Cover not available

In:The Loss of Primordial Language and the Future of National Languages
Edited by Irene Capdevila and Francesc Feliu
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature 47] 2026
► pp. 44–62

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload Book EPUB
authorization required

Socio-onomastics and political power

Regarding the toponym Maó (Menorca)

 | GRESIB-IRIE Universitat de les Illes Balears
Published online: 23 March 2026
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.47.04bel
Abstract
The issues that are discussed in the public space are, by nature, an element that can serve as a political tool. Language, as everyone knows, is no exception. Toponymy, as a public representation of names that are significant for linguistic communities, is a fundamental practice for demonstrating political control of space.
In a project that is just beginning, we intend to study how the uses and discourses on Catalan toponymy and exonomy have been a first-rate tool for the political debate between Catalan and Spanish nationalisms. Therefore, in this chapter i propose a first approach to this project: I will explain the approach from which we start, and what working method we want to adopt. I will do so based on an example that have had great media relevance in recent years: the political implications of the different positions regarding the triad Maó — Mahó — Mahón to refer to the city and the main port of Menorca.
Article outline
  • Language, power and ideology
  • 2.Onomastics and sociolinguistics
  • 3.Contextual and methodological approach
    • 3.1Mahó or Maó?
  • 4.Maó, Maó-Mahón (and Mahó): A linguistic debate for political hegemony
  • 5.The report of the Real Academia de la Historia
  • 6.By way of a conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (45)
References
Aguiló, Marian. 1915–1934. “Diccionari Aguiló.” Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans, 8 vols.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ainiala, Terhi and Jan-Ola Östman. 2017. “Introduction. Socio-onomastics and pragmatics.” In Socio-onomastics. The pragmatics of names, edited by Terhi Ainiala and Jan-Ola Östman, 1–18. Amsterdam/Philadeplhia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ainiala, Terhi. 2022. “Socio-onomastics.” In Handbook of Pragmatics. Manual. Second Edition, edited by Jef Verschueren and Jan-Ola Östman, 1264–1276. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Akselberg, Gunnstein. 2012. “Socioonomastics — a critical approach.” Namn og nemne 29: 107–118.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Arnoux, Elvira Narvaja. 2000. “La glotopolítica: transformaciones de un campo disciplinario.” In Lenguajes: teorías y prácticas. Buenos Aires: Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires / Instituto Superior del Profesorado.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bellés, Eloi. 2020. “Política e ideología en la obra lingüística del menorquín Jaime Ferrer y Parpal.” In Lazos entre lingüística e ideología desde un enfoque historiográfico (ss. XVI-XX), edited by Borja Alonso, Francisco Escudero, Carlos Villanueva, Carmen Quijada and José J. Gómez, 131–145. Salamanca: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Boyer, Henri. 2008. “Fonctionnements sociolinguistiques de la dénomination toponymique.” Mots. Les langages du politique 86, 9–21. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Braun, Virgina and Victoria Clarke. 2006. “Using thematic analysis in psychology.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 3 (2): 77–101.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Canyelles, Xavier. 2018. Gonellisme. Particularisme i secessionisme a les Illes Balears. Palma: Documenta Balear.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
DCVB = Antoni M. Alcover and Francesc de B. Moll. 1932–1968. Diccionari català-valencià-balear. Palma: Moll, 10 vols. 〈[URL]〉
Decret 69/2017, de 2 de juny, del Consell, de regulació dels criteris i procediment per al canvi de denominació dels municipis i altres entitats locals de la Comunitat Valenciana (DOGV, núm. 8068, de 22/06/2017). 〈[URL]〉
Del Valle, José. 2013. “Language, politics and history: an introductory essay.” In A Political History of Spanish, edited by José del Valle, 3–21. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2017. “Glotopolítica y teoría del lenguaje. La perspectiva glotopolítica y la normatividad.” Anuario de Glotopolítica 1: 17–39.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
DGLC = Pompeu Fabra. 1932. Diccionari General de la Llengua Catalana. Barcelona: Llibreria Catalònia.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ealham, Chris. 2012. “The Emperor’s New Clothes: ‘Objectivity’ and Revisionism in Spanish History.” Journal of Contemporary History 48 (1): 191–202. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Félix Gomila, Juan José. 2012. “La decisión de Águeda.” Menorca. Diario Insular (02/11/2012). 〈[URL]〉
Florit Nin, Francesc. 2012. “Els noms que ens singularitzen.” Menorca. Diario Insular, (09/11/2012). 〈[URL]〉
Gargallo Gil, José Enrique (dir.) 2023. Del Diccionari Aguiló al Diccionari Fabra [Research project]. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. 〈[URL]〉
