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Home , Endonym and exonym, Ethnolinguistics, Ethnology

Toponyms and education: National boards and their efforts to incorporate toponymical knowledge into a wider public

Isolde HAUSNER*

The educational aspect in this paper shall be understood in its widest sense and is not only focused on schoolish education, but shall cover a plurality of opinions of public attention, the media, newspapers, radio and TV newsrooms as well as literary texts. To approach the goal of this paper in a first chapter some details of the nature of geographical names and their widespread informative character are addressed, and furthermore it gives insight into the theoretical framework of „cultural “, a rather new field of research in the discipline of linguistics, practiced by prof. Farzad Sharifian in the Australian Monash University, under which toponyms can very well be a subchapter of research. The second part of this paper illustrates the efforts of the UN in the standardization of geographical names; it specifies the national Austrian publications which have been elaborated to fulfill UNGEGN`s goals.

INTRODUCTION

Geographical names and its responsible handling, that is to emphasise its adequate and proper usage, belong to one of the most challenging and sensitive tasksof editors, journalists, geographers, cartographers, historians, archaeologists, linguists, scientists and politicians in our times. We must be aware that toponyms are under control of a diversified audience and readership. All over the globe geographical names quickly can play a role in politics, to express specific political ambitions, be it in a positive or negative context, as we often could experience in our UNGEGN meetings. In this latter way the coherent nature of namesis split into two parts, it is disconnected deliberately from its objective role to act as informant for position, affiliation, information, disregarding its embeddedness into the and of ethnicities, and in that way geographical names are campaigned for political purposes.

* Professor, Austrian Academy of Sciences,

Isolde HAUSNER 31 GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES, THEIR NATURE AND THEIR AFFINITY TO POLITICS In the context of our seminars one question is of burning interest, and that is the issue: What are the specific elements of toponyms, which make them vulnerable for political purposes? To answer this question one must go deeper into the nature and the sense of names, that is to say, to analyze the question „what’s in a “, a phrase1, which has been raised in recent years by linguists in manifold papers and studies. It has been proofed - as I suggested before - that toponyms are informants in a manifold manner. The recognition of the cultural aspect, which is hidden in geographical names comes more and more to the fore in recent years - and, I´m shure, will still increase - and is now or should be an integral part of the study and the usage of geographical names. , lifestyle, cultural practises of , beliefs, myths, legends and memories are stored in our toponyms, and they are part of the identities of . All these components – identity, culture, , history - are kept in a name and can be designated as the secret treasures. In the world of today of an advanced knowledge about toponyms all that must be taken into consideration when using a toponym, be it in a literary text or in apparently textless sources like maps, in rendering names on maps, in gazetteers or otherwise. Geographical names belong to the cultural heritage of and they must be conceived mentally in a comprehensive manner. One must admit, that their usage and rendering on maps can be time-bound and can change from period to period, from government to government, from one language to the change to another language, but in fact, they reveal the various historical and political modifications and the associated alterations in the mental concepts, which are behind a name. Names bear the impression of the socio-political context of the time in which they were performed. Their usage in the one or the form can unveil a peaceful interaction within a country (recognizing minority etc.) and society, and abroad towards neighbouring countries (government changes etc.), or can be regarded as hostile act when warlike regime changes occured and a new era with a new toponymic name-set is installed. In the first case a peaceful coexistance and an adaequate and respectful communication and cohabitation is visible and is reflected in the toponymic naming. Otherwise political incorrect toponyms bear the apparent danger of tensions be it on the national level (no acknowledgement of minority groups etc.) or on the international level, when e.g. after a regime change foreign-language toponyms are in use by neighbouring countries irritating respectively offending the new regime and the inhabitants and neglecting the identity-building power of toponyms. It can be conceived as some kind of mental colonization. Changing a name is always a loss of the socio-cultural narrative for a society and the re-instalment of names which have been extinguished under foreign rule (e.g. ending the colonization era in many parts of the globe) signifies a new awareness and quality of life for the concerned. The new quality could consist in the creation of new neighbouring relations, of new cultural connections and in

1 This phrase is borroughed by William Shakespear`s romantic play Romeo and Juliet: „What's in a name? That which we call a rose - By any other name would smell as sweet“; a phrase, which doesn`t concede a meaning to names and stands in contradiction to names as what we understand them now and which we regard as very well identity building. Nevertheless, it is a good formula to start the discussion about the hidden qualities of geographical names.

