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Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Place Names 2019 (Open Access)

OPEN ACCESS: 

Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Place Names 2019 - 

"Recognition, Regulation, Revitalisation: Place Names and Indigenous Languages".

Download (free) here: https://lnkd.in/d3nd54XD

or access via the DOI: https://lnkd.in/dJ2gpKW5.

XLIV Annual Congress of the Place Names Society of India

 7–9 November 2025 | University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal

The Place Names Society of India (PNSI) has officially announced the dates and venue of its much-anticipated XLIV Annual Congress, which will take place from 7th to 9th November 2025 at the Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture, University of Calcutta, Kolkata. The congress is set to bring together renowned scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts of Indian toponymy for three days of rich academic exchange and exploration.

Theme and Host

Hosted by one of India’s oldest and most prestigious universities, the event will be presided over by Sri Jai Prakash, former Director of Epigraphy at the Archaeological Survey of India. Prof. Susmita Basu Majumdar will serve as the Local Secretary for the congress.

Call for Participation and Paper Submissions

Researchers and delegates are invited to submit full papers with abstracts and photographs to the Society by 7th October 2025 via email at placenamesociety@gmail.com. Submitted papers must comply with the Society’s official guidelines for contributors.

The accepted papers will be published in Volume 44 of the Society’s journal Studies in Indian Place Names, which will be released during the congress.

Membership and Fees

To present a paper or attend the congress, membership in the Society is mandatory. Membership options are:

• Life Membership: Rs. 3,000 (Individual), Rs. 6,000 (Institutional)

• Student Membership: Rs. 1,000 (valid for 5 years or until first earning, whichever is earlier)

• Annual Membership: Rs. 300 (Individual), Rs. 600 (Institutional)

Members will also be charged Rs. 100 per copy of the published volume (postage extra if sent by registered mail).

Organizing Committee

Key figures in the organizing committee include:

• Chairman: Dr. T. S. Ravishankar

• Vice Chairmen: Dr. E. S. M. Prasad and Dr. P. N. Narasimha Murthy

• Secretary: Dr. S. Krishnamurthy

• Asst. Editor: Dr. Meka V. Raghavendra Varma

• Treasurer: Dr. Aditya Kr. Singireddy

Contact

For inquiries, submissions, or membership application:

• 📧 Email: placenamesociety@gmail.com

• 🌐 Website: www.epigraphicalsociety.com/pnsi

The interesting evolution of Singaporean Chinese Names

Dive into the fascinating world of Singaporean Chinese names! We'll explore why names are "Englishised" with dialect spellings, the impact of Mandarinisation, the prominence of traditional dialects, and the unique cultural practice of name reduplication. Discover how these naming patterns reflect Singapore's rich linguistic and cultural identity.

Qərbi Azərbaycan toponimləri

📚 Subversion, Resistance and Contestations: New Volume Explores the Politics of Naming in Zimbabwe

 Brill’s African Social Studies Series proudly announces its 50th volume, Subversion, Resistance and Contestations: Politics of Names and Naming in Zimbabwe, edited by Tanaka Chidora, Zvinashe Mamvura, and Sheunesu Mandizvidza. This pioneering volume marks the first comprehensive academic collection devoted solely to the onomastics of Zimbabwe - a country where names are more than just identifiers; they are sites of struggle, memory, resistance, and reinvention.

🔍 A Multidisciplinary Chronicle of Onomastic Power

Structured chronologically, the volume explores naming practices from colonial impositions to the post-Mugabe "New Dispensation," challenging any linear or monolithic reading of Zimbabwean history. Instead, the chapters expose how place names, personal names, and other linguistic signifiers have been used as tools of colonial control, cultural erasure, nationalist assertion, and political maneuvering.

The volume brings together scholars from a wide range of disciplines—linguistics, literature, history, media studies, sociology, and ethnomusicology—illustrating how deeply embedded names are in every aspect of Zimbabwe’s historical and contemporary identity.

