Translation of Proper Names

As translators we'll face the translation of proper names. Some of them are can be easly translated, like countries' names, such as England [Inglaterra], Spain [España], etc. But when facing the translation of a person's name, it not might be that easy to do so.

Names change according to culture, conveying different meanings. When translating names on literature, a translator can consider whether to translate the name keeping the conveyed meaning, or keeping the original name but explaining what it means on the Source Language.

Concerning translation of proper names, Newmark (1988) said that they are translated in order to preserve nationality when they are not related to the text. Names that have a meaning in literature, comedies, etc., the procedure of translation should be taking into account, except when nationality is important. And when both, nationality and connotation, it is suggested that at first the name should be translated into the Target Language and after that the translated word should be adapted and naturalized into a new proper name.

Lincoln Fernandes (2006) proposed the following set of procedures to follow when translating proper names:

• Rendition: This procedure is used when the name is transparent and is in a standarized language, thus acquiring "meaning" should be translated into the target language.


• Copy: In this procedure, the names are preserved in the translated text exactly as they appear on the source text without ortographic adjustment.


• Transcription: This procedure is an attempt to transcribe the name into the closest sounding letters in the target language.


• Substitution: In this procedure, the proper name is substituted by an semantically unrelated name existing in the target text.


• Recreation: This procedure recreates a name that doesn't exist neither in the SL nor the TL, but trying to reprocude similar effects.


• Deletion: This procedure removes a source-text name and it occurs when the name is of little importante or is not relevant enough to be translated.


• Addition: This procedure adds extra information to the original name to inform the readers about the meaning.


• Transposition: This procedure replaces one word clas with another without changing the meaning of the original message.


• Phonological Replacement: In this procedure the Target text attempts to mimic phonological features of a Source text name by replacing it with an existing name in the Target language equal to the sound image of the replaced name.

So when translating proper names, try to consider what the Source text wants to convey and choose what you think would be the best option.

References:

Lincoln, F. (2006). "Translation of Names in Children's Fantasy Literature." Translation Studies. 2(P. 44-57)

Mizani, S. (2008). Proper names and Translation. Fars Science and Research Azad University, Iran. Found in Translation Journal: http://accurapid.com/journal/45proper.htm

Newmark, P. (1998). A text book of Translation. London: Prentice Hall.