Translations of HBP - how the names are translated

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 144887

dumbledore11214 wrote:
> This is SO interesting. I guess this is a direction translators of
> Harry Potter go to - to translate as many names as possible or
> something. I don't think it is  the best one, but if the publishers
> wanted it, I wish the translators were at least consistent, you
> know - as in translating every name which IS talking, although as I
> said I would prefer them NOT translating any.

Miles:
I don't think we should condemn the translators and/or publishers for
translating the names. Now, with volume 6 having some dust on it in many
bookshelves, we may forget what Harry Potter was with the very first book: a
children's book about a eleven year old boy, not more, not less. Few adults
were interested in it, but the book was quite succesfull (as well as CoS and
PoA), but still the obvious target group were children.
So, translations were for children as well, and children outside English
speaking countries just cannot understand English names, cannot pronounce
them and above all they do not understand them if they have a meaning. To
translate names is absolutely justifiable, if it is done correctly and
consistently. In German translations the names of the main characters are
English, the less important names are translated when they have a meaning -
e.g. the name of the COMC teacher who substitutes Hagrid. English names
without meaning are not changed.
The trouble with translated names comes from the films if not dubbed, from
Hollywood's unified merchandising and www-fandom.

A bit off-topic: the German names in Lord of the Rings are well-known in
German fandom - and they are just great. Frodo Beutlin for Baggins (German
Beutel is bag), Das Auenland for The Shire (German Aue is floodplain),
Thorin Eichenschild for Oakenshield and so on. A friend's last name is the
same as Frodo's nom de guerre when he leaves the Shire - people keep smiling
at him ;).
German speakers who don't know English would miss so many humour and meaning
without these names translated - and so will readers of Harry Potter with
all the original names.

Miles