The Power of Names: Name Translation in Young Adult Fiction

Abstract

The translation of any literary work is never an automatic process as it always involves many problems. The research tackles the importance of translating character names in literature as one of the most challenging activities that translators face. Names usually have various allusions indicating gender, age, geographical origin, history, specific meaning, playfulness of language, and cultural connotations. The research aims to draw attention to the importance of the cultural elements relevant to the choice of names and their translation. The research starts with a general theoretical background that addresses the translation of proper nouns. Then it discusses the importance of names in shaping the characters and sheds light on the question of whether names carry meaning or not. Following this, the research explains the translation strategies proposed by Jan Van Collie (2006) for translating character names, and the problems faced in translating proper names. The study investigates the different translation strategies used for translating character names in several works with special reference to Madeleine L'Engle's (1962) A Wrinkle in Time . Analysis has revealed that "reproduction" is the most frequently used strategy leading to the foreignization of the translated texts. Such foreignization technique, the researcher claims, hinders the appreciation of the work of art as it alienates the reader from the culture of the text.