Giraut, Frédéric and Myriam Houssay-Holzschuch. 2016. “Place naming as a Dispositif: Toward a Theoretical Framework.” Geopolitics 21: 1–21. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Llei 1/1998, de 7 de gener, de Política Lingüística de Catalunya (DOGC núm. 2553, de 09/01/1998). 〈[URL]〉
Llei 3/1986, de 29 d’abril, de Normalització Lingüística a les Illes Balears (BOCAIB núm. 15, de 20/05/1986). 〈[URL]〉
Llei 9/2012, de 19 de juliol, de modificació de la llei 3/2007, de 27 de març, de la funció pública de la comunitat autònoma de les Illes Balears (BOIB núm. 49, de 3/04/2007). 〈[URL]〉
Llei Orgànica 1/2007, de 28 de febrer, de reforma de l’Estatut d’Autonomia de les Illes Balears (BOIB núm. 32, ext., de 01/03/2007). 〈[URL]〉
López Casasnovas, Joan F. 2023. Jo vull el vol dels falcons. Articles lingüístics (1975–2022), edited by Gemma Ferrer Carreras. Palma/Maó: Direcció General de Política Lingüística / Institut Menorquí d’Estudis.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Martín Rojo, Luisa. 2022. “Power and the role of Language.” In Handbook of Pragmatics. 25th Annual Installment, edited by Frank Brisard, Sigurd D’hondt, Pedro Gras and Mieke Vandenbroucke, 107–128. Amsterdam/Philadpelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mut, Joan. 2017. “Introducció.” In Polèmca d’en Pep Gonella. Palma: Institució Francesc de Borja Moll, 7–37.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nielsen, Peter Juul and María Sol Sansiñena. 2024. “Indexes in language and linguistics.” In Indexicality. The Role of Indexing in Language Structure and Language Change, edited by Peter Juul Nielsen and María Sol Sansiñena, 1–56. Berlín/Boston: De Gruyter/Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
OnCat = Joan Coromines. 2021. Onomasticon cataloniae. Barcelona: Fundació Pere Corominas / Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pradilla, Miquel Àngel. 2024. Normativitat, (re)estandardització i glotopolítica. Noves mirades des de la sociolingüística catalana. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rafanell, August. 2011. Notícies d’abans d’ahir. Barcelona: A Contravent.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Reynés, Águeda. 2012. “Maó-Mahón.” Menorca. Diario Insular (01/11/2012). 〈[URL]〉
Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco. 2006. “Cambio de denominación toponímica Mahón, por Maó.” Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia 203 (2): 200–201.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sebba, Mark. 2007. Spelling and Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Server-Benetó, Natàlia. 2025. “Sòcio-onomàstica toponímica: ideologies lingüístiques al(s) nom(s) del poble de Castelló (de la Ribera).” Treballs de Sociolingüística Catalana 35: 111–126. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Silverstein, Michael. 1979. “Language structure and lingustic ideology”. In The Elements: A Parasession on Linguistic Units and Levels, edited by Paul R. Clyne, William F. Hanks and Carol L. Hofbauer, 193–247. Chicago: Chicago Linguistic Society / University of Chicago.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Solivellas, Ivan. 2021. “Diferencialisme lingüístic a les Illes Balears: actors, discurs i evolució.” Treballs de Sociolingüística Catalana 31: 191–206. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2023. “Ideologies lingüístiques sobre l’estàndard català: una aproximació des de Menorca.” Zeitschrift für Katalanistik 36: 263–292. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Steiner, George. 2004. The Idea of Europe. Tilburg (NL): Nexus.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Subirana, Jaume. 2018. Construir con palabras. Escritores, literatura e identidad en Cataluña (1859–2019). Madrid: Cátedra.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tort, Joan. 2003. “Los cambios de nombre de los municipios durante la revolución y la guerra civil españolas (1936–1939). El caso de Cataluña.” Scripta Nova. Revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales VII (133). [[URL]]
Turull, Albert. 2020. “Onomastics. Personal Names and Place Names.” In Manual of Catalan Linguistics, edited by Joan A. Argenter and Jens Lüdtke, 561–580. Berlín/Boston: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Villa, Laura. 2021. “Real Orden (25 de abril de 1844).” In Autorretrato de un idioma. Crestomatía política del español, edited by José del Valle, Daniela Lauria, Mariela Oroño and Darío Rojas, 183–195. Madrid: Lengua de Trapo.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2023. “Discourse and Sociopolitical Issues.” In The Cambridge Handbook of Historical Orthography, edited by Marco Condorelli and Hanna Rutkowska, 578–595. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Vuolteenaho, Jani & Lawrence D. Berg. 2009. “Towards Critical Toponymies.” In Critical toponymies. The Contested Politics of Place Naming, edited by Lawrence D. Berg and Jani Vuolteenaho, 1–18. Farnham (UK): Ashgate.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Woolard, Kathryn A. 2016. Singular and Plural. Ideologies of Linguistic Authority in 21st Century Catalonia. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue