New App Launch: Our Places – Discover South African Place Names

🇬🇧 English

Discover South African Place Names with the New Our Places App

The University of the Free State (UFS) has launched Our Places, a mobile app that lets you explore the fascinating stories behind South African place names.

Based on the Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Raper, Möller & Du Plessis, 2014), the app features thousands of entries with detailed etymologies, enriched with South African Sign Language (SASL) place-name signs.

Two versions are available:

• Free: 2,206 place names + 141 SASL signs.

• Pro (paid): 6,198 place names + 141 SASL signs.

🎉 Lucky Draw: Download the free version, screenshot your favourite SASL place-name sign, and email it to SASLplacenames@ufs.ac.za by 30 September 2025 for a chance to win lifetime access to Our Places Pro.

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🇿🇦 Afrikaans

Ontdek Suid-Afrikaanse Plekname met die Nuwe Our Places-Toep

Die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) stel bekend Our Places, ’n selfoon-toep waarmee jy die verhale agter Suid-Afrikaanse plekname kan verken.

Die toep is gebaseer op die Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Raper, Möller & Du Plessis, 2014) en sluit duisende inskrywings met etimologieë in, tesame met Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal (SASL) pleknaamtekens.

Twee weergawes beskikbaar:

• Gratis: 2 206 plekname + 141 SASL-tekens.

• Pro (betaal): 6 198 plekname + 141 SASL-tekens.

🎉 Groot trekking: Laai die gratis weergawe af, neem ’n skermskoot van jou gunsteling SASL-pleknaamteken, en stuur dit voor 30 September 2025 na SASLplacenames@ufs.ac.za om ’n leeftydlisensie vir Our Places Pro te wen.

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🇿🇦 isiZulu

Thola Amagama Ezindawo zaseNingizimu Afrika nge-App entsha Our Places

I-University of the Free State (UFS) isethule i-Our Places, i-app entsha ehlinzeka ngezindaba ezithokozisayo ngemuva kwamagama ezindawo zaseNingizimu Afrika.

Isekwe ku-Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Raper, Möller & Du Plessis, 2014), le app inezinkulungwane zokungena futhi ihlanganisa nezimpawu zolimi lwezandla zaseNingizimu Afrika (SASL).

Kukhona izinhlobo ezimbili:

• Yamahhala: amagama ezindawo angu-2 206 + izimpawu ze-SASL ezingu-141.

• Pro (ekhokhelwayo): amagama ezindawo angu-6 198 + izimpawu ze-SASL ezingu-141.

🎉 Lucky Draw: Landa inguqulo yamahhala, thatha isithombe-skrini sesibonakaliso sakho se-SASL osithandayo, bese usithumela ku-SASLplacenames@ufs.ac.za ngaphambi kuka-30 Septhemba 2025 ukuze umele ithuba lokuwina ukufinyelela kwe-Our Places Pro unomphela.

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🇱🇸 Sesotho

Fumana Mabitso a Libaka tsa Afrika Borwa ka App e Ncha Our Places

Univesithi ea Free State (UFS) e hlahisitse Our Places, app ea mohala e u lumellang ho hlahloba lipale tse thahasellisang ka morao ho mabitso a libaka tsa Afrika Borwa.

App ena e thehiloe ho Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Raper, Möller & Du Plessis, 2014) ’me e kenyelletsa lingoliso tse likete tse nang le tlhaloso ea etimoloji, hammoho le matšoao a Lebitso la Sebaka ka Puo ea Matsoho ea Afrika Borwa (SASL).

Ho na le mefuta e ’meli:

• Mahala: mabitso a libaka a 2 206 + matšoao a 141 a SASL.

• Pro (e lefuoang): mabitso a libaka a 6 198 + matšoao a 141 a SASL.

🎉 Lucky Draw: Khoasolla mofuta oa mahala, nka screenshot ea letšoao la SASL leo u le ratang haholo, ebe u le romela ho SASLplacenames@ufs.ac.za pele ho 30 Loetse 2025 ho fumana monyetla oa ho hapa phihlello ea bophelo bohle ea Our Places Pro.

Registration for the 7th International Symposium on Place Names 2023 still open !

link

The presence of minority and indigenous languages in urban naming

Jointly organised by the Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy and the UFS

Bloemfontein, South Africa

26-29 September 2023
kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za

Venue: Equitas Building, Bloemfontein Campus, University of the Free State (building 44 on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus Map)

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, in addition to the symposium, 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 now-defunct Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment, initiated the Place Names Symposium. The hosting of the symposium is now situated within the newly restructured Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies.
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'. Up to now, every symposium was followed by an accredited publication.

Keynote speakers

Prof. Myriam Vermeerbergen (KU Leuven, Belgium)

Prof. Thapelo Joseph Otlogetswe (University of Botswana, Botswana)

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

Symposium Coordinator
Dr Chrismi Loth (University of the Free State, RSA)
kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za
Host: Prof Annalene van Staden (University of the Free State, RSA)
Resident members:
Prof Theodorus du Plessis (University of the Free State, RSA)
Dr Lucie A Möller (University of the Free State, RSA)
Joint IGU/ICA Commission on Toponymy:
IGU Chair: Prof Cosimo Palagiano (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
ICA Chair: Dr Matjaž Geršič (Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Slovenia)
ICA Past Chair: Prof Peter Jordan (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria / University of the Free State, RSA)
Common Vice-Chair: Prof Paulo Márcio Leal de Menezes (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Member of the Steering Board: Prof Peter E Raper (University of the Free State, RSA)

Scientific panel

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 Paulo Márcio Leal de Menezes (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Prof Cosimo Palagiano (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
Dr Matjaž Geršič (Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Slovenia)
Dr Petrus Angula Mbenzi (University of Namibia, Namibia)
Dr Boga Manatsha (University of Botswana, Botswana)
Dr Sambulo Ndlovu (Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe)

Second call for papers

Important dates

Abstract submissions open               27 February 2023 

Abstract submissions deadline 30 May 2023

Feedback from Scientific Panel 21 June 2023

Registrations open                 30 May 2023

Registrations close                 20 August 2023

Proof of payment deadline         20 August 2023

Email proof of payment to kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za

Fees and registration

Standard: R 3,500
Student: R 3,000
Workshop only: R 500

Symposium registration fee includes:
- The usual conference amenities
- Morning and afternoon snacks, as well as lunch on conference days
- Access to the virtual 2023 ISPN Workshop (delegates may attend screening at conference venue)
- Access to the virtual 2023 Afrilex Workshop (delegates may attend screening at conference venue)
- Please indicate requirement for SASL interpreting with registration

Registration fee DOES NOT include
- The conference dinner (R 450 per person, limited drinks, cash bar available)
- Excursion (R 820 per person)
- Delegates are responsible for their own transport and for booking their own accommodation (download information on Travel & Accommodation)

Registrations close 20 August and proof of payment is to be submitted by 20 August to kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za.