About the ISPN
The vision of the International Symposium on Place Names series is to advance research on place names and to provide a platform for international collaboration in this regard. As such, a related workshop usually directly precedes the symposium.
History of the ISPN
Prof Peter E Raper, one of South Africa’s foremost experts on the Bushman (San) substructures of place names, was appointed as a Professor Extraordinaire in Linguistics at the UFS in 2011. Subsequently, his host department, together with the erstwhile Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment (ULFE), initiated the Place Names Symposium. The hosting of the symposium is now situated within the restructured Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies (incorporating the former ULFE).
The symposium became an international occurrence when the Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy came on board in 2015. Hosted every second year, this symposium is the only one in Southern Africa that focuses exclusively on toponomy. The 2011 symposium, entitled 'Planning name changes – the quest for authenticity', was hosted in Bloemfontein, as was the one in 2013 with the theme, 'Place names in a multilingual society'. The symposium in 2015, which focused on 'Place names, diversity and heritage', was held in Clarens. The University of Namibia collaborated to host the 2017 symposium, 'Critical toponymy: place names in political, historical and commercial landscapes', in Windhoek, Namibia. ISPN returned to Clarens in 2019 with the theme 'Recognition, regulation, revitalisation: place names and indigenous languages'. The 2021 symposium was hosted virtually, with the theme 'Standardisation and the wealth of place names - aspects of a delicate relationship'. Co-hosted with the Afrilex annual conference, ISPN 2023 with the theme 'The presence of minority and indigenous languages in urban naming' took place in Bloemfontein. Up to now, every symposium was followed by an accredited publication.
ISPN 2025
Harmonising toponymic heritage: balancing standardisation and local diversity
Place names serve a dual purpose. On the one hand, they are geospatial indicators of physical locations and geographical features. On the other hand, place names are artefacts of cultural heritage and serve to connect people to places. This two-fold function creates tension from a place-names management perspective. Standardisation is required for effective public communication and record-keeping. However, standardisation inherently requires a selection of one or limited forms of names. This is in contrast to the reality of most societies, whereby multiple names are assigned to one location by different socio-lingual-cultural groups. The challenge is to create an internationally-recognised standardisation system, while retaining the colourful local diversity. With the theme for this symposium, we wish to explore issues around standardisation and toponymic diversity. We need to consider the symbolic importance of place names, and examine the challenges of developing best practices for research and management that are sensitive to local diversity. Papers with a focus on minority and indigenous names, including sign languages, are encouraged in particular.
Keynote speakers
Prof Sambulo Ndlovu (University of Eswatini, Eswatini)
Bill Watt (PlaceNames Australia)
Language of the symposium and workshop
English, with professional South African Sign Language interpreting available. Please indicate requirement for SASL interpreting with registration.
Organising committee
Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies, University of the Free State:
- Host: Prof Annalene van Staden (University of the Free State, RSA)
- Facilitator: Dr Chrismi Loth (University of the Free State, RSA) - kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za
- Prof Theodorus du Plessis (University of the Free State, RSA)
- Jani de Lange (University of the Free State, RSA)
Joint ICA/IGU Commission on Toponymy:
- ICA Chair: Dr Matjaž Geršič (Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Slovenia)
- IGU Chair: Prof Elena Dai Prà (University of Trento, Italy)
ICOS Working Group on Toponymy:
- Chair: Prof Peter Jordan (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria / University of the Free State, RSA)
Scientific panel
Prof Elena Dai Prà (University of Trento, Italy)
Prof Theodorus du Plessis (University of the Free State, RSA)
Prof Peter Jordan (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria / University of the Free State, RSA)
Prof ‘Maboleba Kolobe (National University of Lesotho, Lesotho)
Prof Marie Antoinette Rieger (ICOS Working Group on Toponomy / University of Bologna, Italy)
Dr Matjaž Geršič (Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Slovenia)
Dr Boga Manatsha (University of Botswana, Botswana)
Dr Petrus Angula Mbenzi (University of Namibia, Namibia)
Dr Sambulo Ndlovu (University of Eswatini, Eswatini / Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe)
Dr Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi (Durban University of Technology, RSA)
Call for papers
Download the ISPN 2025 Call For Papers.
