Summary/Translation pages

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 41539


Lilac wrote:
 
> Also, the translation for the meanings of the Names (yes, they 
> shouldn't change, I agree with you BBoy) could be in a one page 
> story.  
>  
> For instance...
> 
> Dumbledore (provide pronunciation) = old english name for bumble 
> bee. (written in that language, of course) 

And Gulplum countered:
 
> I see absolutely no reason for her to go into such detail. Looking 
> for and discussing the symbolism of characters' and places' names is 
> half the fun of getting into her books and I see no need for her to 
> spoil that. One of things which comes across very clearly when she 
> talks about her readers is how proud she is that they are so 
> analytical and keen on details, and the last thing I would expect of 
> her is to spell them all out at this stage. 
> 
> She's spoken of an eighth book she may write after the end in which 
> she reveals all, and *that*, if anything, would be the opportunity 
> for her to go into the various details you mention.

Now I shall say:

Sorry I'm a bit late on this one.

I think a happy medium should be reached.  Names derived from the
language in which the book is written, and which are supposed to imply
something about the character, should be translated.  For example,
Professor Sprout's name comes directly from the English language and
is directly connected to her profession, and therefore should be
translated.  However, Remus Lupin has a surname which derives from
Latin, not English.  This should not be tranlated.  If, in the telling
of the founding of Rome, the name Remus is usually translated, then
Lupin's first name should be too.  Otherwise, leave it alone.

Names such as Dumbledore, which (to this point, at least) convey
little about the character, should be changed phonetically only.

Tolkien provided a similar guide for translation for "The Lord of the
Rings".  In his mythology, the people of Rohan spoke a language which
was a precursor to Westron, the common tongue.  Because Westron (the
language the hobbits spoke on a daily basis) was represented as
English, Tolkien used Aglo-Saxon (Old English) for the Rohirric
language and names.  He wanted readers to recognize some words, but
not understand full statements.  He specified that any foreign
translations of his books must use a similar early form of the
language in these passages.  

Just my two cents.

-Corinth