French Names (Padfoot)

[lupinesque]

No: HPFGUIDX 40530

Alley wrote:

> I never knew that actual names were translated too. I find it 
>interesting because we often have to search for meaning within 
>words that may be striclty in English or have derivitives from other 
>languages, or other (e.g. mythical) implications. To translate words 
>that aren't necessarily crystal clear to begin with seems odd.

Ah, we were just talking about this on OTC, but I guess it was 
getting a bit too on-topic <g> so I'll bring it here.  Over there, 
Mercia wrote:

> > I'm intrigued by the way, thinking about how things might be 
> > traslated, with what they do with Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and 
> > Prongs 

and I tried to answer but couldn't sort out the word for Padfoot, 
Padmol.  I hadn't read quite far enough; the next page gave me the 
clues I needed, the words "un molosse" (hound, large dog) and "une 
patte" (dog's paw).  So:  Pat-Mol, =something like "Dogfoot."

I think the translators are right to work with the names for exactly 
the reason that they do contain puns or allusions that are 
important.  It is never possible to translate all such levels of 
meaning, playing on English words as they do, but Patmol is an 
example of the translator giving it a shot.

Amy Z
who thinks translating "Wow, Hermione!" as "Hou, là, là, Hermione!" 
makes it sound as if she's sent Harry a nude photo of herself instead 
of a Broomstick Servicing Kit