Mould-on-the-Wold

[Steve]

---  "zanooda2" <zanooda2 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "potioncat" <willsonkmom@> wrote:
> 
> > I wouldn't recommend translating the name of the town.
> 
> 
> zanooda:
> 
> I don't think they have a choice, because, if left without a translation, this name sounds really awkward and weird :-). All those transcriptions and transliterations don't work here, because we don't have the sound "th" :-). ...
>

This is one thing that has bothered me with the translations, and that is the need to change the names of people and places. For example, I believe in Italian, DUMBledore was translated to Professor Silencio. Apparently because 'dumb' as the only part of the name the could make sense if. 

But not matter where I go in the world, my name and the town I'm from stay the same. It isn't translated. My name is a noun, not in the standard sense, but my last name is a common object.

For example if my name was John Door and I was from Rolling Hills, Kentucky, you wouldn't introduce me as Juan Puerta from Rollo Colinas if I was in Mexico. Whether in Spain, France, or China, my name is still John Door from Rolling Hills. 

Now, the meaning of my name might change in various languages, but not the name itself. 

Yes, there may be some subtle underlying pun or alliteration to Mold-on-the-Wold, but the name is still the name.

To some extent, I can understand when a name is so hopelessly and completely out of the realm of a local language as to simple be gobbly-gook, totally nonsensical. But none the less, names are usually not translated unless there is a very very very good reason to do so. 

As another example, apparently 'Dumbledore' is related to bumble or honey bee. Just as my last name has a very common meaning that would work in any language. But in the case of Dumbledore, it is only of secondary interest that the name comes from a reference to a 'Bee'. 

I mean is name isn't 'honey bee', it is 'Dumbledore', and that's what we should call him.

My first name 'Steven' means Crown, or Garland. Still regardless of the meaning, my friends are more likely to call me Steve than 'Crown'. 

Steve/bboyminn