Glossary of Definitions

Place - although a place is a geographical scale between home and a region, it is also where flows of people, ideas and information come together at different scales and in different locations to form geographical locations. Places are also meaningful to different people, groups and communities in different ways as people or groups can have different associations with a place and it can represent a particular feeling or memory or part of their life.

Insiders - often born in the place or their parents were, have a higher status e.g. can work, vote and have a passport of that country, are fluent in the local language, conform to social norms and understand unspoken societal rules, feel safe, secure, happy and at home there.

Outsiders - not born in the place or their parents are immigrants, have a lower status e.g. temporary visitor, hold a foreign passport, not fluent in the local language and don’t understand local slang, frequently misunderstand social interactions and are often homesick or feel out of place.

Near places - places that are a short distance away and are at a local scale but are also places that you feel comfortable going to a lot so you feel close to them.

Far places - Real or virtual places that are distant and are often at a global scale. However, they are also places you do not feel safe or comfortable in so never go to.

Experienced places - places you may develop an emotional attachment to due to having lived or been there.

Media places - places you may learn about through the internet, radio, film or music.

Character - refers to the distinctive qualities of a place’s landscape, culture and built environment. It is influenced by both exogenous and endogenous factors.

Endogenous - refers to the characteristics of the place itself or factors which have originated internally. This would include aspects such as physical geography, land use, location and social and economic characteristics such as population size and employment rates.

Exogenous - refers to the relationship of one place with another place and the external factors which affect this. The demographic, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of a place are shaped by shifting flows of people, resources, money and investment.

Location - where a place is on a map; its longitude and latitude coordinates.

Locales - each place is made up of a series of locales where everyday activities take place and people meet. These settings are important as they show the unique character of the area and affect social interactions, behaviours and help forge values.

Sense of place - the subjective (personal) and emotional attachment to a place and its meaning to someone who has been there.

Perception of place - what you think a place you haven’t been to would be like.

Meaning - relates to individual or collective perception of place.

Qualitative data - information that is non numerical and used in a relatively unstructured and open-ended way. It is descriptive information which often comes from interviews, focus groups or artistic depictions such as photographs.

Quantitative data - data that can be quantifies and verified, it is amenable to statistical manipulation.

Representation - relates to how a place is portrayed or seen in society.

Media - means of communication including TV, film, photography, art, newspapers, books, songs, etc. These reach or influence people widely.