Recently, some places have implemented Resolution 595/2022 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of administrative units at district and commune levels. And there have been places that have "disappeared" due to the story of merger.
“How can we preserve the village name when the story of “importation and exportation” keeps happening in our country?” - is also the concern from the dialogue between two cultural researchers, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau (Ho Chi Minh City Historical Science Association) and Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son (Dong A University, Da Nang).
Cannot be done mechanically
Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son: After a period of calm, the "merging/separating" issue in our country has now become a hot topic again. Among them, there is the renaming of merged communes and districts into new administrative place names, in a mechanical way (like Quynh Doi commune merged with Quynh Hau commune, the new name is Doi Hau commune), causing people in the merged localities to be indignant and react, because the name of their ancestral land was suddenly abolished by a policy (temporary in nature, who knows, it might be corrected later).
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau: The reaction from the community and the concern from cultural history researchers are reasonable.
“Place names are names of places expressed by specific words”. The outstanding characteristics of place names are historical and linguistic diversity. Place names belonging to a country/region/ethnic community will be named according to the language of that nation or country.
Place names reflect the formation process, characteristics of natural and cultural geographical elements, and reflect the economic and social characteristics of each locality. Therefore, the system of folk place names and historical administrative place names of a locality is very important, some place names even become a cultural "sign" or a historical mark.
For administrative place names, it is very important to consider carefully when changing or renaming. Our country's history has gone through many dynasties and social events, so there have been many changes in place names, corresponding to changes in the spatial scope of villages, communes, districts, provinces, etc. This causes many difficulties for historical and cultural research, especially when it is necessary to clarify an event or a historical figure. It is not uncommon for many localities to have disputes and disunity because of this.
Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son: I agree that village, commune, district, province names, or in state language, administrative place names, have historical significance and linguistic diversity.
In addition, administrative place names also reflect the process of establishing villages and communes, the role of clans (for example, Cao Xa, Ngo Xa, Phung Xa villages... were established by people of the Cao, Ngo, Phung clans...), terrain (Bai hamlet, Con hamlet, Bau village...), traditional occupations of that locality (Hien Luong blacksmith village, Pho Trach mattress village...)
Therefore, changing a place name without taking these factors into account is considered a loss, causing social disruption and losing the identity and cultural characteristics of the place name/locality; at the same time causing difficulties in social administrative management.
The “social capital” of place names
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau: The new regulations on the arrangement of administrative units of districts, communes, villages... need to be carefully studied. Naming new places (as well as street names in urban areas) is a science and cannot be arbitrary.
It is easy to see that the language used in a law or administrative document will be popular and overwhelm the local language.
Therefore, if we really want to protect cultural diversity - and also respect the cultural characteristics of each community and each region, then in addition to unifying the "terminology" in administrative documents for convenient use in state management, it is necessary to maintain the local language system and use familiar place names that are popular in society.
Changing or removing place names not only destroys a "memory heritage" but also destroys a source of "social capital" from the cultural value of the place name.
Folk place names represent natural elements (names of rivers, mountains, canals, etc.) such as in Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), there is a famous place name Cu Lao Pho, now replaced by Hiep Hoa ward; Ganh bridge - an important railway bridge on Dong Nai river, after being collapsed by a barge, suddenly became "Ghenh bridge"...
Or in Ho Chi Minh City, place names in dialect such as "roundabout" are replaced by "roundabout", famous intersections such as Phu Dong 6-way intersection, Ly Thai To 7-way intersection, Phu Nhuan 4-way intersection... are replaced by "intersection". This situation not only impoverishes the Vietnamese language but also destroys the diversity and richness of regional culture.
Some people also believe that a place name will not disappear as long as it is still mentioned by people. This is true but not enough. Because a place name is a type of intangible heritage, passed down through language and memory, and "materialized" by the government in writing.
Therefore, when “material texts” change place names and spread at a rapid and widespread pace like today, the old place names will soon disappear from the memory and language of the community! This can cause a cultural resistance, when a cultural element disappears or is changed without the will and needs of the community - the subject of culture.
Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son: In our country, many place names have a history of thousands of years, recorded in history books. During the Nguyen Dynasty, the administrative reform under the Minh Mang Dynasty (1832 - 1833) gave rise to many new place names (in Quang Nam alone, many commune and village names in the districts of Duy Xuyen, Que Son, Le Duong... were formed from the Edict issued by King Minh Mang in December of the 16th year of Minh Mang (early 1836)). These place names have existed for nearly 2 centuries.
After the August Revolution of 1945, many villages and communes were separated and merged, and their administrative boundaries were changed: a large village was split into two communes, or two or three small villages were merged into a new commune. The same was true at the district and provincial levels. People had been familiar with these place names for nearly eight decades, and now they had their names changed, their origins lost, and the “cultural identity” of their traditional place names erased, so they reacted.
Expert advice required
Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son: Localities with districts and communes that are "downsized" this time should establish advisory boards, including Han-Nom researchers, experts in textual studies, administrative studies, local history researchers... to help the government review historical sources, geographical records, land registers, administrative documents... from the monarchy and French colonial periods...
This is to search for original, long-standing place names that have influenced the local history and culture, in order to propose suitable place names for the government to "rename" the administrative units that must be rearranged during this period.
Next, the government needs to organize communication about the "renaming" for the residential communities in these places so that they understand and agree, instead of issuing administrative orders on mergers/renaming, without consulting experts or the residential community.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau: That's right! Researching the change of place names is a scientific task, requiring the thorough participation of experts in history, culture, language..., and the cooperation and consensus of the community. But first of all, the basis for merging localities, whether large or small, must be based on scientific grounds, not just for "convenient management" or "reducing staff"; avoiding the situation of "separating - merging" in the style of "cutting the foot to fit the shoe" causing many long-term consequences.
Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son: Place names as well as personal names have connotations associated with: history, culture, geography, language, anthropology... and are not simply names used to identify in the field of administration and state management. If the name is not changed properly, it will fall into the situation: "Now the village and commune are in chaos. How to call them, how to write them... now".
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