Index of Toponyms and Glossonyms
Because toponyms and glossonyms (especially dialects) overlap to such an extent in the Balkans, the two subjects are indexed together. The current Balkan nation-state languages (Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Macedonian, Romanian, Turkish) occur on almost every page and are not indexed unless they are specified for dialect or a non-contemporary time period. Toponyms have individual entries. The primary entry for most toponyms is based on the following principles: if the place has a common English name or spelling, it is used, otherwise, linguistic or UN geographic principles are used. Primary entries are determined by the current name in the nation-state where the place is located (all other forms are cross-indexed). See footnote 89 in §1.3 on Albanian toponyms. However, if the toponym is also a chronotope, i.e. applies to a specific time-period, then it can serve as a primary entry; thus Constantinople refers to Istanbul before 1453 and each has a separate entry. Likewise Manzikert and Chernomen are main entries and their current names redirect. A toponym that can refer to various geographic features in roughly the same location is given only one entry (e.g. Timok is the name of a region, a river, a valley) unless disambiguation is required.