Amendments in The Norwegian PlaceNames Act

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Amendments in The Norwegian Place-Names Act

• UNGEGN Norden Division,
• Hønefoss October 20 2005
• Anne Svanevik

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The Place-Names Act

• Passed 18 May 1990
• Became law 1 July 1991
• Amendments passed 10 June 2005
• Becomes law 1 August 2006

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Reasons

• Simplification- less time-consuming- less
  demanding in terms of resources-
  clearer rules, clearer definitions- reduce the
  number of appeal causes- rules for areas that
  are not included in the present Act

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1 Purpose and extent

• The purpose of this Act is to safeguard
  place-names as cultural monuments, determine a
  practical and useful spelling, and contribute to
  knowledge and active use of the names. The Act
  shall secure Saami and Kven names in accordance
  with national rules and regulations and
  international agreements and conventions.
  applies in all official use (state, county or
  municipal body) - determining the spelling and
  use of place-names does not apply to
  (geographical extent - Svalbard, Jan Mayen etc.)
  

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2 Definitions

• For example
• farm name,the same as cadastral name the name
  of the whole area to which one or more
  single-holding numbers are linked
• single-holding name,name of a property with its
  own single-holding number or leasehold number
  under a cadastral number

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3 Protection of names and naming

• As a general rule a place-name may not be
  adopted for use in a place where it does not
  traditionally belong when ita. is in use as a
  family name and is among the less common onesb.
  is in any other manner a distinctive name, or may
  be confused therewith, orc. ought to be
  protected on other grounds
• Ex Portør

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3 Protection of names and naming

• An inherited place-name may not be replaced by a
  name without tradition in the place unless
  particular grounds so indicate
• 8An owner or lessee is not entitled to change
  the name of any single holding name which
  linguistically and geographically coincides with
  inherited place-names, unless special grounds so
  indicate.

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The primary function

• New, important provision (in 4 Spelling
  rules)Where the same name has been used of
  different name-bearers in the same place, the
  spelling in its primary function shall be
  indicative of its spelling in its other
  functions.Hamnnes(et) / Havn(n)es

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More local influence

• Names of single holdingsWhen the name is an
  inherited place-nameAn owner or lessee has
  the right to make a statement, and his or her
  view shall be ascribed particular weight.

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Other simplifications

• General spelling of a certain name
  componenttjørn, tjønn, tjern, tjennsæter, seter
• The name consultants will be consulted only once
  during the procedure
• Important to NMCA We will be the decison-making
  body for the spelling of names in all state
  contexts