ALGORITHMIC STANDARDIZATION OF TOPONYMS IN NAVIGATION APPLICATIONS: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN USERS, PLATFORMS AND SYMBOLIC SPACE—PART I
ALGORITHMIC STANDARDIZATION OF TOPONYMS IN NAVIGATION APPLICATIONS: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN USERS, PLATFORMS AND SYMBOLIC SPACE—PART I

Summary/Abstract: This paper analyses the dynamics of place names in the context of the digitization of orientation practices, focusing on the relationship between linguistic usage, standardization processes, and the constraints imposed by digital platforms. Within an interdisciplinary theoretical framework, the research approaches toponymy as a space of intersection between norm and variation, highlighting the role of endonyms and exonyms, of official and vernacular forms, as well as of diatopic and diastratic variation. It also discusses mechanisms of linguistic standardization and their implications in relation to language as a social practice, anchored in power relations and spatial representation. Methodologically, the study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of interviews with quantitative analysis of a corpus of toponyms extracted from digital applications. Patterns of lexical, graphic, and pragmatic variation are investigated, as well as processes of standardization and variation reduction. Multilevel modelling allows for the identification of individual and contextual influences on the use of toponyms. The results indicate a general preference for standardized forms, though vernacular forms persist alongside them. Digital platforms play an essential role in the selection and ranking of toponymic forms, favouring institutional names and contributing to linguistic standardization. At the same time, these processes generate tensions between everyday usage and algorithmically imposed norms. In conclusion, this paper highlights the role of digital platforms as active agents of linguistic standardization, emphasizing the need for a critical understanding of how they reconfigure toponymic practices and the relationship between language and space.

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