The lexical-historical-cultural heritage in Bandeirantes - Mariana (MG): a toponomastic study

Abstract

Toponymy safeguards this valuable blend of information and knowledge present in the layers ofplace names, as it retrieves crystallized meanings. Proceeding from the hypothesis that locatives are fossils, attributing to them the condition of remaining intact, surviving to the present day, allowing us to delve into the past of this region. We have proposed to document the lexical-historical-cultural heritage of the toponymy of Mariana and its districts through the following methodology: (I) verify if these toponyms existed even before being elevated to such condition; (II) recover part of the intangible cultural heritage present in the explanation by the informant about the origin of the place name where they live; (III) understand the motivation, formation, and oldest meaning of the toponym; (IV) investigate if there have been any alterations regarding the written form (spelling). This present work aims at the knowledge, recovery, and preservation of the collective memory present in the names of places, as these have been replaced by other forms that, in some cases, endure until the present day. The choice of this toponym is justified by the evident relationship between linguistic and cultural elements, as they indicate associative relationships when named.