ISPN 2017 Call for papers
2017 International Symposium on Place Names: Critical toponymy:
Place names in political, historical and commercial landscapes
Jointly organised by the Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy, the UFS and UNAM
University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia, 18–20 September 2017
The Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy, the Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment at the University of the Free State (UFS), and the Department of Language and Literature Studies at the University of Namibia (UNAM) cordially invite proposals for the next bi-annual international symposium on place names.
The advent of critical theory in humanities and social sciences is reflected in the rise of critical toponymy. This approach explores the social, cultural, economic, political, and etymological origins of place names, and also considers how their meaning(s) change over time. As such, the landscape emerging from old and new place names can be constructed through physical, historical, or commercial evidence.
Such a method is possible because place names serve as historical records. They reflect the (changeable) geographical characteristics of a specific place, which includes the vegetation and animal life. Significant events and people are remembered via place naming. Even structures of social organisation, including political regimes and commercial enterprises, motivate the choice of names. As such, place names are also forms of (shared) cultural and linguistic heritage.
Place names are therefore important symbolic markers in reserving or changing cultural identities, and in marking or facilitating socio-political changes and relations. This role cannot be understood without thoroughly exploring the origin and meanings of place names.
Potential subtopics
Abstracts (300-500 words) are submitted on-line on the conference page in the following (but not limited to) categories of research:
- Administrative dimensions of place names
- Commercial and/or economic dimensions of place names
- Cultural dimensions of place names
- Historical and/or commemorative dimensions of place names
- Linguistic dimensions of place names
- Physical dimensions of place names
- Political dimensions of place names
- Etymology of place names
- Place name changes
Keynote speakers
Peter E. Raper (RSA): Member of the Steering Board, Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy; Research Fellow and Professor Extraordinaire in Linguistics, Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment, UFS
Matthias Brenzinger (RSA): Director of CALDi (Centre for African Language Diversity) at UCT, General Secretary of WOCAL (World Congress of African Linguistics)
Scientific council and paper selection committee
Herman Beyer (Namibia): Department of Language and Literature Studies, UNAM
Paulo Márcio Leal de Menezes (Brazil): ICA Chair, Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy
Peter Jordan (Austria): Common Vice-Chair, Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy
Lucie A. Möller (RSA): Research Fellow, Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment, UFS
Cosimo Palagiano (Italy): IGU Chair, Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy
Peter E. Raper (RSA): Member of the Steering Board, Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy; Research Fellow and Professor Extraordinaire in Linguistics, Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment, UFS
Theodorus du Plessis (RSA): Director, Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment, UFS
Important dates
Abstracts
Deadline for submissions (online): 17 April 2017
Feedback from scientific panel: 8 May 2017
Registrations
Registrations open (online): February 2017
Early Bird deadline: 14 July 2017
Registration deadline: 4 August 2017
Proof of payment deadline: 14 August 2017
Language of the symposium
English (special requests may be considered, subject to financial constraints)
Conference fees (in South African Rand)
Early Bird: Academic R 2,850 / Student R 1,710
Standard: Academic R 3,420 / Student R 2,850
Cultural tour
R1 720 - see conference page for further details
Publication
Depending on the number and quality of papers, an accredited publication will be considered, subject to page fees.
Queries
kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za
The conference will be directly followed by the short learning programme, Geographical Names: Management and Practice.