Character names in subtitling
Thread poster: Josephine leclercq
Mar 14, 2021

Hello,
I have an issue with the name of a character in a subtitling translation (French to English). Should character names be translated from source language when they can't easily be understood in destination language?
The name is "Freddy la Déglingue" in French and it also appears on screen in the form of the title of a film script which means the viewer also reads it on-screen.
Any ideas?
Thank you!
Jo


 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 08:21
Member (2009)
English to German
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Names Mar 14, 2021

When the names are important for the plot, even more so when they're part of the title, they should be translated into the target language.

Orkoyen (X)
Petra Machado (X)
Mihail Mateev
Jocelin Meunier
expressisverbis
 
Adieu
Adieu  Identity Verified
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
You mean nicknames? Apr 20, 2021

Yes, nicknames and titles should usually be translated to convey the imagery therein (when important).

Think "Vlad the Impaler"

Titles are more difficult. Things mentioned in passing should probably be translated, but for elaborate historical costume dramas, for example, you might try to keep local titles for the ambiance (where they can deduced from the plot) or explain them a couple times and then use the local variant (where they cannot be guessed).

[Edited at
... See more
Yes, nicknames and titles should usually be translated to convey the imagery therein (when important).

Think "Vlad the Impaler"

Titles are more difficult. Things mentioned in passing should probably be translated, but for elaborate historical costume dramas, for example, you might try to keep local titles for the ambiance (where they can deduced from the plot) or explain them a couple times and then use the local variant (where they cannot be guessed).

[Edited at 2021-04-20 13:04 GMT]
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expressisverbis
 


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Character names in subtitling







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