Study of the Status of Non-Official Geographical Names in Spatial Identity of Hamadan City

Abstract

Humans give cultural features to places because of changes and transformations in their communities. Among the most important features, naming places and geographical areas may be mentioned. In other words, humans give identity to geographical places by naming them. Thus geographical names represent the cultural identity of geographical places with specific functions. On the other hand, some factors influencing the dynamic relationship between space and time lead to changes in geographical names and this phenomenon may change their identity and function too. During few last decades, with occurrence of Islamic Revolution in Iran, changes in political thought of the Iranian governance, increased population and urban growth, squares, streets, urban spaces, etc. have become subject to serious evolutions. In this regard, names of many places and locations were changed and using names and titles with Islamic and revolutionary contents became prevalent. In Hamadan city, study of geographical names is significant from three viewpoints: a) names of most urban spaces and places are of Islamic and revolutionary nature and represent the ideology governing the society. B) Selection of names for various urban areas and public spaces is not based on needs and sense of place of citizens and it mostly reflects urban management and government viewpoints towards the city. C) In some urban areas of Hamadan, the selected names are not in common use by people and they still use non-official names which represent nature and characteristics of places or reflect their functions. The questions being raised in present research are as follows: what is the process of appearance of non-official names in Hamadan city? What aspects of the cultural identity, geographical functions and citizens’ sense of place are associated with non-official names?

Keywords: non-official names, geographical role and function, identity, sense of place