👥 About the Editors

• Tanaka Chidora – poet, novelist, Humboldt Fellow, and lecturer at the University of Malawi.

• Zvinashe Mamvura – Humboldt Fellow and lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.

• Sheunesu Mandizvidza – lecturer at Midlands State University’s Centre for Communication Studies.

📘 Key Facts

• Title: Subversion, Resistance and Contestations: Politics of Names and Naming in Zimbabwe

• Series: African Social Studies Series (Vol. 50)

• Language: English

• Publisher: Brill

• Publication Date: 27 November 2025

• ISBN: 978-90-04-74449-3 (E-Book), 978-90-04-74448-6 (Print)

• Price: €79.00 excl. VAT / €84.53 net

• Availability: Brill website

🧭 Who Should Read It?

This book is a must-read for scholars and students in:

• Onomastics

• African Studies

• Cultural and Literary Studies

• Sociology and Political Science

• Geography and Urban Studies

• Ethnomusicology

Whether you're tracing colonial legacies, examining linguistic resistance, or studying identity politics, Subversion, Resistance and Contestations is an indispensable resource for understanding how naming becomes a powerful act of agency and contestation in Zimbabwe.

Древнеиндийская ономастика в «Вишнусахасранаме»

Workshop "Exploring Place Names as Forms of Social and Geographic Storytelling"

 

What’s in a Name? A Toponymic Journey with the Tennessee Geographic Alliance

Place names are more than geographic labels - they are powerful vessels of history, identity, and cultural memory. The Tennessee Geographic Alliance (TGA) is bringing this idea to the forefront with its upcoming workshop titled "What’s in a Name? Exploring Place Names as Forms of Social and Geographic Storytelling", scheduled to take place on October 6–7, 2025 at the East Tennessee Historical Society in Knoxville.

A Workshop Rooted in Storytelling and Geographic Literacy

Supported by the Library of Congress through the “Teaching with Primary Sources Southern Regional Partner” initiative, this workshop aims to enrich both teacher pedagogy and student learning by highlighting the geographical, social, and political dimensions embedded in place names.

Participants—15 carefully selected secondary school teachers from across Tennessee - will:

• Enhance their geographic literacy, delving into the core concepts of location, place, movement, human-environment interaction, and region.

• Work hands-on with primary sources, learning how to incorporate historical maps, documents, and multimedia into their classrooms.

• Explore innovative pedagogy, collaborating on interactive projects that marry geography with storytelling.

Who’s Invited and What’s Offered

The TGA plans to select:

• One teacher from each of Tennessee’s 9 Congressional Districts

• One additional teacher from each Grand Division (West, Middle, East)

• Three teachers from the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area

To ensure statewide representation and reduce duplication, participant selection will prioritize geographic diversity, but open slots may be filled based on merit.

Teachers will be valued and supported:

• A $600 stipend will be provided upon completion of the workshop (IRS-reporting threshold)

• Hotel, meals, and mileage reimbursements will be covered for those traveling over 50 miles

• Lunch provided daily during the sessions

Before and After: What’s Expected

Pre-workshop:

• Watch a recorded Library of Congress orientation

• Complete and certify two online modules: one on primary source analysis, another on using multiple sources

Post-workshop:

• Create an Esri Story Map centered on a toponym - either preserving or contesting a place name

• Integrate primary sources, reflect multiple perspectives, and engage with civic sensitivity

Why This Matters

This workshop is more than professional development - it's an opportunity for educators to reflect on how names shape our understanding of place and power. Through digital storytelling, historical inquiry, and place-based pedagogy, the TGA is empowering teachers to help students see the world in more meaningful ways.

Get Involved

Applications are now open. If you’re a Tennessee teacher passionate about geography, identity, and storytelling, this is your chance to be part of something transformative.

