Toponyms and spatial representations

doi:10.17651/ONOMAST.64.4

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Title: Toponyms and spatial representations

Abstract:

This paper addresses an interesting issue in name theory, specifically the relationship between top-onyms and spatial representations, as well as the cultural differences manifesting themselves in con-nection with these. Studies have shown that the name model (a general knowledge of names) cre-ated based on the mental representation of names is partly language and culture dependent. Thus, the knowledge of the speaker on how reliably the toponyms correlate with the actual features of the landscape or whether they should only be considered as labels identifying an area is culturally determined. This, in turn, influences the extent to which name-users may rely on them in structur-ing space and in creating a cognitive map.

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