Nazwy województw wśród nazw własnych - funkcja, struktura, wariantywność
Names of voivodeships among proper names - function, structure, variability

Summary/Abstract: The article attempts to discuss function of the contemporary names of voivodeships in Poland. The names constitute a category of linguistic expressions related to administrative subdivision which became proper nouns. Although they uniquely identify delimited areas, the names of voivodeship perform function as both toponyms and chrematonyms. As brand marks they have established strong symbolic base for territorial marketing. Most names used since 1999 have derived from historical choronyms. The author demonstrates how distinction between geographical and administrative names has recently ceased to exist. Using of these names and their variants by regional authorities provides a good example of “invented tradition” (in term coined by E. Hobsbawm). The fact that the “traditional” names (e.g. Podkarpacie, Pomorze Zachodnie, Ziemia Łódzka) are often used instead of the official names of voivodeships would imply transformation of regional communities.

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