SYMBOLISM AND IDENTITY IN TOPONYMS: CULTURAL AND IDEOLOGICAL LAYERS IN PLACE NAMING

This article investigates the symbolic and ideological dimensions of toponyms and their role in shaping and reflecting cultural identity. Place names are not only linguistic labels but also semiotic carriers of collective memory, political ideologies, religious affiliations, and social values. By analyzing examples from various regions—including post-colonial renamings, Soviet-era ideological place names, and indigenous naming systems—the paper illustrates how toponyms function as tools of cultural preservation and instruments of political power. Special attention is paid to commemorative and honorific naming practices, which serve to legitimize historical narratives and influence public space. The study draws on methodologies from critical toponymy, sociolinguistics, and cultural geography to demonstrate that naming is both an act of language and an act of identity.