32 SESSION I economic cooperations. All these above mentioned special and secret qualities of geographical names, this wealth of information, can in a positive and peaceful view be regarded as enrichment of life, or on the contrary, end in a pressure situation as handicap for further developments on various levels (one remembers the name dispute between Greece and FYROM [Former Yugoslave Republic of Macedonia, now Republic of North Macedonia] for decades of years, which was only solved last year). 1.1 In this context, namely by regarding toponyms in a cultural view, expressed in language, one must say a few words about •cultural linguisticsʼ2, a rather new branch in the discipline of linguistics which came only to the fore in recent times.3 One of the most prominent representatives is prof. Farzad Sharifian, holder of the Chair of Cultural Linguistics of the Monash University in Australia. He describes cultural linguistics as an open discipline, which •... views cultural cognition, conceptualisation and language as heterogeniously distributed across the minds of the members of a ...ʼ and regards •... language and cultural cognition as dynamic systems that interact with each other in complex ways ...ʼ.4 He as a linguist knows very well, that language reflects the worldview of an ethnicity, as I stated before, and so is it with toponyms, they are the result of culture expressed by language, they frame the landscape and its speakers by language. Practically seen, toponyms on the one hand can be supportive or on the other hand be disruptive for the identity of peoples, which live either in their own language referenced space or in a forced foreign toponymic sorrounding (→ naming conflicts). And so, the language can loose its cultural approach and only be restricted to politically driven claims, which have nothing to do with culture and language but only wield authority. In my mind the inclusion of the theories of cultural linguistics converges in this respect with the disciplines of cultural and cartography and thus can create political . Many naming disputes which are existing on our globe - we very often address this item in these seminars, or in the sessions of UNGEGN - could be solved in a peaceful way by raising all qualities of •what`s in a nameʼ up to guidelines for political toponymy, conceding more importance to culture in naming processes. The theories and methods of cultural linguistics are now

2 (sometimes called cultural linguistics) is a field of linguistics that studies the relationship between language and culture and how different ethnic groups perceive the world. It is the combination between and linguistics. The former refers to the way of life of an entire community: all the characteristics that distinguish one community from the other. Such characteristics make the cultural aspects of a community or a society. (Wikipedia, accessed 5-7-2019). 3 In the early 20th ct. a philological movement „Wörter und Sachen/Words and Things“ existed, which tried to link linguistic sciences and cultural sciences. It was mainly based in Austria and and raised the claim, that the of words should be studied together with the study of artefacts and cultural concepts. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%B6rter_und_Sachen. This movement was not based on a comprising theoretical concept. 4 www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=farzad+sharifian+cultural+linguistics (accessed 5-7-2019).

Isolde HAUSNER 33 on hand and grounded on a serious scientific fundament. Internationally oriented organizations could draw profit from these scientific cognitions for decision making in disputed cases.

Figure 1. Cultural Linguistics (Farzad Sharifian, Monash University) [By presenting a comprehensive survey of recent research in Cultural Linguistics, this book demonstrates the relevance of the cultural conceptualisations encoded in language to all aspects of human life, from the very conceptualisations of life and death, to conceptualisations of emotion, body, humour, religion, ,, ageing, marriage, and politics.] With this knowledge about geographical names in mind, we can proceed with measures, which are already underway and others, which could be fostered in future and which lead us to a prosperous dissemination of toponymical knowledge for a well-educated society.

UNGEGN5 AND TOPONYMIC GUIDELINES

The by its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1959 initiated the standardization of geographical names on national and international levels. Countries were encouraged to create national names authorities and under all to work out Toponymic Guidelines for international use under the motif that accurate and consistent use of geographical names can contribute considerable benefits to the world.6 The creation of national names boards was initiated by states to carry out these undertakings.

5 https://unstats.un.org/unsd/ungegn/ 6 https://unstats.un.org/unsd/ungegn/ (accessed 07-07-2019)

34 SESSION I Austria was on the front to present such guidelines under the then chairmanship of Dr. Josef Breu, chair of the Austrian Board on Geographical Names (AKO).

AKO 7(National Board on Geographical Names in Austria) publications One of Austria`s most important publication, which was elaborated by a group of experts are the 'Recommendations for the use of geographical names in Austrian educational media.'

1) Recommendations for the use of geographical names in Austrian educational media 8

Figure 2. Empfehlungen zur Schreibung geographischer Namen in österreichischen Bildungsmedien (Lukas Birsak, OAW)

As it is indicated in the title, this publication addresses the use of geographical names in Austrian educational media, by editors, newspapers and electronic media. Other than in the other German speaking countries Germany and Switzerland, Austria has due to its history in the Habsburg imperium a specific network in political, economic and cultural-historical regards, which finds its expression in an augmented number of exonyms which are still in use. A working group of AKO members under the chairmanship of Dr. Lukas Birsak, the manager of the private publishing house

7 AKO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kartographische Ortsnamenkunde), affiliated to the Geographical Society of Austria and the Austrian Academy of Sciences. 8 Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kartographische Ortsnamenkunde (AKO) (editor), Lukas Birsak, Otto Back, Michael Duschanek, Isolde Hausner, Peter Jordan Ingrid Kretschmer [†]. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Wien 2012. (http://verlag.oeaw.ac.at)

