Street names in a multicultural and multilingual context using the example of Sibiu / Hermannstadt / Nagyszeben

Abstract

: Street names – like anthroponyms and place names in general – enjoy great general interest. This is certainly also due to their visibility and relevance for orientation in public space. The focus of this paper is on the street names in the city of Sibiu (Hermannstadt, Romania) in the 20th century where nowadays a majority of Romanians live together with the Hungarians and the traditionally Germanspeaking Saxons. In the course of the 20th century, bilingualism was introduced to street names, and in the wake of political changes multiple renamings took place. The aim of this study is to illustrate these renominations by means of examples.