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Toponymic dependence research and its possible contribution to the field of place branding

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Abstract

The researcher set out to investigate whether people form dependencies with toponyms (place names) in similar ways to which dependencies can be formed with places. It has been found that while people are dependent on a place to provide particular facilities, people and governments are also dependent on toponyms to provide particular branding requirements. The theory of toponymic dependence has been developed and this article outlines how toponymic dependence is determined by the ability of a toponym to provide a unique representation, or branding opportunity, of a place. This article provides the framework for future publications, which assess the adequacy of past government place branding proposals, and discusses the importance of considering the construct of place dependence when developing place branding campaigns.

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Notes

  1. Victoria is a State of the country Australia.

  2. Owing to the fact that the National Park crosses sections of four local government area boundaries, it is difficult to ascertain the exact population size of the study area. The figures provided are based on data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Northern and Southern Grampians Statistical Local Areas, which cover the majority of the National Park area.

  3. In Australian politics the Labor Party is considered to be predominantly left-wing.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Linkage Grant LP0454321 provided by the Australian Research Council, the Victorian Office of the Surveyor-General and the University of Ballarat.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adjunct Research Fellow, University of Ballarat, c/o Research Office, PO Box 663, Ballarat, 3353, Victoria, Australia

    Laura Kostanski

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  1. Laura Kostanski
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Correspondence to Laura Kostanski.

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Kostanski, L. Toponymic dependence research and its possible contribution to the field of place branding. Place Brand Public Dipl 7, 9–22 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1057/pb.2010.35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/pb.2010.35

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