Karelian Toponymy in the State Index of Place Names: Mistakes Correction

The article tackles the problem that is topical for all areas of Russia with ethnic minority populations: how local toponyms are presented in State Index Place Names. SIPN was initiated by Federal Service Registration, Cadaster, and Cartography (Rosreestr) to become a comprehensive registry designations topographic objects must be used formal situations. For territory Karelia, includes over 16,000 placenames, nearly half which Karelian names, ones use language milieu, Karelian-speaking territories Republic. paper gives an overview strategies adapt place dominant being phonetic transcription. Analysis proves it highly inconsistent contradictory due lack ad hoc manual on representation Balto-Finnic names Karelia Russian as well their linguistically incorrect recording cartographers post-processing. authors provide classification main types mistakes made (inconsistent rendering sounds lacking direct equivalents — long vowels, diphthongs, umlauts, geminates), highlight problems such disregard complex structure characteristic toponymy, arbitrary processing collectors, trying link toponymic base word, liberal treatment dialect map unfortunate slips typos. Almost third (for some even half) placenames misspelled. issue becomes more relevant view recent renovation ramification road network advancement tourism other activities, make formalized toponymy ‘visible’. recommendations eliminating inconsistencies flaws visual argue Rosreestr collaborate researchers who have access fieldwork files Scientific Card Names Adjacent Regions, can bring data order.