Important dates
| Registrations close | | 20 October 2025 |
| Proof of payment deadline | | 20 October 2025 |
| Email proof of payment to kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za |
Programme
This is a
face-to-face event.
| ISPN 2025 - Draft programme outline |
| Wednesday, 26 November | Thursday, 27 November | Friday, 28 November |
| 08:00-08:30 | | | Presentation 11 |
| 08:30-09:00 | | | Presentation 12 |
| 09:00-09:30 | Registrations | Keynote 2 | Presentation 13 |
| 09:30-10:00 | Presentation 14 |
| 10:00-10:30 | TEATIME | TEATIME | TEATIME |
| 10:30-11:00 | Workshop | Presentation 1 | Presentation 15 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Presentation 2 | Presentation 16 |
| 11:30-12:00 | Presentation 3 | Presentation 17 |
| 12:00-12:30 | Presentation 4 | Presentation 18 |
| 12:30-13:00 | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH
ISPN Organising Committee meeting |
| 13:00-13:30 |
| 13:30-14:00 |
| 14:00-14:30 | Workshop
ISPN 2025 Workshop - ethics signed toponymy | Presentation 5 | Presentation 19 |
| 14:30-15:00 | Presentation 6 | Presentation 20 |
| 15:00-15:30 | Presentation 7 | Presentation 21 |
| 15:30-16:00 | TEATIME | TEATIME | TEATIME |
| 16:00-16:30 | Opening | Presentation 8 | Presentation 22 |
| 16:30-17:00 | Keynote 1 | Presentation 9 | Presentation 23 |
| 17:00-17:30 | Presentation 10 | Closing |
| 17:30-18:00 | | | |
| Welcoming (?) | Gala dinner | |
Fees and registration
| Standard: | | R 4,000 |
Student:
(submit proof of registration with proof of payment | | R 3,500 |
| Workshop(s) only: | | R 1,200 |
| Conference dinner: | | R 525 |
| Excursion | | R 1,500 |
Symposium registration fee includes:
- The usual conference amenities.
- Morning and afternoon snacks, as well as lunch on conference days (26, 27, 28 November).
- Access to the workshop(s).
- Please indicate requirement for SASL interpreting with registration.
Registration fee DOES NOT include:
- The conference dinner (R 525 per person, includes three-course meal, limited drinks, cash bar available).
-
Excursion (R 1 500 per person, includes transport, water, guide and lunch). Hosted by Clarens Xtreme - see their
Clarens Xtreme Price List 2025 for adventurous activities!
- Delegates are responsible for their own transport and for booking their own accommodation (see Venue and directions below).
Registrations close 20 October and proof of payment is to be submitted by 20 October to kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za.
Venue and directions
Clarens is a picturesque little town at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. Almost everything is within walking distance from the symposium venue: Protea Hotel Clarens.
Delegates are responsible for their own transport and for booking their own accommodation. To enable delegates to pool resources (by sharing a rental vehicle or getting a collective quote from a shuttle), an optional contact form will be sent with the invoice after registration. For finding accommodation, we recommend the free referral service provided by Mount Odyssey (www.infoclarens.com). Contact them at infoclarens@mountainodyssey.co.za.
Air travel
Most of the world's airlines fly to South Africa, mostly directly to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Some local airlines have a route from Johannesburg to Bethlehem, which is close-by to Clarens. Delegates can rent a car or shuttle from there.
Driving yourself
The most convenient way to travel to Clarens is by driving yourself. Clarens is approximately 300 km from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Durban (3 to 4 hours’ driving).
About airports, maps, and transport/car hire.
Detailed road maps.
Shuttle services
There are no regularly scheduled shuttles, but the companies below can be contacted for a quote:
Citi Hopper: bookings@citihopper.co.za / https://www.citihopper.co.za/
Clarens Couriers: clarenscouriers@gmail.com
Evo's African Shuttle & Tours: shuttleservices@gmail.com / https://www.africanshuttle.com/
EZ Shuttle: info@ezshuttle.co.za / https://www.ezshuttle.co.za/
Bus travel
Greyhound and Intercape have routes from all the main towns to Bethlehem, which is close-by to Clarens. Delegates can rent a car or shuttle from there.
International delegates
Click here for more information about visa requirements, exchange rates, maps, and so forth.
Contact
Symposium facilitator
Dr Chrismi Loth
kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za
LinkedIn group
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/10047495/
Symposium venue
Protea Hotel Clarens
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/fcbcl-protea-hotel-clarens/overview/
Corner of Main &, Van Der Merwe St, Clarens, 9707, South Africa
+27 58 256 1212
Mountain Odyssey
Free referral service to find accommodation in and around Clarens.
www.infoclarens.cominfoclarens@mountainodyssey.co.za+27 58 256 1173