Changing Symbols: The Renovation of Moscow Place Names

Gill, Graeme

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9434.2005.00371.x

Cited by 81 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Recently, however, critical geographers have used this work productively, placing a special emphasis on space and location (Foote and Azaryahu 2007;Alderman 2002Alderman , 2003Mitchelson et al 2007;Yeoh 1992Yeoh , 1996; and on state socialist Europe, see Azaryahu 1996Azaryahu , 1997Gill 2005;Light et al 2002;Light 2000Light , 2004. Furthermore, in the case of Hungary and Budapest there have been a number of studies on street names, statues, and memorials (c.f.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The city-text in post-communist Budapest: street names, memorials, and the politics of commemoration

Palonen

2008

GeoJournal

116

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As in most parts of Central and EasternEurope, there is a tradition in Hungary of changing street names and memorials in the wake of major political transitions. This article focuses on the change of street names and memorials, i.e. the citytext, in Hungary's political capital, Budapest, between 1985 and 2001. The city-text in Budapest became a locus of dispute between different political authorities, including the nation state, the metropolitan municipality, and the district, each bearing different political ideals during and after the fall of communism. Discursive changes in the post-communist city-text emerged expressing specific conceptions of national sovereignty, but the direction of the changes were debated. Different levels of administration in Budapest and Hungary had divergent visions of what the new discourse on national sovereignty should be. The changes, therefore, did not express a simple transition to an agreed-upon post-communist value system, but were the result of a symbolic struggle between different levels of administration over what should be commemorated in the city-text.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The city-text in post-communist Budapest: street names, memorials, and the politics of commemoration

Palonen

2008

GeoJournal

116

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“…Since geographical names are symbols that have political and historical connotations (Cohen and Kliot 1992;Kearns and Berg 2002;Gill 2005), it is hardly surprising that they should have come under scrutiny at a time when national symbols were being changed in order to mark the birth of a nation. According to a member of the South African Geographical Names Council, changing names "was in line with government commitment to provide all citizens with electricity, running water and access to telecommunications" (Jenkins 2007:12-13).…”

Section: Renaming Places As a Driver Of Symbolic Progress In Communitmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…3 Societies in transition often refer back to ancient place names that are less contested than ones introduced later (cf. Gill 2005;Guyot and Seethal 2007). creation of apartheid functionaries. For this reason black residents vetoed a proposal to rename Grahamstown after the township Rini."…”

Section: Renaming Places As a Driver Of Symbolic Progress In Communitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring Perceptions of Social Progress and Pride of Place in a South African Community

Møller

Radloff

2010

Applied Research Quality Life

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A social indicators community project was conducted in 2007 to monitor living standards and quality of life in Rhini, a low-income suburb of Grahamstown, Makana Municipality, South Africa. Since 1994, under democratic rule, considerable progress has been made in service delivery to the formerly disadvantaged in South African society in terms of access to housing, infrastructure, and a social safety net to mitigate the high rate of unemployment. A representative cross-sectional household study (n 1020) conducted in 2007 in Rhini found that a positive assessment of the household's situation and personal life satisfaction did not reflect better living conditions. Lack of income and employment opportunities appeared to dilute gains from higher living standards. The project also inquired into attitudes to place names and a proposed name change for the city under discussion at the time of the survey. It is argued that a place name with which one can identify may be as important as service delivery to enhance community satisfaction and overall quality of life. Dissatisfied residents who had limited access to services and expressed less civic pride were more likely than others to opt for a proposed name change for the city of Grahamstown that would better reflect the country's new identity and multicultural heritage. It is concluded that a useful pursuit for community quality-oflife studies in countries undergoing social transformation will be to inquire into the complex combination of factors that drive perceptions of material and symbolic progress.

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“…Azaryahu (2011) addresses urban space renaming in former colonies and notes that the renaming is some form of 'toponymic cleansing' and 'symbolic retribution'. Other scholars have linked renaming to the post-colonial agenda in former colonies (Gill 2005;Swart 2008;Whelan 2003). While S'ncamtho toponyms may be seen by some as ephemeral and passing, studies have actually shown that some elements of slang last long enough to influence language change.…”

Section: Characterisation and Social Impact Of Urban Youth Languages mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation and social impact of urban youth languages on urban toponymy: S’ncamtho toponomastics in Bulawayo

Ndlovu

2018

Literator

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This article focuses on the characterisation of S’ncamtho toponyms in Bulawayo and it goes on to measure the impact of these toponyms on the population of Bulawayo dwellers. S’ncamtho is an urban youth variety that is built on urbanity and streetwise style. The study assumes that, as S’ncamtho is the language of the youth in Bulawayo, people are exposed to S’ncamtho toponyms as the youth are found in all spheres of urban life in Bulawayo, especially the taxi industry which is used by the majority of people in the city. The research collected S’ncamtho verbal toponyms from Godini taxi rank in Bulawayo through undisclosed nonparticipant observations and some from the intuition of the researcher. Intuition and interviews were used to get the etymology of the toponyms and questionnaire tests of familiarity and usage were used to measure the impact of these toponyms on the population. Content analysis is used to characterise and classify S’ncamtho toponyms in Bulawayo and the metaphor comprehension test is used to measure their impact on the population. This article assumes that S’ncamtho has its own toponyms for locations in the city and that these are popular, especially with the youth, but people across age groups now use them.

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Changing Symbols: The Renovation of Moscow Place Names

Cited by 81 publications

References 6 publications

The city-text in post-communist Budapest: street names, memorials, and the politics of commemoration

The city-text in post-communist Budapest: street names, memorials, and the politics of commemoration

Monitoring Perceptions of Social Progress and Pride of Place in a South African Community

Characterisation and social impact of urban youth languages on urban toponymy: S’ncamtho toponomastics in Bulawayo

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