Toponyms of the Cossack Epoch in Context of Current Renaming Processes of Over Dnipro Lands

Author

Ratushniak Oleksandr – a Ph.D. in Pedagogy, an associate professor at Ukrainian Literature Faculty of the Volodymyr Vinnychenko Central Ukrainian State Pedagogical University

Toponyms of the Cossack Epoch in Context of Current Renaming Processes of Over Dnipro Lands

Abstract

The article ascertains the special features and complexities of renaming processes of Over Dnipro Lands settlements in the context of decommunization.

Upon passing the law on decommunization, there has arisen the exigency in replacement of the Soviet toponymy with the Ukrainian one. The significance of borrowed processes is related to the fact that place names and monuments constitute the historical and cultural demesne in which everyday human life runs. Hence, people constantly perceive the influence of these factors, though this process takes place subconsciously. Nowadays, the renaming is comprehended in a critical way by a considerable part of residents themselves of already renamed settlements. Postcolonial thinking entails this situation. At the Soviet times, there was being established such a historical and cultural environment that reminded the Ukrainians little of their distinctive culture and the glorious past.

Many suggestions concerning the renaming of settlements’ names and the return to proper Ukrainian toponyms (in Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Dniprodzerzhynsk) caused resistance from the Russian-oriented citizens and gave rise to sharp controversy in periodicals. Two most resonant occurrences of renaming (Komsomolsk – into Horishni Plavni; Dniprodzerzhynsk – Kamyanske) can be ascribed to successes of Cossack toponymy’s return.

By now, our state has made a stride towards reestablishing its historical memory by way of restoring a number of toponyms of the Cossack epoch. Day by day, new and restored names, such as Dnipro, Kropyvnytskyi, Kamyanske, Horishni Plavni and many others, have been strengthening in newest Ukrainian history, demolishing stereotypes and overcoming stopping mentation. Time proper favours the future of Ukraine.

Keywords

Cossack epoch, toponym, Kropyvnytskyi, Horishni Plavni, Kamyanske, renaming, decommunization.

References

1. Renaming Processes in the Toponymy as a Value Choice of Ukrainian Society. Proceedings of All-Ukrainian Theoretical and Practical Conference (Kirovohrad, June 11, 2015). Mykolayiv, 2015.