Place Names as Identity Markers

Place-names are first and foremost labels attached to one’s surroundings, as useful today as in prehistoric \ntimes. Since place-names have been coined as descriptions of the features in question, or of circumstances \nthat influenced the naming process, they are vital for the knowledge of our past. They also make out a part \nof one’s identity both as linguistic expressions and as identifiers of the landscape. As such they convey \nparticular values to those who are familiar with the names. The multiple quality of place-names also \nstrengthens their role as part of the intangible cultural heritage. After having dealt with some aspects \nrelating to terminology, function and meaning of names, especially place-names, the author discusses the \nrole of place-names as identity markers both from an individual and social point of view. By means of \nsome named landscape features from his childhood he argues that the names trigger the mental relationship \nbetween the name users and the named places. One main challenge will be to collect reliable data which \nmay be done by use of questionnaires and sound recordings. Also systematic literature studies will no doubt \ncontribute to a better understanding of the role of names as identity markers.