Criteria for the use of exonyms

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Authors and editors of maps, atlases and all kinds of text publications, including articles in newspapers, as well as journalists of the electronic media, frequently face the problem of which name to use for a geographical feature outside their own country or linguistic community. If a choice of names is available, should they choose a name used by the community residing in or near the feature (endonym), or a name used by the author’s or editor’s community (exonym)? In which situations communication by using the exonym is likely to be more successful than by using the endonym? Which kind of place name (endonym or exonym) should be used in domestic communication, and which is better for international use? Which feature types are first candidates for exonyms? Which of the two categories would be preferable in school atlases, on road maps, or on city plans? The discussion on these criteria is reflected by the chapters of this book, documenting papers presented at a meeting of the United Nations Group of Experts (UNGEGN) in 2015.