Speaker
Description
Religion is a very important aspect in expressing the cultural characteristics and ingrained traditions of each nation. You see it in many aspects of life, the street names being a very clear manifestation of this element. This study aims at analyzing and comparing the religious elements in the urban spaces of two cities with different histories and religions. We used statistical and qualitative methods to survey 160 street names in London and 70 in Hanoi. The results show London to be dominated by Christianity, with names associated with saints, religious buildings and church officials. At the same time, in Hanoi, the street names with religious elements are heavily influenced by Buddhism and folk beliefs. The most basic difference is that in London the street names are traditionally given to saints and religious officials, whereas in Hanoi this is almost absent and the street names are named after places of worship. It reflects the long history of Christianity in England and the close link between church and monarchy. In Hanoi meanwhile, Buddhism and folk beliefs prevail in the spiritual life. This paper provides a good perspective for understanding the relationship between religion and urban space. It has implications for toponymy and for teaching culture in the EFL context.
Keywords: Religious Toponymy, Street Names, London, Hanoi, Buddhism, Christianity, Folk Religion, Comparative Study, Urban Toponymy
Biography
Dr. Pham Thi Thu Ha and her co-worker – Mrs. Trinh Thi Chuyen are English lecturers at Sao Do University, Vietnam. There academic interests lie in the field of linguistics, with a particular focus on language education and cultural aspects of language use. As the passionate educators and researchers, they are committed to continuous professional growth and actively seeks opportunities to exchange knowledge and experiences with fellow teachers and scholars in both national and international contexts.
| Affiliate type | University |
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