Mōtung:Constantinopolis
[Reverting to Modern English for the benefit of others.] The name of this article is the authentic name given to the city now known as Istanbul. The city's name was not changed in the 1920's; it has always been called Istanbul in Turkish; in the 1920's the Turks simply asked the world to use its Turkish name, and that is the usage now in Modern English. This though is not a Modrn English article. In Old English the city has never been known as anything but Constantinopolis or varients in spelling.
This is not a political stance; it is authentic Englisc.
In the same way we do not say "London" just because the locals call it that these days; its name in Englisc is Lunden. We do not say "Roma" for Rōm, nor "Sverige" for Swēoland; we use the correct Old English name, as here.
Hogweard 19:21, 7 Winterfylleþ 2009 (UTC)
- I'll counter in saying that we're using language, not trying to recreate a time period. Since its name has been known worldwide as Istanbul for the last 90 years, I feel we're obligated to do this. Both Constantinopolis and Istanbul are loaned names anyway, so technically neither are authentic, as far as that goes; but they did use the first name that they came across. Perhaps a "Constantinopolis" section can exist within the article, to discern its ancient significance from its modern-day setting, thus allowing both names to be correctly reflected. — ᚹᚩᛞᛖᚾᚻᛖᛚᛗ (ᚷᛖᛋᛈᚱᛖᚳ) 22:55, 4 Winterfylleþ 2010 (UTC)
- We are describing a city well known to our Englisc-speaking forebears. Like many famous cities, it has different names in different languages: Κωνσταντινούπολη in Greek, İstanbul in Turkish, Stambolli in Albanian - it has not had its name changed since the days of Constantine the Great; the change from "Constantinople" to "Istanbul" in Modern English is merely usage (adopted when the Turkish Post Office said they would refuse to accept letters addressed to "Constantinople"). It remains the same city.
- Likewise, Eboracum, Efrog, Eoforwic and York are not different cities; they are the same place as referred to in different languages. Neither do they necessarily represent different eras; in modern Latin texts Eboracum is used, and in Modern Welsh texts Efrog. Similarly "London" is but one language's version of a name; I would no more use "London" when speaking French than I would use "Londres" when speaking Modern English.
- In Old English texts "Constantinopolis" is used. Had the city's name been changed, there would be a good argument for using the Turkish name, but it has not been, just as no amount of modern usage will change "Lunden" to "London" in Englisc. Hogweard 20:32, 5 Winterfylleþ 2010 (UTC)