Topônimo-monumento, herança imaterial em São Paulo (Brasil)

Combatendo o apagamento toponímico

Abstract

Focusing on the city of São Paulo, Brazil, this paper explores how the substitution of toponyms leads to the loss of toponymic memory caused by the demonumentalization of the toponym, or, as we prefer to call it, a kind of topoamnesia, erasing stories that could be told to future generations. We interpret, with Critical Toponymy as a motto, some specific cases of toponym substitutions in urbanonyms within the municipality. The results point to the partial or total erasing of old place names after a certain lapse of time, and to the need to develop policies to protect toponyms, intangible cultural heritage.