Um íslenska örnefnastýringu

Abstract

Place name planning refers to overt and deliberate efforts to influence place names in a particular speech community, cf. related concepts in language policy and planning studies. Various actors and authorities may be involved here, and their efforts may be aimed at place names, which are used in a particular speech community, of either local or foreign places. This article focuses especially on the activities of the Icelandic Place Name Committee, and on the present legislation on farm names in Iceland. It seems that people in Iceland generally seek to follow ancient traditions when choosing names for new farms. However, the owners' suggestions are not formally validated unless they receive approval by the Place Name Committee. The Icelandic farm names legislation is quite rigid when it comes to any proposed changes in previously established farm names. This article describes, among other things, one particular request for such a change which was subsequently refused by the Place Name Committee. Such cases can be quite interesting since they reveal in a way the essence of place name planning, where public interests may be in conflict with private ones. On the one hand there is the principle that place names are common cultural heritage which requires protection by proper authorities, and on the other hand there are the views and interests of the owner of a particular farm who demands full authority over his/her property, its name included.