Cultural and Historical Aspects Important Elements of Topographical Naming

Topographical naming takes into account the cultural and historical aspects of the location. Topographical naming becomes a collective memory and cultural heritage.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

The Geospatial Information Agency collaborated with the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) and the UNGEGN Asia South East (ASE) Division to hold an International Training of Toponymy in Kuta, Badung, Bali, starting Monday (19/6/2023). The international toponymy training was attended by participants from UNGEGN member countries, including Indonesia.

BADUNG, KOMPAS - Naming a land cannot be arbitrary, but must consider cultural aspects, customs, and the history of the location. Naming a land, or a place and region, will become a collective memory that connects the community with its identity and also as a cultural heritage.

Based on Government Regulation Number 2 of 2021 regarding the Implementation of Earth's Name, the naming of a location or place is given to an element of the earth, or location, so that the name of the earth becomes an identity and collective memory.

"It is not possible to arbitrarily follow the names given by others because the naming of this location is very sensitive, especially for areas that are visited by foreigners, such as in Bali," said Head of the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Muh Aris Marfai, at the opening of the International Toponymy Training event in Kuta, Badung, Bali on Monday (June 19, 2023)."

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

The Geospatial Information Agency collaborated with UNGEGN and the UNGEGN Asia South East (ASE) Division to hold an International Training of Toponymy in Kuta, Badung, Bali, starting on Monday (19/6/2023). The Head of the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Muh Aris Marfai, gave a speech at the opening of the international toponymy training event on Monday (19/6/2023).

Also read: Naming Rights and Topographical Naming Principles

Toponymy is the science of naming the earth's features, or place names or locations, taking into account the background, historical connections, cultures, and traditions or customs inherent in a region. The Geospatial Information Agency, along with the Asia South East (ASE) Division and the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), collaborated to hold an International Toponymy Training in Kuta, Badung, Bali, starting on Monday (19/6/2023).

International toponymy training was attended by participants from UNGEGN member countries, besides Indonesia. There were 132 participants in the international toponymy training in Kuta, Badung, including from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Vietnam, and Laos. During the training, the participants received materials on national institutions, models, and procedures; naming of landforms as cultural heritage; cultural heritage in Bali; and the system for collecting landform names.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

The Indonesian Geospatial Information Agency collaborates with the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNEGGN) and UNEGGN Asia South East Division to hold the International Training of Toponymy in Kuta, Badung, Bali, starting on Monday (19/6/2023). Head of the Indonesian Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) Muh Aris Marfai (second from left) in a press conference with Representative of the UNEGGN Secretariat Cecille Blake (left) and Chair of UNEGGN Asia South East Division Nor Zetty Akhtar Haji Abdul Hamid provided information following the opening of the international toponymy training event on Monday (19/6/2023).

Also read: Geospatial Information Agency Targets Acceleration of Base Map Procurement

Representative of UNGEGN Secretariat, Cecille Blake, expressed her appreciation to the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) and the Asia South East (ASE) Division for organizing the toponymy training and selecting Bali as the location for the training. "Toponymy also emphasizes cultural and historical aspects because the naming of locations will become a collective memory of society and cultural heritage," said Cecille Blake regarding the international toponymy training held in Kuta, Badung, Bali, on Monday (June 19, 2023).

It is not possible to arbitrarily follow the naming given by others because the naming of these locations is very sensitive. Especially for areas that are visited by many foreigners, for example in Bali.

Cecille Blake added that Bali is already internationally renowned and has become an iconic Indonesian tourist destination with its cultural diversity. The naming of locations or landforms in Bali is also closely related to the cultural and historical aspects accompanying them.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

The Geospatial Information Agency collaborated with UNGEGN and UNGEGN Asia South East (ASE) Division to hold the International Training of Toponymy in Kuta, Badung, Bali, starting on Monday (19/6/2023). The Chairman of UNGEGN Asia South East Division, Nor Zetty Akhtar Haji Abdul Hamid, gave a speech at the opening of the international toponymy training event on Monday (19/6/2023).

The Chairman of UNGEGN Asia South East Division, Nor Zetty Akhtar Haji Abdul Hamid, also expressed her gratitude to the Geospatial Information Agency for organizing the training.

Training ground

Nor Zetty stated that the training activity had been planned since Indonesia's leadership in the UNGEGN ASE Division for the period 2019-2022. However, its implementation was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "Bali is the right place for the training because participants can directly compare through visits to the location," said Nor Zetty from Brunei Darussalam.

Furthermore, Aris stated that naming a location or geographic feature requires procedures because the naming of a location is also related to formal requirements. Naming a location or place also requires standardization in order to become a standard and not easily changed.

"The local government has the authority to propose the naming of a location because it relates to the value for the region, the cultural roots of the area, and the traditions in the local community," said Aris.