [code, if shown].
How to Check It
The check should begin with the cited source rather than a secondary summary. The reader should compare the recorded name with the form actually displayed there and retain the source name and direct link.
For UN M49, the relevant point is explicit: UN M49 states that its names are based on UNTERM. A source note relying on M49 should therefore identify that naming basis instead of presenting the place name as an unexplained transcription.
Historical information requires an additional check. The UN Statistics Division says that historical data published in current publications are normally shown with the nomenclature and code in effect during the reference period. The word “normally” matters: a source note should describe how the cited dataset presents its historical data, not imply that exceptions are impossible.
What Still Requires Separate Confirmation
The cited M49 statements do not establish which local name people prefer, whether a name appears on a travel document, or whether it has a particular legal status. Those points require separate evidence.
Readers should also confirm whether a historical dataset actually uses the nomenclature and code from its reference period or documents an exception. The source note should preserve that distinction rather than presenting a current M49 form as proof of how the place was named throughout the historical period.