Abstract
The study of place naming, or toponymy, has recently undergone a critical reformulation as scholars have moved beyond the traditional focus on etymology and taxonomy by examining the politics of place-naming practices. In this article, we provide a selective genealogy of the 'critical turn' in place-name studies and consider three complementary approaches to analyzing spatial inscription as a toponymic practice: political semiotics, governmentality studies, and normative theories of social justice and symbolic resistance. We conclude by proposing that future scholarship should explore the political economy of toponymic practices as a step toward expanding the conceptual horizon of critical place-name studies.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 453-470 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Progress in Human Geography |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- Critical place-name studies
- Governmentality
- Politics of calculation
- Semiotics
- Social justice
- Symbolic resistance
- Toponymy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geography, Planning and Development