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It is common practice in Norway to refer to foreign places using endonyms. Although this endonymic principle may sound straightforward, it is complicated by the existence of plurilingual toponyms. This article argues that regional and minority languages must not be ignored when deciding which endonym(s) to use. This may be considered as a decolonisation of toponymy. The article sets out to (1) compare the available definitions of “endonym”, (2) map the occurrences and extent of living regional and minority language toponyms in Europe, (3) test how the Language Council of Norway currently handles such toponyms, (4) develop and apply an improved and consistent set of rules for the normalisation of foreign toponyms in Norway, and (5) give recommendations for how to refer to foreign plurilingual places in Norwegian.

Toponyms of Tyrol – how to apply the endonymic principle in a highly diverse namescape Tyrol has an extraordinary diversity of toponyms, which is due to the various languages that have been and are spoken in this moun­tainous area. After presenting the «namescape» of Tyrol (North Tyrol, East Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino), the article addresses the challenges that the toponymy of Tyrol poses for the official Norwegian spelling norm and identifies two problems. First, the spelling of the landscape itself («Tyrol») is incompatible with the endonymic principle (which demands «Tirol»). Second, most toponyms of South Tyrol are currently normalised in their Italian forms. However, the endonymic principle suggests that the norm should allow all forms that are locally well-established. A coherent alternative to the current Norwegian spelling norm is suggested. Further recommendations are given regarding the Norwegian spelling of Tyrolean toponyms that are not covered by the official norm.