Unfortunately, in most countries, language skills are not taught in schools. Thus, many people are left to their own devices, and comprehension becomes difficult.
Today, we live in an extremely mobile culture where we may find ourselves sitting at a table with individuals from several countries, each with a different native language, even though they may speak a common language. Still, there are many problems in communicating with others. One major problem is how we handle proper nouns.
Proper nouns are specific names for particular people, places, organizations, or sometimes things, always capitalized, regardless of where they appear in a sentence. They should never be changed when translating.
General Strategies
There is a universal rule that proper nouns should be left unchanged. While it is possible to veer from the rule, doing so makes it difficult to keep up with the conversation. The rule is to always respect other people, places, organizations, or sometimes things.
Transference (Retention): The name should be used exactly as it appears in its original source (e.g., New York remains New York in Spanish, and not Nueva York or Nueva Yorka).
Personal Names: Individual names should always be left untranslated to preserve nationality (e.g., George remains George in Spanish, and not Jorge; Mary remains Mary and not Mari or Maria)
However, traditional titles after a name can be translated (e.g., William the Conqueror could be translated into Spanish as William el Conquistador rather than Guillermo el Conquistador).
Specific Category Rules
Geographical Names: The United States should be stated and written as Los United States in Spanish, and not Los Estados Unidos. The problem is that Mexico is also Los Estados Unidos, albeit with the addition of “de Mexicanos” sometimes. When a Spanish speaker says “Los Estados Unidos,” the listener has no clue they might be referring to the United States of America. It is necessary to be proper so that the other person understands exactly what is being said.
Fictional Names: If a name in a novel is “loaded” with meaning (e.g., Snowball in Animal Farm), it is often translated to preserve the author’s intended characterization or metaphor.
Conclusion
Consider others when speaking or writing to a person whose native language is different. The purpose of communication should be clarity in being understood. A Spanish speaker whose name is Luis Jurado Ochoa would not appreciate having his name changed by an English speaker to Louis Jury, no more than I would appreciate having my name changed from William Hood to Guillermo Capucha. Please don’t!
Author: G. William Hood
Author, Columnist, Educator, Epistemologist, and Publisher