https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2 The ways in which we reference geographical locations implicitly signal our political, social, and/or cultural perspectives. Visualizing this point, through exemplification, this map highlights locations that are known by multiple names—subsequently, whichever name someone selects (over the location’s alternative title) situates one’s positionality in relation to the historical evolutions, colonial influences, political stances, or publicity stunts that shaped the location’s nomenclature. en-us 2025-02-07 01:49:32 UTC 2025-02-17 21:10:20 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/8.0/png/1f4cd.png sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334114 The shift from 'Peking' to 'Beijing' represents more than romanization preferences. 'Peking' comes from postal romanization used during the Qing Dynasty and early Republic period, while 'Beijing' follows the pinyin system adopted by the People's Republic of China in 1949 in the hope of creating a uniform language standard across the countries' many dialects (Demick). The change reflects China's move to standardize its language representation internationally. While 'Peking' still appears in terms like 'Peking University' and 'Peking Duck,' 'Beijing' is now the internationally recognized standard.

]]> 2025-02-07 01:49:32 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334114 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334117 The 1995 change from 'Bombay' to 'Mumbai' marks a post-colonial reclamation of identity. 'Bombay' derived from the city's Portugese colonization, while 'Mumbai' refers the Hindu goddess Mumbadevi. The name change, driven by the Shiv Sena political party, symbolizes a break from colonial legacy and an assertion of Marathi cultural identity (Hansen). However, 'Bombay' remains in use, particularly among locals, older generations, and in institutions like the Bombay Stock Exchange.

]]> 2025-02-07 01:49:32 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334117 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334118 The 2015 change from Mount McKinley to Denali represents a victory for Alaska Native rights and cultural recognition. 'Denali,' meaning 'the tall one' in Koyukon Athabascan, had been the tallest mountain in North America's indigenous name for centuries before it was renamed for President William McKinley in 1896 (‌Casagranda). The restoration of the native name acknowledges Indigenous heritage and sovereignty over traditional lands, and is part of a broader movement to restore indigenous place names across North America.

]]> 2025-02-07 01:49:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334118 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334121 The Derry/Londonderry naming dispute results from deep political divisions in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. 'Derry' comes from the Irish 'Daire' (oak grove), while the 'London' prefix was officially added in 1613 when the city was granted a royal charter by King James I (King James I). Irish nationalists and Catholics generally prefer 'Derry,' while Unionists and Protestants often use 'Londonderry.' The dispute is so well-known that the city is sometimes called 'Stroke City,' a reference to people saying "Derry stroke Londonderry" (Anderson).

]]> 2025-02-07 01:49:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334121 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334123 The use of 'Myanmar' versus 'Burma' is a reflection of complex identity dynamics within the Southeast Asian nation. The military government changed the name in 1989, though international adoption has been slow (Dittmer). While both names derive from the majority Bamar ethnic group, 'Myanmar' is considered more formal in the Burmese language and has been widely adopted by minority ethnic groups. Some opposition groups and nations continue to use 'Burma' as a form of protest against the military regime. The usage often indicates political stance toward the country's government.

]]> 2025-02-07 01:49:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334123 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334124 The transition from Constantinople to Istanbul reflects the city's transformation from Byzantine to Turkish rule. While 'Istanbul' had been in common use for centuries (speculated to have derived from the Greek 'eis tin polin' meaning 'to the city'), the Turkish government officially requested the international community to cease using Constantinople in 1923 (Stachowski & Woodhouse). This change symbolized the end of the Ottoman Empire and the emergence of the modern Turkish Republic (Ehrlich). The name change was later popularized in Western culture by the song Istanbul (Not Constantinople), originally recorded by The Four Lads in 1953.

]]> 2025-02-07 01:49:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334124 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334128 Currently known as St Petersburg, the city's multiple name changes reflect Russia's political transformations: founded as St. Petersburg (1703), changed to Petrograd (1914), Leningrad (1924), and back to St. Petersburg (1991). The name changes mirror major shifts in Russian political identity: from imperial capital to Soviet stronghold to modern Russian city (Orttung). Thus, the return to St. Petersburg in 1991 marked the toponymical end of the Soviet era and represents a reconnection with the city's imperial history.

]]> 2025-02-07 01:49:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319334128 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319340863 K'gari, the world's largest sand island, was officially known as Fraser Island until 2023, when its traditional Butchulla name was reinstated ("About the Name Change"). The Butchulla people have always called the island K'gari, even as colonial maps and records used "Fraser Island. The name K'gari means "paradise" in the Butchulla language and is derived from a creation story about a spirit who fell in love with the land. The island was named Fraser Island by European settlers in 1842, after Captain James Fraser, who was shipwrecked there in 1836. Its name change is part of an effort to recognize Australian Indigenous history.

]]> 2025-02-07 01:56:08 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319340863 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319348440 The debate over renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America gained attention after a 2025 executive order by President Trump directed federal agencies to adopt the new toponym (Congressional Research Service). While the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) reviews naming proposals case-by-case, the order bypassed the standard process, instructing immediate implementation. The renaming is controversial, and Mexico -- alongside many other international entities -- is unlikely to recognize the change.

]]> 2025-02-07 02:04:09 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319348440 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319353041 Western Sahara, a desert region in North Africa, was formerly known as Spanish Sahara until Spain withdrew in 1975, leaving its political status unresolved ("Western Sahara"). The name “Western Sahara” is a geographic designation rather than a historical or cultural one, and it remains contested between Morocco, which controls most of the territory, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which claims independence over the region. The sovereignty of the territory remains disputed presently.

]]> 2025-02-07 02:08:53 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319353041 sannewheeler https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319355274 Robinson Crusoe Island, part of Chile’s Juan Fernández Archipelago, was formerly known as Más a Tierra (Severin). In 1966, the Chilean government changed the name to capitalize on the island’s connection to Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor who was marooned there and is believed to have inspired Daniel Dafoe's novel Robinson Crusoe. As part of the same rebranding effort, the nearby island of Más Afuera was renamed to Alejandro Selkirk Island, though Selkirk was never actually stranded there.

]]> 2025-02-07 02:11:02 UTC https://padlet.com/sannewheeler/snpg5j16cvdonxw2/wish/3319355274