Learn more and apply at
🌐 tngeographicalliance.org
📧 tngeogalliance@gmail.com
📘 Facebook
🐦 Twitter: @tngeogalliance

🗓️ Mainzer Namentagung 2025: “Migrationsonomastik – Personal Names in Migration Contexts”

 English Version

The 10th Mainzer Namentagung will be held on 29–30 September 2025 at the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz, marking a major gathering in onomastics focused on how personal names intersect with migration and multilingual language biographies.

🔍 Themes and Format
Building on insights from Münster’s 2023 workshop “Personennamen in Migration,” this conference deepens exploration into how given and family names are maintained, adapted, or abandoned during migration. Key research questions include transcription shifts, pragmatic name use, grammatical adaptation, transliteration, token variation, and full name changes due to assimilation or discrimination.

📝 Programme Outline

Sunday, 28 Sept (Warm-Up)

• 18:30 – Informal meet-up (venue tbd)

Day 1 – Monday 29 Sept

• 08:45–09:15 – Registration

• 09:15–09:45 – Opening by Anne Rosar & Theresa Schweden

• 09:45–10:30 – Elena Bandt & Josephine Klingebeil (Berlin): Analysis of personal names in historical foreign‑language textbooks

• 11:00–11:45 – Linda Steiner & Simone Berchtold Schiestl (Bern): Family names, multilingualism and interference in Switzerland

• 11:45–12:30 – Daniel Kroiß (Mainz): French-to-German surname transformations in West Central Germany

• 14:00–14:45 – Jones Y. Anam & Christian Zimmer (Dortmund): Graphemic variation in Turkish names in German contexts

• 14:45–15:30 – Luca Winklmüller (Mainz): The –ski suffix from surname marker to pejorative

• 16:00–16:45 – Anja Hasse & Anne Rosar (Zürich & Mainz): Amish Swiss names in cultural contact zones

• 17:30 onward – Ceremony awarding Henning‑Kaufmann Prize to Dr Rita Heuser, followed by an invited keynote and reception

Day 2 – Tuesday 30 Sept

• 09:00–09:45 – Simona Leonardi (Bologna): Onomastic identity in immigrant narratives in Palestine/Israel

• 09:45–10:30 – Marietta Calderón (Salzburg): Franco-Israeli names and multi‑citizenship in onomastic context

• 11:00–11:45 – Gerrit Bloothooft (Utrecht): Three‑generation naming practices among Turkish migrants in the Netherlands

• 11:45–12:30 – Fatemeh Akbari & Eugen Schochenmaier (Vienna & Denzlingen): Iranian‑American surnames among U.S. diaspora

• 14:00–14:45 – Emine Şahingöz (Frankfurt/Main): History of Ossetian surnames in Turkey

• 14:45–15:30 – Larysa Kovbasyuk (Kherson/Münster): Migration history and Russification/Transliteration of Ukrainian names

• 16:00–16:45 – Andrea Scheller & Christiane Schiller (Mainz & Darmstadt/Berlin): Working and forced migration from Central/Eastern Europe reflected in surnames in Galicia/Wolhynia/Transcarpathia

• 16:45–17:30 – Antje Dammel (Münster): Name changes among Swedes, with or without migration history

• 19:00 – Conference dinner (location tbd)

✅ Registration Is Open!
Reserve your spot now via the Mainz Academy registration portal:
https://events.adwmainz.de/migration/

💡 Why You Should Attend
This conference is perfect for scholars in onomastics, sociolinguistics, migration studies, and cultural history, offering a richly interdisciplinary programme. From multilingual name interference to diaspora naming strategies, the event promises fresh insights into how names shape - and are shaped by - migration.

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Deutsche Version

🗓️ Mainzer Namentagung 2025: „Migrationsonomastik – Personennamen im Kontext von Wanderungsbewegungen“

Am 29.–30. September 2025 lädt die 10. Mainzer Namentagung in die Akademie der Wissenschaften und Literatur Mainz ein – eine herausragende Tagung, bei der Personennamen vor dem Hintergrund von Migration, Mehrsprachigkeit und Sprachbiografien im Fokus stehen.

