The Possibilities for Studying Place Names in Relation to Landscape, Space and Identity Cover Image

Možnosti studia toponym ve vztahu ke krajině, prostoru a identitě
The Possibilities for Studying Place Names in Relation to Landscape, Space and Identity

Author(s): Jaroslav David, Přemysl Mácha
Subject(s): Language studies
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Ústav pro jazyk český
Keywords: place names; linguistics; geography; anthropology; landscape; space; identity

Summary/Abstract: Place names have been systematically studied by various disciplines, including linguistics, history, geography, and anthropology. Most of these studies have, however, focused on the historical value of place names in documenting language change, the spread of human settlement, distribution of geomorphological objects and the evolution of legal practices in times past. Surprisingly little attention has been paid to contemporary place-naming practi-ces and the role they play in structuring social relations and reproducing social identities. After reviewing the principal linguistic, geographical and anthropological approaches to place names we propose a multidisciplinary approach which should help us better under-stand the importance and significance of place names in the perception and construction of every-day landscapes.

  • Issue Year: LIII/2012
  • Issue No: 53
  • Page Range: 28-45
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Czech