Baptiser un grand équipement urbain : pratiques et enjeux autour du nom des stations de métro à Bruxelles

Abstract

This article looks into the names given by public authorities to underground stations in Brussels. If naming places can reflect political and ideological choices, naming underground stations supposes first of all helping travellers find their way within a – generally – preexisting urban fabric.In some cases, the toponimic identity of places is obvious, whereas naming stations is sometimes the expression of choices and of conscious or unconscious values, as shown by the differentiated celebration of crafts or public figures, linguistically connoted options, as well as diverse deviations from the “rules”. Finally, the names of stations can consolidate names of places, re-mark them, or remain dissonant.

Keywords

• Brussels
• underground
• toponymy
• place naming
• critical toponymy
• urban toponymy