🔍 Themenschwerpunkte & Format
Basierend auf dem Münsterer Workshop 2023 setzt die Tagung bei Fragen an, wie Namen im Migrationsprozess beibehalten, angepasst oder aufgegeben werden. Zentrale Themen sind dabei grammatische Anpassung, Transliteration, situativ-pragmatische Variation oder vollständiger Namenwechsel als Folge von Assimilation oder Diskriminierung.

📝 Programmüberblick

Sonntag, 28. Sept (Warm‑Up)

• 18:30 – Gemütliches Kennenlernen (Ort noch offen)

Tag 1 – Montag, 29. Sept

• 08:45–09:15 – Anmeldung

• 09:15–09:45 – Eröffnung: Anne Rosar & Theresa Schweden

• 09:45–10:30 – Elena Bandt & Josephine Klingebeil (Berlin): Namen in historischen Fremdsprachen­lehrwerken

• 11:00–11:45 – Linda Steiner & Simone Berchtold Schiestl (Bern): Familiennamen, Mehrsprachigkeit und Interferenz in der Schweiz

• 11:45–12:30 – Daniel Kroiß (Mainz): Französische Familiennamen im Raum Westmitteldeutschland

• 14:00–14:45 – Jones Y. Anam & Christian Zimmer (Dortmund): Graphematische Variation bei türkischen Namen im Deutschen

• 14:45–15:30 – Luca Winklmüller (Mainz): „-ski“ – vom Namensteil zum pejorativen Suffix?

• 16:00–16:45 – Anja Hasse & Anne Rosar (Zürich & Mainz): Namen der Schweizer Amischen im kulturellen Kontaktfeld

• Ab 17:30 – Verleihung des Henning‑Kaufmann‑Preises an Dr Rita Heuser, anschließend Festvortrag & Empfang

Tag 2 – Dienstag, 30. Sept

• 09:00–09:45 – Simona Leonardi (Bologna): Onomastische Selbstthematisierung bei Einwander*innen in Israel/Palästina

• 09:45–10:30 – Marietta Calderón (Salzburg): Französische Anthroponymie bei franko-israelischen Mehrstaatern

• 11:00–11:45 – Gerrit Bloothooft (Utrecht): Namensgebung bei drei Generationen türkischer Migranten in den Niederlanden

• 11:45–12:30 – Fatemeh Akbari & Eugen Schochenmaier (Wien & Denzlingen): Iranian‑American surnames in the U.S. diaspora

• 14:00–14:45 – Emine Şahingöz (Frankfurt/Main): Ossetische Familiennamen in der Türkei – Migration, Assimilation, Rekonstruktion

• 14:45–15:30 – Larysa Kovbasyuk (Kherson/Münster): Migrationsgeschichte ukrainischer Namen: Russifizierung und Transliteration

• 16:00–16:45 – Andrea Scheller & Christiane Schiller (Mainz & Darmstadt/Berlin): Arbeits‑ und Zwangsmigration in Mittel‑ und Osteuropa – Familiennamen in Galizien/Wolhynien/Transkarpatien

• 16:45–17:30 – Antje Dammel (Münster): Namenwechsel bei Schweden mit und ohne Migrationserfahrung

• 19:00 – Gemeinsames Abendessen (Ort folgt)

✅ Jetzt anmelden!
Melden Sie sich direkt über das Online-Portal der Akademie Mainz an:
https://events.adwmainz.de/migration/

💡 Für wen ist die Tagung interessant?
Die Namentagung bietet Onomastikern, Soziolinguisten, Migrationsexperten und Kulturhistorikern eine Plattform für interdisziplinären Austausch. Von Mehrsprachigkeit und Graphemvariation bis hin zu Diaspora-Namensstrategien – die Tagung verspricht viele neue Einsichten in das Wechselspiel von Namen und Migration.

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📌 Stand-alone citation for conference existence
The Mainzer Namentagung is a well-established conference series in onomastics, held biennially since 2021 by the University of Mainz or the Academy of Sciences and Literature.

Looking forward to seeing you in Mainz!

International Conference on Place Names of Historical Linguistic Minorities in Italy

 ENGLISH REPORT

International Conference Highlights the Role of Place Names in Preserving Linguistic Diversity

From July 2 to 4, 2025, the city of Trento became the epicenter of linguistic and cultural reflection as it hosted the first International Conference on Place Names of Historical Linguistic Minorities in Italy. The event took place at the Representation Hall of the Autonomous Region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and brought together academics, policymakers, and representatives of linguistic communities from across Europe. It was organized through a collaborative effort between the Regional Councillor for Linguistic Minorities Luca Guglielmi, the University of Trento, the Romano-Hellenic Division of the UNGEGN (United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names), and the ICA-IGU Joint Commission on Toponymy.

The conference provided a platform to explore the interplay between place names (toponyms), identity, memory, and recognition in regions where linguistic minorities are legally recognized and protected. These communities include Ladins, Cimbrians, Mòcheni, as well as speakers of Albanian, Catalan, German, Greek, Slovene, Croatian, French, Franco-Provençal, Friulian, Occitan, Sardinian, among others.

According to Regional President Arno Kompatscher, toponymy is not a mere administrative tool, but a deeply human and cultural issue, rooted in the lived experiences of communities. "It must be approached with a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect, avoiding any dominance or exclusion," he remarked during the opening.

The conference featured a series of thematic sessions organized by geographical and linguistic criteria and was conducted in Italian and English. Two high-level roundtables were held: one with native-speaking international experts and another focusing on the Alpine region, involving directors of minority cultural institutes and public administration officials.

Among the central topics were the legal implications of place naming, the need for updated regulations in light of regional autonomy statutes (particularly regarding the naming of trails and public signage), and the significance of place names in expressing and preserving cultural heritage.

Daniel Alfreider, Vice President and Councillor for Ladin Education and Culture of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, stressed that "place names are not just geographical markers – they are carriers of history, community memory, and identity." He underlined the importance of protecting and promoting minority place names as part of a broader strategy to foster awareness of Italy's linguistic and cultural richness.

The event closed with an appeal to develop shared legislative instruments to ensure minority languages and place names are safeguarded not only in Italy but also across Europe. The conference thus served not only as a scholarly gathering but also as a call to action for cultural sustainability, diversity, and inclusive governance.

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ITALIANO

Toponomastica e minoranze linguistiche: il primo congresso internazionale a Trento celebra la diversità culturale

Dal 2 al 4 luglio 2025 si è svolto a Trento, nella Sala di Rappresentanza della Regione Autonoma Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, il primo convegno internazionale sui nomi di luogo delle minoranze linguistiche storiche in Italia. L'iniziativa, proposta dall'assessore regionale Luca Guglielmi, è stata organizzata in collaborazione con l'Università di Trento, la Divisione Romano-Ellenica del Gruppo di Esperti ONU sui Nomi Geografici (UNGEGN) e la Commissione Congiunta ICA-IGU sulla Toponomastica.

L'obiettivo del convegno era duplice: promuovere il patrimonio linguistico delle minoranze riconosciute dallo Stato italiano e stimolare un dibattito interdisciplinare che coinvolgesse accademici, istituzioni, associazioni culturali e rappresentanti delle comunità locali. Le minoranze interessate includono, tra le altre, i ladini, cimbri, mocheni, oltre ai parlanti di albanese, catalano, tedesco, greco, sloveno, croato, francese, franco-provenzale, friulano, occitano e sardo.

