Misplaced Pages:Naming conflict: Difference between revisions

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	{{subcat guideline\|naming convention\|WP:NCON}}
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	''This guideline should be read in conjunction with the policy ].''

	A '''naming conflict''' can arise on Misplaced Pages when contributors have difficulty agreeing on what to call a topic or a geopolitical/ethnic entity. These sometimes arise out of a misunderstanding of the ] policy.

	== Rationale ==

	Names can sometimes be controversial because of perceived negative political connotations, historical conflicts or territorial disputes. However, Misplaced Pages does not take sides in a political controversy or determine what is something or someone's true, proper name. What this encyclopedia does, rather, is to '''describe the controversy.'''

	Nevertheless, some degree of standardisation of terms is required for practical and technical reasons. This page suggests an effective and efficient method as to how to resolve naming disputes within the bounds of the NPOV policy. Some may find this method to be unacceptable, but it is beneficial for all of us to stick to a uniform way of choosing an article title. An agreed set of group rules can help to determine naming practices in a consistent and fair fashion.

	Equally, the prospects for achieving long-term consensus can be complicated by the fact that contributors change over time. At one point, a certain group of contributors may agree to use one name, but this group only represents the view of the particular sub-community of editors that exists at that time. When new contributors arrive, they are faced with the choice of reopening the discussion (thus diminishing the weight of the opinions of their predecessors), or sticking to the old consensus (which deprives the new contributors of a chance to have their say). In short, no consensus represents the voices of all the contributors to a given article. Following a permanently established objective procedure that does not rely on a fleeting consensus gets around this problem.

	==How naming works and how sometimes disputes occur in the process ==
	===Article names===
	A Misplaced Pages article must have one definitive name. This is required by the ] software on which Misplaced Pages runs. However, multiple ]s can be used for a term. Thus the article ] can be reached via redirection pages at ], ], ], etc. (See ] for more on redirection pages.)

	(''Note'': Some examples given in the previous paragraph use acronyms; for more information on naming conventions regarding acronyms, see ])

	===Names in articles===
	Within an article, there is no technical constraint on using synonyms. You can freely use "]" (a redirect) as a synonym for the much longer "]" (the definitive name of the article). Or you could use ''both'' terms, as in "the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)". It is not necessary to use the definitive or long form on every occasion within an article.

	===Overlapping names===
	A name used by one entity may well clash with a name used by another entity. ] and expansion can resolve overlapping names. For instance, the term "Macedonians" may refer to the ] who call themselves by that name, ] who call themselves by that name, the inhabitants of the geographic region of ], the citizens of the ], the inhabitants of the ancient kingdom of ] or even an ].

	These overlapping meanings can be resolved by proper disambiguation. See ] for examples of disambiguation pages.

	== How to make a choice among controversial names ==
	===Article names===
	Misplaced Pages's technical and practical requirements mean that one particular name must be used as the definitive name of an article. If the particular name has negative connotations for a party, the decision can be controversial; some may perceive the choice as being one that promotes a POV with which they disagree.

	Wikipedians should not seek to determine who is "right" or "wrong", nor to attempt to impose a particular name for POV reasons. They should instead follow the procedure below to determine common usage on an objective basis. By doing this, ideally, we can choose a name in a systematic manner without having to involve ourselves in a political dispute.

	The procedure for determining article names differs somewhat between the two principal classes of names – ]s (e.g. ], ]) or descriptive names (e.g. ], ]).

	====Proper nouns====
	The key principles in summary are:
	* If a native name has a common English-language equivalent, the English version takes precedence (e.g. ''Munich'' rather than ''München''; ''China'' rather than ''Zhōngguó'').
	* If the name is a self-identifying term for the entity involved and there is no common English equivalent, use the name that the entity has adopted to describe itself.
	* If the name is that of an inanimate or non-human entity, there is no common English equivalent and no dispute over the entity's name, use the official designation (or an English translation thereof) applied by the governing body of the jurisdiction in which the entity is predominately found (e.g. ] from the Czech ''Orlické hory'').
	* If the name of an inanimate or non-human entity is disputed by two jurisdictions and one or more English-language equivalents exists, use the most common English-language name.
	* If the name of an inanimate or non-human entity is disputed by two jurisdictions and there is no English-language equivalent, use the most common non-English name.

