Introduction
In “Character Names in Translation: A Functional Approach,” the author examines the different strategies that translators can use when confronted with personal names in the source text. According to the article, names serve specific objectives or services (Coillie). The author then divides the elements influencing the translator’s tactics into categories (Coillie). I found this article thought-provoking and insightful, as it sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of names and their translation.
Names as Multifunctional Narrative Tools
One of the article’s main points is that names are more than just labels; they have many purposes linked with the narrative. The author argues that “names in books serve particular purposes or functions” and that “their first function, undoubtedly, is to identify characters” (Coillie 123). Names can serve various purposes, such as amusing the reader, conveying information, or invoking feelings. The researcher constructs these functions and acts at the suggested author, reader, or interpreter level. The author’s classification of the various functions and their possible effects on the reader is illuminating and helps to demonstrate the complexity of names and their translation.
The Complexity of Translating Names
Another persuasive argument is that the choice of translation approach is influenced by several elements, including the character of the name, textual considerations, the translator’s perspective, and external influences. The author claims that the connotation associated with a name is the most significant reason for changing it. Still, other variables, such as the ‘foreignness’ of the word, reverberation, rhythm, and wordplay, can also play a part in the translator’s decision (Coillie 130).
Translator Perspective and Cultural Influence
The author also mentions that translators are driven by their frames of reference, which are culturally and historically distinctive. This includes the translator’s childhood vision, beliefs about what children can manage, what they find unusual, what they prefer to read, and what is vital for their development (Coillie). The author’s description of the elements influencing translator techniques helps comprehend the complicated and multidimensional translation process.
Conclusion
Overall, “Character Names in Translation: A Functional Approach” is an engaging and thought-provoking study that sheds light on the intricate and diverse nature of names and their translation. The author analyzes the many roles of names and their potential impacts on the reader. Explaining the elements influencing the translator’s tactics is beneficial in comprehending the complicated translation process. The paper raises crucial concerns concerning the function of names in books and the difficulties associated with translating them.
Work Cited
Coillie, Jan Van. “Character Names in Translation: A Functional Approach.” Children’s Literature in Translation, 1st ed., Routledge, 2007, pp. 123–39.