ICOS

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The official languages of ICOS are French, German, and English.
Die offiziellen Sprachen des ICOS sind Englisch, Französisch und Deutsch.
Les langues officielles de l’ICOS sont l’allemand, l’anglais, et le français.

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International Council of Onomastic Sciences
The International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) is the international organisation for all scholars who have a special interest in the study of names (place-names, personal names, and proper names of all other kinds). The aim of the Council is the advancement, representation and co-ordination of name research on an international level and in an interdisciplinary context. This new organisation replaces the former International Committee of Onomastic Sciences which, as a closed society, exclusively co-opted representatives of countries and was therefore not open to individual scholars.
L'International Council of Onomastic Sciences
L'International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) est l'organisation internationale de tous les chercheurs ayant les noms propres pour objet d'étude (noms de personne, noms de lieu et autres noms propres). L'organisation a pour but d'encourager, représenter et coordonner la recherche onomastique au niveau international et en contexte interdisciplinaire. Elle remplace l'ancien International Committee of Onomastic Sciences, ‘club fermé’ réservé aux représentants nationaux cooptés, à l'exclusion des chercheurs individuels.
Der International Council of Onomastic Sciences
Der International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) ist die internationale Organisation aller Forscher, die sich mit Namen (Ortsnamen, Personennamen und sonstigen Eigennamen) beschäftigen. Ziel der Organisation ist die Förderung, die Vertretung und die Koordination der Namenforschung auf internationaler Ebene und im interdisziplinären Zusammenhang. Diese neue Vertretung löst das alte International Committee of Onomastic Sciences ab, das als ‘geschlossene Gesellschaft’ ausschliesslich Vertreter eines Landes kooptierte und Einzelforschern nicht offenstand.

Latest News

The 28th ICOS Congress in Helsinki
The 28th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) in Helsinki, Finland, scheduled for 2024, was a landmark event gathering scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts in the onomastics. This prestigious conference served as a platform for discussions on a wide range of topics, ranging from personal names and place names to more specialized domains like brand...

ICOS Congress’ 4th Circular Letter
Dear colleagues and participants, Welcome to the 28th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences in Helsinki, Finland! This email includes important information about the Congress. Please read the post and the attachments through carefully! Fourth Circular Letter: Includes information on several topics, such as the venue, online participation, social events, etc. Updated programme: There have been some changes to...

ICOS Working Group on Toponymy
The International Council of Onomastic Sciences entertains a new Working Group on Toponymy with the task to promote research on toponymy with a holistic approach, i.e. from the perspectives of all sciences engaged and relevant in onomastics.  In detail, the Working Group has the following tasks: The Working Group has a registered membership, a...

Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Namenforschung 2025
Namen im Kontext Soziopragmatische Aspekte des Gebrauchs von EigennamenJahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Namenforschung (GfN), 2.–4. April 2025, Archivzentrum, Uppsala (Schweden) Organisation: Michael Prinz und Daniel Solling Obwohl die soziale Dimension des Namengebrauchs seit langem bekannt ist, standen in der wissenschaftlichen Beschäftigung mit Eigennamen lange Zeit deren Genese, ihr Wert als Sprachzeugnisse und ihr lexikologischer...

Countdown to ICOS 2024: Register by July 31st!
Dear ICOS members, We would like to remind you that registration for the ICOS 2024 congress ends on July 31st. Link to the registration form, congress fees and further information can be found on the congress website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/28th-international-congress-onomastic-sciences/participants/registration Looking forward to meeting you in Helsinki, ICOS 2024 Organizing Committee

Bid for the ICOS 2027 Congress
Ladies and Gentlemen, dearest Colleagues and Friends, It is with great pleasure that we present to you the sole bid for the Congress of the International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) to be held from August 16 to August 20, 2027, in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria. Venue and Theme The Congress will...

Appel à contributions “Les Dynamiques de l’Anthroponymie”
APPEL À CONTRIBUTIONS POUR LA SECTION THÉMATIQUE DE LA REVUE ONOMASTICA DESDE AMÉRICA LATINA – , V.6.   L’appel est ouvert à partir d’août 2024 jusqu’en mars 2025 pour le  dossier “Les Dynamiques de l’Anthroponymie : Héritages et Identités au Maghreb et en Afrique Subsaharienne”. Il est organisé par Yamina Taibi-Maghraoui, Nadjia...

Names in the (re)construction of gender
Need some fruitful summer reading? The latest issue of NoSo: the Nordic Journal of Socio-Onomastics was just online, with a special issue on “Names in the (re)construction of gender” guest edited by sociologist Jane Pilcher. The issue includes five interesting contributions on topics such as: the use of humour in patrilinear surnaming practices in Finland, men’s...