	A number of '''objective criteria''' can be used to determine common or self-identifying usage:
	* Is the name in common usage in English? (check Google, other reference works, websites of media, government and international organisations; focus on ])
	* Is it the official current name of the subject? (check if the name is used in a legal context, e.g. a constitution)
	* Is it the name used by the subject to describe itself or themselves? (check if it is a self-identifying term)

	'''Subjective criteria''' (such as "moral rights" to a name) ''should not'' be used to determine usage. These include:
	* Does the subject have a moral right to use the name?
	* Does the subject have a legal right to use the name?
	* Does the name infringe on someone else's legal or moral rights?
	* Is the use of the name politically unacceptable?

	Where a choice exists between native and common English versions of names (e.g. ''Deutsch''/''German''), the common English version of the name is usually preferred (see also ] below).

	Do not invent names as a means of compromising between opposing points of view. Misplaced Pages describes current usage but cannot prescribe a particular usage or invent new names.

	Note that ] versions of names are not simply native names with ]s removed; "Zurich" is still a German name, as it is merely a spelling of ] without an ]. A name with a substantial difference in spelling (such as ] for ''Moskva'', ] for ''München'') represents a true anglicisation of a native name.

	====Descriptive names====
	:''See ]''

	Where articles have descriptive names, the given name must be neutrally worded and must not carry POV implications.

	For instance, a recent political controversy in the United States was nicknamed "Attorneygate" by critics of the George W. Bush administration. The article discussing the controversy is, however, at the more neutrally worded title ]. A descriptive article title should describe the subject without passing judgment, implicitly or explicitly, on the subject.

	See ] for further advice on potentially controversial terminology.

	===Resolving disputed names within articles===
	Using names within articles can be complicated by historical and local contexts, as well as the difference between the type of entity that is being named. Where two or more names are commonly used in the present day for an entity, the names should be given at the start of an article with the article name listed first, then the alternate names in alphabetical order by name (if they are all from the same language) or in order of the name of the language (if they are from different languages). Hence a name that was most commonly used in English but with alternates in Afrikaans, German and Zulu would be given at the start of the article in the order English - Afrikaans - German - Zulu.

	====Dealing with historical contexts====
	Always ensure that names are used in an historically accurate context and check that the term is not used anachronistically, e.g. using ] as a synonym for Roman ], or ] to refer to modern ].

	''Example:'' The Polish city of ] was called ] for many years. The name "Danzig" is not the definitive term today, but it is correctly used in historical contexts (e.g. when it was part of Germany or a Free City).

	Note that it is not always necessary to use a contemporary name to refer to a historical place. For example, there are two distinct articles ] and ], even though the two are essentially the same geographic entity.

	====Dealing with geopolitical contexts====
	In English, it is conventional for states to be referred to by their geographical territory as a short form - thus the "United Kingdom" for the ], "Hungary" for the Republic of Hungary, and so on. Note that this applies to states even where they do not control the whole of the geographical territory in question; "Ireland" is the official name for the ], and is often used rather than the extended description - even though "Ireland" is also the geographical name for the whole island of ], of which the United Kingdom's ] makes up part. When "Ireland" is used to mean the country, it is often ] to the Republic of Ireland article (ie. "]"). "]" and "]" are alternatives that can be used to disambiguate in practicable situations.

	==Other considerations==
	===Self-identifying terms===
	Misplaced Pages does not take any position on whether a particular person, group or nation has the ''right'' to use a particular name, particularly the name it uses for itself (a self-identifying name). Articles should report the objective fact that such names are used; if another nation or group disputes the right to use that name, then information about that dispute (if it is ]) should also be given in the appropriate place. Bear in mind that Misplaced Pages is descriptive, not prescriptive. We cannot declare what a name ''should be'', only what it ''is''.

	Commonly used English translations of self-identifying terms are usually preferred, per ]. For example: "Japanese" and not ''Nihon-jin''.

