From Place Attachment to Toponymic Attachment: Can Geographical Names Foster Social Cohesion and Regional Development? The Case of South Carinthia (Austria)

In multilingual areas, geographical (or place) names are often a sensitive issue. In the southern part of the Austrian province of Carinthia, bilingual place names gained visibility and acceptance after decades of conflict. Departing from the notions of “place attachment” and “toponymic attachment”, this chapter investigates whether acceptance has also led to more appreciation, particularly of microtoponyms, and whether this appreciation is used by local and regional authorities to foster regional development, taking advantage of the inclusion of Slovene field and house names in the Austrian National Inventory of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. Results show overwhelming positive attitudes towards Slovene place names among local population, yet differences exist depending on linguistic background. Interviews with local authorities reflect uneven bilingual policies resulting in gaps, notably concerning street names. In some cases, new names with no connection with existing field names are created and incorporated in postal addresses, resulting in impoverishment in the visibility and the use of bilingual names. Bilingualism is recognised as an asset for the region, but bilingual place names are neglected in (rural) development strategies, plans and projects. Social acceptance has not brought about generalised social appreciation. Both positive and negative manifestations of toponymic attachment coexist.