“Name” in Geography: from Toponym to Geoconcept

Abstract

The article considers the triad of the major concepts in geographical onomastics in a consistent manner: “name – geographical name – geoconcept”. If a toponim and a geographical name can be considered as traditional geographical categories, the geoconcept represents a new theoretical concept initiated and developed by the author. It reflects a qualitatively new situation in the geography associated with the cultural turn and the information revolution. The conceptualization of geographical space takes place through the empowering individual places and areas with higher cultural status, for example, in connection with significant historical events or as a result of connection of places with outstanding cultural figure. The problem of interaction of geographical names belonging to different pictures of the world, is considered as a problem of intercultural and interdisciplinary communication. The article analyzes different types of problem situations – from “peaceful coexistence” beetwen the two geographical names in the same area to the conflicts of geoconcepts belonging to different cultural traditions. In this regard the most striking examples are associated with the post-Soviet space.