A place called home: an exploration of toponyms and identity

Abstract

This paper is grounded in the concept of liveability, with the foundation that liveability considers the conditions of a decent life, including city inhabitants' physical and mental well-being. We argue that understanding and connecting with the meaning of city place names and finding representation in them instils a sense of place and identity among urbanites, thus contributing to urban liveability. Socioonomastic concepts are used in this paper to reflect the power of names and how this feeds into people's perceptions of spaces. Colonial settlers named every place they landed in their language, according to their heritage, as memorabilia of their origins while simultaneously stripping African cities of their nature. South African cities are left disjointed as they are no longer purely African because of the colonial planning principles and names; on the other hand, they are not western because of the African social fabric, which is illustrated spatially. This paper considers the effect of the remnants of colonial names on post-colonial city dwellers' sense of place and liveability. The exclusionary power of toponyms is not limited to existing colonial areas, as it continues to morph in a socio-economic form. Wealthy suburbs and luxury estates are predominantly named according to western languages. Conversely, townships and informal settlements have vernacular names, which further alludes to a socio-economic dimension to these toponyms. This paper thus analyses the link between toponyms and segregation, inferring that toponyms are symbols of power, which make the city feel like home only for the elect. By reviewing literature and contextual examples, this paper takes the reader on a journey considering if toponyms can aid in developing liveable cities that are cognisant of community well-being.