UNIT 6.

TRANSLATION OF NAMES

Cultural elements: frequent pitfalls

Translation of taboo words/ recipes and menus/ proverbs/humour/ translation of names.
Names definition: “ A name is a word that answer the purpose of showing what thing is it we
are talking about but not saying anything about it. “
A proper noun (vs common noun) is interpreted as “ the name of a specific individual or set of
individuals distinguished only by their having a name”
Large cultural differences between the function and use of personal names in Western
Language cultures and Eastern traditions.
Proper names are , to some degree, culturally and linguistically specific, although some names
and name forms are universal, which means that one and the same name(name form) is udsed
in more than one language :biblical names , for instance
Functions:
- Deictic quality: to point directly to a single , concrete referent
- Identification of individuals , places, animals or things
- Names are culturally and linguistically specific
- Even the phonetic form determines
Descriptiveness and informativeness:
- Names may “sway”
- Descriptiveness: the meaning of a name as a set of properties expressed in the form of
a description/definition may not always be “active”
- Many ordinary names may have meaning in the language of origin, but since they have
entered into new languages and cultures over the years their original meanings get
gradually lost.
- Jazmin, paloma”oceano de sabiduría “ even Garbancito o Bella durmiente
- However , names may be nondescriptive but are always informative: Age, region, etc,;
Eneko, Vanessa, Eva ,María.
Conventional vs Loaded names.Hermans 1988
1. Conventional names: Those seen as “unmotivated” for translation, since they apparently
do not carry a semantic load; their morphology and phonology do not need to be
adapted
2. Loaded names
FALTA POR COMPLETAR

Fiction and non-fiction texts

We have assumed that in fictional texts there is no name that has no informative function at all.
Fiction: More loaded and descriptive names
- If the info is explicit (descriptive names) the name should be translated: Doña perfecta
- If the info is implicit: the translator is free to compensate for the implicit meaning of the
name ( Eneko vs Iñigo/Ignacio)
- There must be consistency through the text
Some examples from children´s stories:
- Blancanieves
- La cenicienta
- La belle au bois dormant
SO…
- Translators decides on names
- What will be most adequate accc. To the type of translation, trends in the translation
names, ideas on the benefits of foreign names…
- “translation is an activity carried out in a given cultural context,”
- HERMANS reminds that NAMES:
 can be copied
 Transcribed
 Substituted

NAMES IN NON-FICTION TEXTS

-Nowadays personal names are commonly left untranslated
Well-known historic figures like popes or kings
The same happens plus names of countries and regions. If so, keep to the official name in the
TT
Unless political, sociological, or ideological reasons recommend otherwise. See, f.e., A Coruña,
Lleida. As used in Castilian texts.
In bilingual countries: See the convenience of inserting both versions: (Vitoria/Gasteiz)
Settlement names ( e.g. villages ) may prove too foreign
Names of buildings and streets: The translator should add a description.
Titles