APPROACH TO GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES AS LINGUISTIC FOSSILS OF PLACE NAMES IN DOWNTOWN RIO DE JANEIRO

Place names have accompanied human activity since time immemorial. The naming of human beings and places allows their individualisation and consequent univocal identification, constituting a fundamental plan of the development process of today's society, the study and knowledge of cities. The exponential growth of urban centres makes it essential to reflect on their past and present evolution, as well as to understand in depth the dynamic elements that may ensure their future continuity. Based on the concept of linguistic fossils, this study aimed to evaluate the evolution of some toponyms belonging to a territorial section of the city centre of Rio de Janeiro, the changes in the naming of geonymy along the time line. The methodology involved: 1) research in historical documents of geographic names of streets; 2) definition of the time frame; 3) sample survey of addresses; 4) cartographic survey of the old addresses and 5) survey of relevant legislation. The results showed that the streets went through important changes or permanence of geographical names, and the choices are representative of the mentality of the occupants, demonstrating the real possibility of the use of geographical names as true linguistic fossils.