Naming Convention
There are three levels of coverage in France. The uppermost level is nationwide ("Métropolitain"), consisting of two national layers of coverage, each constructed as an MFN.
The lowest level of coverage is local, centred upon a town or community. Here the naming is self-evident. In most cases, the sizes of the local areas are comparable to the Small-Scale DAB ensembles in the UK.
In between, the regulator has organised coverage at a regional level. In many cases, these areas correspond almost exactly to those of Departments or former Departments, or combinations of Departments, but are designated by the regulator as [Name of town] + "étendu".
In order to be of greatest use to readers familiar with the geography of France, or living in those areas, and in deference to their sensitivities, Wohnort tries to use geographical names most likely to be familiar to the area's inhabitants. Wohnort has yet to meet anyone who declared that they came from "Bayonne étendu".
In one or two cases, however, the boundaries of the regional allotments do not correspond with any recognisable administrative, geographic or cultural areas, and so there has been no alternative, really, other than to adopt (and with some sorrow) the regulator's designation. Hence, "Bayonne étendu" it is. Ironically, the official designations are of the greatest use to readers in other countries. To try to serve both sets of readers, therefore, the index above uses both the geographical names and the official designations.
|
3
