What does PCGN do?

PCGN...

... establishes and applies the principles by which foreign geographical names (toponyms) should be written.  This involves determination of the written form of a toponym, as established by the official agencies of a foreign country, and romanized to an agreed system where appropriate.  The PCGN does not itself create any geographical names, nor does it concern itself with toponymic etymologies.

... develops, maintains, disseminates and promotes policies based on these principles.  This involves advising how UK official products can best reflect each foreign country’s official national toponymic policies.  The policies adopted by the PCGN must be country-based rather than language-based, to reflect the requirements of Her Majesty's Government (HMG).

... ensures inter-departmental service to Her Majesty's Government through the provision of approved geographical names.  There may be more than one correct solution to any given toponymic requirement, since the individual demands of each HMG customer department may vary.

... promotes the international standardization of geographical names by representing the British government within the biennial United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), and at the United Nations Conferences on the Standardization of Geographical Names held every five years

... achieves and maintains policy harmony with the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) by means of annual BGN/PCGN Conferences

... develops appropriate standards for the processing of geographical names, such as romanization systems and procedures for the sorting and encoding of characters, in conjunction with the UNGEGN and the BGN

... maintains close liaison with such other relevant organizations as the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-names Committee (APC) and the British Standards Institution (BSI).

How do we do this?

we evaluate geopolitical issues and geographical names developments, through the acquisition and analysis of source materials in the world’s many diverse scripts and languages

we produce documents relating to geographical names in areas of particular interest

we actively support the production programmes of the organizations represented on the Committee.