UNITED
NATIONS GROUP OF EXPERTS ON GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES (UNGEGN)
Working Group on Romanization Systems
Consistent use of accurate place names is an essential element of effective
communication worldwide and supports socio-economic development, conservation and
national infrastructure. That is why the United Nations established a Group of Experts on
Geographical Names (UNGEGN). UNGEGN promotes consistent use of accurate place
names and prepares documents for the United Nations Conferences on the Standardization
of Geographical Names that are held every five years. For more information on the
activities of UNGEGN see the links below or refer to the
UNGEGN brochure.
Working groups are established by UNGEGN to deal with specific tasks, such as
training courses in toponymy, toponymic data files and gazetteers, toponymic terminology,
country names, publicity and funding, and romanization systems.
Terms of reference
The basic mandate of the Working Group consists of considering
and reaching agreement on a romanization system for geographic names
proposed by a (donor) country. The process of adoption of such a system by the United
Nations involves the following prerequisites:
- There needs to be sufficient time for appropriate consultations and an
expression of all views on technical matters between the sponsoring country and the
working group members. Thus active participation and input of the potential users of
the new romanization systems are assured.
- Specifically, the group considers whether the romanization system is based on sound
scientific principles, the system's degree of reversibility, and the extent of its
implementation on cartographic products (maps and charts) by the proposing country.
- Finally, the new system is referred to the next U.N. Conference on the
Standardization of Geographical Names in form of a resolution which, in
turn, is voted by the Conference. When the resolution is adopted, the subject
romanization system becomes the United Nations standard.
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(G. Quinting, UNGEGN Newsletter No. 17, May 1996)
Report on the Current Status of United Nations Romanization Systems for Geographical Names
See also an important note on links and report versions.
Version 3.0. March 2008
- Contains updates published after the 9th United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names (2007)
- Romanization systems
- Languages/scripts covered by systems recommended by the United Nations:
Bulgarian [2009-03-17: pdf/html]
| Hebrew [2008-05-07 (corr. a): pdf/html]
- Other languages/scripts:
Byelorussian [2008-04-17: pdf/html]
| Tigrinya [2008-04-17: pdf/html]
Version 2.3. December 2006
- Introduction [pdf/html] (includes updates from Version 1.3 to 2.1 and from 2.1 to 2.2)
- List of languages, countries and romanization systems [pdf/html]
- Romanization systems (systems that are revised in Version 3.0 above, are indicated in grey)
See technical papers, CRP. 81, published at the UNGEGN website.
Other documents
- 25th Session of UNGEGN (Nairobi, 5–12 May 2009)
- 9th United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names (New York, 21–30 August 2007)
- 24th Session of UNGEGN (New York, 20 and 31 August 2007)
- Meeting of the Working Group (Tallinn, 9–10 October 2006)
- 23rd Session of UNGEGN (Vienna, 28 March – 4 April 2006):
- 22nd Session of UNGEGN (New York, 20–29 April 2004):
- 8th United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names (Berlin, 27 August – 5 September 2002):
- 21st Session of UNGEGN (Berlin, 26 August – 6 September 2002):
- Meeting of the Working Group (London, 16–17 May 2001):
- 20th Session of UNGEGN (New York, 17–28 January 2000):
- 19th Session of UNGEGN (New York, 12 and 23 January 1998; below all links will direct to the UNGEGN or UN Map Library website):
- 18th Session of UNGEGN (Geneva, 12–23 August 1996):
- 17th Session of UNGEGN (New York, 13–24 June 1994):
- 15th Session of UNGEGN (Geneva, 11–19 November 1991):
Links to other UNGEGN sites
Other links on romanization
Composition of the Working Group
Below you will find the list of members. Some of WG members have retired from active service but continue to be associated with the working group.
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Mr. Ass'ad S. Abdo (Saudi Arabia)
Mr. Brahim Atoui (Algeria)
Mr. Abolfazl Bolandian (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Mrs. Caroline Burgess (United Kingdom)
Mme. Élisabeth Calvarin (France)
Ms. Catherine Cheetham (United Kingdom)
Mr. Randall E. Flynn (United States)
Mr. Charles M. Heyda (United States)
Mr. Naftali Kadmon (Israel)
Mr. Mehran Maghsoudi (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Mr. Peeter Päll (convenor, Estonia)
Mr. Walter Petrovitz (Holy See)
Mr. Gerd Quinting (United States)
Mr. Alessandro Toniolo (Italy)
Mr. Peter D. Viechnicki (United States)
Mr. Paul J. Woodman (United Kingdom)
Mr. Bogusław R. Zagórski (Poland) |
The Working Group can be contacted at the address of the convenor:
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Peeter Päll
Institute of Estonian Language
Roosikrantsi 6
10119 Tallinn
Estonia
Fax: +372-6177500
E-mail: peeter@eki.ee |
Notes on errors and any information on new developments in various countries are welcome.
Please note that the Working Group has no mandate to review any other systems except those
being submitted by the relevant authorities and experts of the donor countries within
the framework of the United Nations activities in the standardization of geographical names.
Opened: 2000-04-14
Updated: 2009-06-02