Function of Unification Due to Ambiguity in the Spatial Meanings of Place Names: Case Study of Community Activities in Senri New Town

Abstract

In recent years, place name studies have not only focused on the origin and etymology of the names but also on using them as part of the process of forming a place. This trend, formalized as “critical toponymies,” has brought about a shift in research perspectives in place name studies and has broadened the scope of place name analysis. At the same time, however, the problem remains that place names are analyzed only in terms of their specific meanings according to the purpose of each research project, and there is a lack of analysis of the place names themselves. A comprehensive viewpoint that captures the meanings of place names from multiple perspectives is needed. Aiming for further development of toponymy, this paper considers place names as objects with various meanings recognized by different entities and discusses the functions of place names as a whole set of such meanings. Specifically, this paper focuses on community activities in Senri New Town, Osaka prefecture, and shows that the name “Senri” is perceived as polysemous and ambiguous, and that this ambiguity serves to bridge and unite the gaps in orientation toward activities among the various entities. Furthermore, for many informants, this function of unity was seen as something that could not be replaced by other similar place names, such as “Senri New Town,” and was identified as a unique characteristic of the place name resulting from the combination of various meanings. This ambiguity and the function served by it should be fully considered in the process of standardization of geographical names.