Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Onomastics “Name and Naming” (In)correctness in Onomastics

 The Sixth International Conference on Onomastics "Name and Naming" (ICONN 6), held in Baia Mare, Romania, from September 5 to 7, 2023, centered on the theme "(In)correctness in Onomastics." This theme delved into two primary areas: the reevaluation of traditional onomastic theories and etymologies that may have become outdated, and the exploration of political correctness within naming conventions. Discussions encompassed topics such as the taboo surrounding certain personal names, the renaming of geographical locations influenced by sociopolitical factors, and the evolving perceptions of literary titles and disease nomenclature in the context of modern sensitivities.

The conference proceedings have been published online, offering a comprehensive collection of research and insights presented during the event. Edited by Oliviu Felecan, the proceedings are accessible through the official conference website.

The published proceedings are organized into three main sections:

1. (In)correctness in Anthroponymy: This section examines the influence of identity and social factors on personal names, the myths and realities of naming practices in various cultures, and the societal implications of name taboos.

2. (In)correctness in Toponymy: Researchers discuss the dynamics of place naming, including changes in street names, the impact of political events on geographical names, and the preservation of indigenous toponyms.

3. (In)correctness in Names in Public Space: This part explores the representation and perception of names in public domains, addressing issues like the renaming of public spaces and the role of names in cultural identity.

For scholars, students, and enthusiasts in the field of onomastics, the ICONN 6 proceedings serve as a valuable resource, offering diverse perspectives and in-depth analyses on the correctness and incorrectness in naming practices across different contexts.

Call for Papers: the 6th ICONN "(In)correctness in Onomastics"

 ICOS

The theme of the conference, (In)correctness in Onomastics, has a twofold meaning. On the one hand, it implies the reconsideration of certain onomastic theories as well as older etymologies and hypotheses, which with the passage of time have become outdated and in need of revisiting. On the other hand, (in)correctness in onomastics is conceptually linked to political correctness/incorrectness. This ideologically promoted topic is currently of great interest and contributes to the redefinition of social phenomena, names/words, historical events, and geographical names. The process is favoured by the present-day worldview which encompasses different perspectives foregrounded by the hermeneutic framework and recent sensitivities.

Noteworthy examples include the following:

• in anthroponymy, there are “cursed” names whose use has become a taboo and is therefore illegal in various countries (e.g., Hitler, Bin Laden); the nicknames consisting of such names confirm the aforementioned reality;
• starting from the dichotomy correct/incorrect, the field of toponymy has recorded the change of names of countries (the Netherlands, North Macedonia), various places (English place names were replaced with aboriginal names in Australia and New Zeeland among others), settlements (underpinned by sociopolitical, racial, religious, economic, or moral reasons), streets, institutions, companies, etc.;
• in literature, there are writers who have been condemned (in the USA, some schools and members of the academic community have demanded that Shakespeare’s works be removed from the curriculum) and book titles which have become undesirable (in 2020, James Prichard, Agatha Christie’s great grandson, announced that the novel And Then There Were None would no longer be published in France as Dix petits nègres, the translation of the original title of the book, Ten Little Niggers, due to the racist connotations it may trigger – see, for instance, https://www.rtl.fr/culture/arts-spectacles/dix-petits-negres-le-best-seller-d-agatha-christie-debaptise-7800747182);
• in ergonymy, while ethnic names for diseases/pandemics might have been common in the past (e.g., Spanish flu), they are unacceptable nowadays (e.g., Covid-19 instead of the potentially stigmatizing names China/Chinese flu, China/Chinese virus, New China virus, China coronavirus, and Wuhan virus/flu).

IMPORTANT DATES

13 January 2023 – 31 March 2023: submission of registration form (see the “Registration” section of this website) (abstracts: maximum 15 lines/150 words);

1 April 2023: notification of acceptance;

1 May 2023:  closing date for early registration (RON 500 / EUR 100);

1 June 2023: second circular letter and programme draft;

1 August 2023: third circular letter and final programme;

5-7 September 2023: The Sixth International Conference on Onomastics “Name and Naming”: (In)correctness in Onomastics

5 October 2023: Full paper submission.