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THE BURNED-OUT FIREPLACES AND THE NEW ONES - TRAMP TOPONYMS BEARING TESTIMONY IN BOHEMIA

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2016

Abstract

Within the Czech tramp movement, a number of toponyms are used, denoting predominantly individual terrain features and campsites, or cottage sites, which emerged over time from plain campsites. Despite the fact these toponyms and anoikonyms are quite widespread, the topic has not been sufficiently elaborated yet.

One of the reasons may be the fact that these names are now much known outside the tramp subculture, which consequently leads to their unrepresentative presence in toponomastic enumerative lists. The typical feature of tramp toponyms is the usage of exotic, namely western- like and romanticising names, but names motivated by the features of the area, by the events that took place there, and by particular people or groups of people that visit the area, are to be found as well.

Placenames are often created deliberately, with the emphasis put on their poetic character and emotional message; however, abbreviation of older local toponyms and language puns do appear as well. Due to the non-standardized character of most names, they form an endangered type of toponyms which is not easy to be processed, but which may give detailed accounts on the ways of leisure use of landscape, and on the micro-history of a region.