Russian urbanonyms in reflection of regional identity

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2024-2-30-430-444

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Author

Yuri N. Golubchikov

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Geographical Faculty,
1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia,
E-mail: golubchikov@list.ru

Abstract

The aim of the work is to study city toponyms, or urbanonyms, from the point of view of educational value and creation of an idea of the Russian world. The frequency of repeating urbanonyms (city toponyms) exceeding 200 repetitions was tracked using the electronic database “Streets of the same name in Russian cities”. There were 76 of them, and their total number exceeded 26 thousand. They were divided into six clusters with the names of: 1) revolutionary figures; 2) Soviet symbols; 3) festive and economic; 4) heroes; 5) writers, figures of art and science; 6) natural and navigational. About half of Russian urbanonyms of the same name exceeding 200 repetitions are associated with Soviet-revolutionary symbols. Replacing urbanonyms with an outdated ideological shell with names with features of local identity is important for preserving the urban heritage, constructing a positive image of the settlement, and creating a favorable environment for its population. Russian Orthodox themes are poorly represented in the country’s urbanonyms. The name Russkaya is borne by 27 streets, the street (avenue, lane) Sovetskaya (-sky) is repeated 718 times. The excessive saturation of urbanonyms of Russia with the name of Uritsky (230 repetitions) is demonstrated, exceeding the number of marshals Zhukov, Rokossovsky, Konev, Katukov combined. 520 streets in Russia are named after Krupskaya, Luxemburg, and Zetkin. It is proposed to exalt the name of Empress Catherine II, who annexed Crimea and created Novorossiya, in toponyms. The process of derussification of Russia is analyzed using the example of Istra near Moscow. It is proposed to improve its urbanonyms, in particular by including the names of Suvorov, Pushkin, Lermontov, Levitan, Tchaikovsky, Chekhov, Alexey Tolstoy, and the architect Shchusev in their titles. All of them are directly related to the history of Istra. It is important to pay attention to the individuality of the settlement both for the purpose of preserving the city heritage and for creating competitive advantages associated with uniqueness, singularity, exclusivity, and originality. This competition will only grow over time.

Keywords

urbanonyms, names of streets and squares, local identity, urban heritage, Istra

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For citation: Golubchikov Yu.N. Russian urbanonyms in reflection of regional identity. InterCarto. InterGIS. GI support of sustainable development of territories: Proceedings of the International conference. Moscow: MSU, Faculty of Geography, 2024. V. 30. Part 2. P. 430–444. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2024-2-30-430-444 (in Russian)