Language is a mentifact, a part of the ideological subsystem of culture. It is, therefore, inseparable from group identity and self-awareness. Language may also be divisive, creating rifts within...

Language is a mentifact, a part of the ideological subsystem of culture. It is, therefore, inseparable from group identity and self-awareness. Language may also be divisive, creating rifts within multilingual societies when linguistic minorities seek recognition or separatism. Toponyms (place names) record the perceptions and values of past and present occupants or explorers. Toponymy in tracing that record becomes a valuable tool of historical cultural geography.