Paikannimien käyttö ja osaaminen - nimitaito Pälkäneen Laitikkalassa

• Terhi Ainiala
• Johanna Komppa
• Kaija Mallat
• Ritva Liisa Pitkänen

Abstrakti

Knowledge and use of place names at Laitikkala in the Parish of Pälkäne (englanti)

3/2000 (104)

Terhi Ainiala ([e-mail]) Johanna Komppa ([e-mail]) Kaija Mallat ([e-mail]) Ritva Liisa Pitknen ([e-mail])

KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF PLACE NAMES AT LAITIKKALA IN THE PARISH OF PLKNE

The article examines peoples knowledge of local place names, specifically the knowledge held by villagers in different age groups, sexes and occupational groups of the names in their own village. The village chosen for the study was Laitikkala in the parish of Plkne, in Hme province. Eighteen people were interviewed from three different age groups (elderly, middle-aged, young). The interviews were used to investigate not only the persons knowledge of local place names (the number of names used and known), but also the extent of the area covered by the names. The reasons for knowing each name were also sought.

Large differences existed amongst the villagers in their knowledge of local place names. The mens knowledge was, on average, greater than the womens, and the older peoples greater than that of the younger villagers. Cultural names, and especially names of dwelling areas, featured strongly in the knowledge held by the women and the young. Men, on the other hand, knew more nature-related names. Age and sex were not, however, by themselves sufficient to explain knowledge of local place names, because individual differences were great. Occupation and hobbies often influenced knowledge of names more than age or sex.

The study also examined how place names are passed on from one generation to another. The youngest age group mostly use the same names as their parents and grandparents. About half of the names used by the older generation are disappearing, however, because younger people no longer need to use them.