	Where a name includes geographical directions such as North, East, South or West (in a local language), the full name should be translated into English: hence East Timor, not ''Timor-Leste''; South Ossetia, not ''Yuzhnaya Osetiya''; West Java, not ''Jawa Barat''.

	===Identification of common names using external references===
	A number of methods can be used to identify which of a pair (or more) conflicting names is the most prevalent in English.
	* '''The Google test'''. Using Google's , search for each conflicting name and confine the results to pages written in English; also exclude the word "Misplaced Pages" (as we want to see what other people are using, not our own usage). Note which is the most commonly used term.
	* '''International organisations'''. Search for the conflicting names on the websites of organisations such as the ], ], ], ], etc.
	* '''Major English-language media outlets'''. Use and, where possible, the archives of major outlets such as and to identify common usages. Some media organisations have established style guides covering naming issues, which can provide useful guidance (e.g. ]'s style guide says use ''Ukraine'', not ''the Ukraine'').
	* '''Reference works'''. Check other encyclopedias. If there is general agreement on the use of a name (as there often will be), that is usually a good sign of the name being the preferred term in English.
	* '''Geographic name servers'''. Check geographic name servers such as the NGIA GNS server at http://gnswww.nga.mil/geonames/GNS/index.jsp .
	* '''Scientific nomenclature'''. Check usage by international bodies like ], ], ], and other scientific bodies concerned with ]; consider also the national standards agencies ] and ]. Consult style guides of ]s.

	==Ambiguity persists==
	When trying to solve a naming conflict according to the recommendations of this guideline, the outcome sometimes remains ambiguous. This happens for instance when:
	* The "official" name is not unambiguous;
	* Sources of comparable importance use different names;
	* etc...

	A frequently occurring scheme is when two names are compared, of which the one is the ''English translation'' of the other: for example, "Princess Viktoria of Prussia" or "Princess Victoria of Prussia"? Applying the table ] would indicate "Princess Viktoria of Prussia" should be used, while "official", etc... Then the rule is applied that the "English version" of that name should be applied... resulting in "Princess Victoria of Prussia". So, in such case, the application of this guideline sometimes results in a loop...

	To get out of this, consider the following:
	* In those unsolved cases a ], for example via ], can be conducted.
	* Such a poll is on a case by case basis: it is better to avoid ''dogmatics'' in the discussion: whether in the end this will result in ''change'' of the naming conventions guidelines is of no importance as long as the poll is going on. Instead of ''dogmatics'', the poll is rather about ''recognisability'', as in: "Generally, article naming should give priority to what the majority of English speakers would '''most easily recognize''' " - so, in the poll every wikipedian just decides for himself/herself which of the choices he/she ''most easily recognises''.
	* Before ''starting'' such a procedure, consider that very often (but not always!) the most predictable end result of the poll is the one that results from the ''Google test'' conducted with these parameters:
	**When consisting of more than one word, compare alternatives surrounded by quotation marks (fixed order of words);
	**All domains, but only ''English'' language;
	**Exclude "Misplaced Pages" from the search ("-wikipedia" parameter in Google).
	*<nowiki>check</nowiki> whether there is bias resulting from multiple meanings of the same (combination of) word(s). If such bias occurs it can sometimes* be filtered out, but there are more cases where it can't: Google testing has its limits!
	So before proposing a name change poll via ], consider whether the ''odds'' are worth it: you'll need to build a strong case if you propose a name change that strongly goes against a clear Google test result (but it happens, and also, as said above, the Google test frequently has no clear result).

	In the end, if all else fails, just leave the article at its original name. If there is such ambiguity that the possible title of an article could go 50-50, chances are there isn't that great of a need to move it in the first place. On these articles, endless discussion and bi-annual straw polls will likely only lead to more arguing and therefore the title should be left as its creator titled it.

	==See also==
	*] - guideline with some examples of how conflicting names of persons can be dealt with.
	*]. -Guidelines on which name of a place to use, and how to determine English usage.

	]
	]
	]

Latest revision as of 03:51, 7 February 2010

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