Vol. 41 No. 4 (1993)
Research Article

Parsing Greater Washington's Namescape

Published 1993-12-01

Abstract

Abstract

Successive strata over time of a locality's placename cover provide insights into shifting toponymic fashions and, more deeply, into our collective subconscious – a principle amply evident in the case of Greater Washington with its intense episodes of nationalistic terms. Examining both the localistic and national significance of the temporal layering of placenaming, this study breaks new ground by considering names of businesses as well as the customary physical features, landmarks, and the like.

References

  1. Goode, James. Best Addresses: A Century of Washington’s Distinguished Apartment Houses. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1968.