Il presidente della Regione, Arno Kompatscher, ha evidenziato l'importanza del tema: "La toponomastica è una questione identitaria e culturale, non solo linguistica. Coinvolge la memoria e l'appartenenza. Deve essere trattata con rispetto reciproco e senza imposizioni."

I lavori, tenuti in lingua italiana e inglese, si sono articolati in sessioni tematiche con focus territoriali e due tavole rotonde: una con esperti internazionali madrelingua, l'altra centrata sull'ámbito alpino, che ha visto la partecipazione dei direttori degli istituti culturali delle minoranze e dei funzionari delle amministrazioni pubbliche.

Un punto centrale è stato la discussione sul futuro della segnaletica toponomastica, in particolare riguardo ai sentieri e ai luoghi pubblici nel contesto delle autonomie speciali. L'assessore Daniel Alfreider ha dichiarato: "I nomi dei luoghi sono memoria viva, identità condivisa, cultura tramandata. Questa conferenza è un'opportunità preziosa per valorizzare le lingue minoritarie e promuovere la diversità culturale come risorsa del Paese".

Il convegno si è concluso con un forte invito a costruire strumenti normativi comuni che tutelino i toponimi delle minoranze linguistiche e rafforzino il ruolo delle comunità nel dibattito istituzionale e culturale nazionale ed europeo.

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DEUTSCH

Trient wird zum Zentrum der Toponomastik: Internationale Konferenz beleuchtet Ortsnamen der Sprachminderheiten

Vom 2. bis 4. Juli 2025 wurde die Vertretungshalle der Autonomen Region Trentino-Südtirol in Trient zum Tagungsort einer bahnbrechenden Veranstaltung: der ersten internationalen Konferenz über Ortsnamen der historischen Sprachminderheiten in Italien. Veranstaltet wurde sie auf Vorschlag von Luca Guglielmi, Regionalassessor für Sprachminderheiten, in Zusammenarbeit mit der Universität Trient, der Romano-Hellenischen Division der UN-Expertengruppe für geographische Namen (UNGEGN) und der gemeinsamen Kommission für Toponomastik von ICA und IGU.

Im Mittelpunkt der Tagung stand die Bedeutung von Ortsnamen als kulturelle Ausdrucksformen: Sie repräsentieren kollektive Identität, historische Erinnerung und rechtliche Anerkennung. Diskutiert wurde insbesondere die Situation in Gebieten mit anerkannten Sprachminderheiten wie den Ladiner:innen, Zimbern, Fersentaler:innen, sowie Sprecher:innen des Albanischen, Katalanischen, Deutschen, Griechischen, Slowenischen, Kroatischen, Französischen, Frankoprovenzalischen, Friaulischen, Okzitanischen und Sardischen.

Landeshauptmann Arno Kompatscher betonte, wie sensibel das Thema der Toponomastik sei. Sie betreffe die Lebenswirklichkeit der Menschen und müsse mit "Dialog und gegenseitigem Respekt" angegangen werden. Die Konferenz beinhaltete thematische Panels sowie zwei Diskussionsrunden: eine mit internationalen Fachleuten, die andere mit Fokus auf die Alpenregion.

Ein besonderer Aspekt war die Diskussion über die Beschriftung von Wanderwegen und öffentlichen Einrichtungen in Minderheitensprachen. Trotz früherer Vereinbarungen mit der italienischen Regierung wurden bisher keine gesetzlich bindenden Regelungen umgesetzt.

Daniel Alfreider, Vizepräsident der Autonomen Provinz Bozen, hob hervor: "Ortsnamen sind keine Zufälligkeiten – sie sind Ausdruck von Erinnerung, Identität und kulturellem Erbe." Er rief dazu auf, Minderheitensprachen als Ressource für ein vielfältiges Europa zu begreifen und konkrete gesetzliche Grundlagen zu schaffen.