Isolde HAUSNER 35 Hölzel9, was installed, who prepared in about sixty meetings an updated version of the afore published •proposalsʼ. The goal of this book (and the forerunner) lies in the assistance for Austrian schoolbook publishers, who asked for a decision guidance for their editorial work. In the introductory chapters under others the discussion of exonyms and endonyms takes place at great length, together with the recommendations of the UN for the definitions of the terms , which recommend a reduction of exonyms in international communication. But in Austrian educational media the use of exonyms enjoys many benefits, e.g. names of capitals which are vividly in use like Prag or Laibach (instead of Praha and ) and is permitted. However, it is pointed out, that the use of exonyms bears the danger, that they can be understood as expression of political claim and act of power. Guidelines for the use of exonyms close this chapter. A further detailed chapter deals with writing systems, transliteration and transcription. This chapter is highly sophisticated and an expert with special knowledge in this field, prof. Dr. Otto Back, undertook this expertise. So, you will find in this book lists of countries and their specific writing systems (sometimes slightly adapted for our needs in Austrian school books) together with script charts according to their alphabet. This is a highly academic work which cannot be mentioned most particularly. The chapter comprising the usage of the list of countries contains also guidelines for the choice of the most appropriate name form. In this way among other things the working group came to the decision, in regard to Donghae and Nihonkai to quote both names as ʻ Ostsee and Japanisches Meerʼ. Not all members of our expert group were at first in favour of this decision, one didn`t want to intercede into the naming dispute, but after a thorough discussion it was agreed, that both names have their justification. Austria as a neutral country feels it obliged to concede the same right to both countries, to acknowledge both positions of the conflicting parties and to cite both names. A second motive was, that the name East Sea occurs more and more in texts and on maps all over the world, it can be found in many publications and especially young people should be acquainted with this name also in the school atlases. The result is a highly academic work publication, it may be considered as sample for other countries in their endeavours for standardizing their names pool and the more it is regrettable, that it cannot be presented to a vaster community like the members of UNGEGN.

9 Verlag Ed. Hölzel G.m.b.H. Nfg. KG, [email protected].

36 SESSION I

Figure 3. Empfehlungen zur Schreibung geographischer Namen in österreichischen Bildungsmedien (Lukas Birsak, OAW)

2) Geographisches Namenbuch Österreichs

In 1975 the publication: Josef Breu: Geographisches Namenbuch Österreichs (Gazetteer of Austria) was published, with the goal to support and spread standardized names forms. It was processed due to the recommendations of the United Nations and edited by Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Kartographie (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Publications of the Institute of Cartography), hg. und redigiert von (edited and redacted by) Erik Arnberger, Band (volume) 3. Wien 1975. The United Nations in 1969 recommended their members the elaboration of standardized gazetteers. Several federal and provincial institutions as well as experts undertook this task and is still a basic documentation for Austrian toponyms despite its rather high age and alterations since. An updated version of this book was elaborated by a group of experts of the Austrian Names board AKO in digital version:

Isolde HAUSNER 37 3) Geographical names database of Austria

It published by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 2000. This digital edition is a work of reference •for all those involved in the worlds of academy, economy and administration who require information about the location, spelling, , administrative classification or category of a geographical objectʼ and is still available.10 Unfortunately a revision could not be brought on the way for now but still remains a future project of AKO. Hölzel – Aktivatlas

A rather new publication in the private sector is the Hölzel – Aktivatlas (Hölzel – Active Atlas)11, licensed for the 1st class of the new secondary schools in Austria. It consists of an atlas part and a booklet with worksheets. A short chapter deals with toponyms, the worksheets raise questions regarding marginal seas, city names and capitals around the globe. Difficult names (Bratislava versus Pressburg), special characters in alphabets (like Ð = Dh [Iceland], Œ [] = Oe a.o.m.) and informations on script systems are addressed.

Figure 4. Hölzel-Aktivatlas Atlasteil (L. Birsak, J. Mayer, Ed. Hölzel)

10 Austrian Academy of Sciences, [email protected]. https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at. 11 Hölzel – Aktivatlas, 1st edition Vienna 2018/2019. Internet: [email protected].

38 SESSION I

CONCLUSION

The in the comprehension of •what`s in a nameʼ is still going on and the inclusion of geographical names under the theoretical framework of •cultural linguisticsʼ, could enable a •toponymic turnʼ, a new thinking of geographical names, recognizing the symbolic and political power of place names, developing new mental concepts based on the methods of cultural linguistics. The newest UNGEGN Bulletin 2019, which honours the work of Bill Watt as chair of UNGEGN, recalls the title of his paper of 2008, which he read at the symposium in Vienna, “Naming turns space into place”, underlines again the efforts to recognize the far reaching impact of geographical names for the socio-cultural self-understanding or national identity of citizens, which could solve many naming conflicts. The UN and their endeavours in the standardization of geographical names are far advanced and are always directed to achieve a peaceful cohabitation of countries. The results in standardizing names, analyzing the nature of names and disseminating it broadly could open our minds to shape a new •toponymic age.ʼ

Isolde HAUSNER 39