[OSM-talk] Can wikidata links help fight name inflation?

[SomeoneElse]

On 29/05/2015 12:58, moltonel 3x Combo wrote:
> On 29/05/2015, SomeoneElse <lists at atownsend.org.uk> wrote:
>> I'd say that whether or not a name is actually usable to help navigate
>> to a place is a pretty important piece of information.
> True. And that what "name" should give you. The "name:CC" tags should
> not be a hindrance, at most they should be given alongside "name" by
> your satnav.
>
>> For example,
>> when processing OSM data for my own use I'll try and drop unsigned names
>> and refs from roads (there's no point in saying "turn left on Foo
>> Street" if "Foo Street" does not appear on the sign).
> That's really neat. How do you know wether a street is signposted or
> not ? I don't know of any tag that gives that info. I can't imagine a
> good heuristic using name:CC.  I've added quite a few unsignposted
> street names by asking locals.

I've used name:signed=no (though this is by no means an accepted tag, 
and if anyone can come up with a more accepted version that does the 
same job I'm all ears).

Maybe something like "name:signed=en;cy" might solve the "name 
verifiability" problem for Abergavenny?

>> It's the same
>> principle here - if there are 300 names for a place, are you really
>> suggesting that I have to do an external check to some other database to
>> find that as it's in South Wales, signs are likely to be in Welsh and
>> English, so it's those language names that I need to look out for?
> What's wrong with "name" ? What's the UK policy on the content of
> "name" for places with Welsh and English names ? If you want to see
> Welsh names as often as possible but still make the local name more
> prominent, use "local name (welsh name if different)" in your map
> generating script.

The problem here is that there are two* equally valid and correct 
"name"s (in on-the-ground verifiable terms) for Abergavenny.

Obviously there are more complicated places too - 
http://www.openstreetmap.org/node/52241235 and 
http://www.openstreetmap.org/node/267762522 immediately sprung to mind 
(re the former I thought that it was "An Daingean" that appeared on the 
official signs these days?).

Cheers,

Andu

* or possibly three if you count Latin.  It wouldn't surprise me if that 
wasn't on a "Welcome to Abergavenny" sign somewhere.