Die Konferenz wurde nicht nur als wissenschaftliches Ereignis wahrgenommen, sondern als Appell für kulturelle Nachhaltigkeit, Vielfalt und gemeinsame Verantwortung in der Namensgebung von Orten in Europa.

📣 Registrations Now Open: International Symposium on Place Names 2025

The countdown to one of the most anticipated onomastic events of the year has officially begun! The Eighth International Symposium on Place Names (ISPN 2025) is now open for registration, offering a vibrant platform for scholars, practitioners, and students in the fields of toponymy, cartography, linguistics, geography, and cultural heritage.

🗓 Date: 26–29 November 2025
📍 Venue: Protea Hotel, Clarens, South Africa
🌍 Theme: Harmonising toponymic heritage: balancing standardisation and local diversity

Jointly organised by the University of the Free State (South Africa), the Joint ICA/IGU Commission on Toponymy, and the ICOS Working Group on Toponymy, ISPN 2025 will gather international experts to explore the dynamics between global naming standards and local naming practices.

💡 Special Workshops on 26 November:

• 10:30–12:30: Systematising participatory toponymic diagnostics during street addressing and settlement mapping operations

• 14:00–15:30: Ethical principles of doing toponymic research with Deaf communities

💳 Registration Fees:

• Standard: R4 000 (includes both workshops)

• Students: R3 500 (includes both workshops)

• Single workshop: R1 000

• Both workshops: R1 200

🗓 Deadlines:

• Registration closes: 20 October 2025

• Proof of payment due: 20 October 2025

🔗 Register & Info: ISPN 2025 website
📧 Contact: kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za
💬 Join the conversation: ISPN LinkedIn Group

Whether you’re working on participatory mapping, indigenous naming, linguistic heritage, or ethical data collection in marginalised communities, this symposium will be a hub of shared knowledge and forward-looking discussion. Don’t miss your chance to join this global conversation on place names!

ISPN 2025 Workshop: Ethical principles of doing toponymic research with Deaf communities

 Voices in Place: Ethical Toponymy and the Deaf Community at ISPN 2025

The Eighth International Symposium on Place Names (ISPN 2025), to be held from 26–29 November in Clarens, South Africa, will host a groundbreaking workshop that intersects toponymy, ethics, and Deaf studies. Scheduled for 26 November 2025, 14:00–15:30 at the Protea Hotel, this session titled “Ethical Principles of Doing Toponymic Research with Deaf Communities” promises to be a pivotal moment in inclusive place-name scholarship.

Led by Dr Patrick Sibanda and Dr Chrismi Loth from the University of the Free State, the workshop is part of a broader initiative by the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies. It is organized in collaboration with the Joint ICA/IGU Commission on Toponymy and the ICOS Working Group on Toponymy, reaffirming the international momentum behind ethical and inclusive naming practices.

Why this matters

Toponymy often privileges dominant voices and visible communities. However, Deaf communities, who operate in rich linguistic and cultural spheres of their own, are frequently overlooked in naming processes, street addressing, and spatial documentation. This workshop turns that tide by focusing on signed toponymy and the specific ethical considerations when conducting research involving Deaf individuals.

What to expect

The session is designed as an interactive dialogue and will include:

• Introductions to sign language, Deaf culture, and Deaf identity

• Examination of the Deaf community as a marginalised research population

• The linguistic and cultural significance of place-name signs

• Established ethical frameworks and best practices for working with Deaf participants

• Opportunities for participant feedback and shared experience

This initiative not only fills a critical gap in the field of toponymy but also represents a landmark step toward inclusive geographic naming and respectful representation of all language communities.

The registration fee is R1 000, or R1 200 for both ISPN workshops (free for ISPN delegates). Interested participants can register at the official conference site or reach out directly to the organizers at kongresETFB@ufs.ac.za.

As the landscape of global naming becomes increasingly diverse and digital, sessions like this challenge researchers to think beyond sound - and listen to the hands that shape place.