Why are place names translated?
The Mexico vs. Mejico thread (and subsequent excellent response by Lazarus) made me think of asking a question that has been on my mind for a long time.
Why can we not respect what people want to call their own city or country?
Why do English people need to come up with the new name Spain for España?
Or Moscow for Moskva or Dominican Republic for Republica Dominicana?
It's not like we can't pronounce it! Hey, we can say Puerto Rico, can't we? We don't call it Rich Port. Or even if we can't pronounce it correctly, we can at least leave the spelling the same like Texas or Colorado.
The English speakers are not alone here. I watched the "Costa del Marfil" play in the world cup in Sudafrika on TV Azteca. I also used to live in what I call New York, but here in Mexico is called Nueva York. I've never been to Nueva Zealandia, though, but I have been to Disneylandia a couple of times. I've also been to Six Flags in Chicago and in Mexico City, but I haven't found a Seis Banderas yet.
There must be a million that are different and a million that are the same. What the heck?
6 Answers
I don't know what to say. Some people in Spain now insist that we should write Beijing instead of Pekín (our spelling) because that is how the Chinese write it. But I think that the real reason is that English speakers write it like that, because using that same logic, we should write Zhongguo and not China, since that is how Chinese people call their country. Or, to be even more accurate, we should actually write it as ??.
So, should we use the original names instead of our fancy versions? Ok, let's say from now on "Al Arabiyyah As Sa'udiyyah" instead of Saudi Arabia, Deutschland for Germany, "Kalaallit Nunaat" for Greenland, "Suomi" for Finland, "Divehi Rajje" for Maldivas, Shqipëria for Albania, "Ou Mun" for Macau... and, of course, "Al-Imarat Al-Arabiyyah Al-Muttahidah" for the Arab Emirates. I don't know about you guys, but I will personally continue saying Emiratos Árabes in Spanish.
But if you think we overdo it, go to China, Japan or any other syllabic oriented language, and you can play the game: "what place in USA am I saying to you?" They get deformed beyond recognition, but that's how it sounds easy to pronounce and logical to them.
So, let's be realistic: we need to create versions of other places, or become super-polyglots instead (and remember that each language reads the same letters in their own way.) Some words can be pronounced relatively easily and those can be left as they are, but others need to be adapted, and you can't avoid some easy words being translated or changed because it feels right to the natives. Take, for example, the word sherry. Where do you think it comes from? From a city called Jerez, where this wine is made. Some Englishmen saw the old spelling Xerez, they pronounced as they would in English, and then, when people kept hearing this "sherez", and then "sheryh", they decided that the spelling should be sherry. One of the two theories about the origin of Bahamas is that the Spanish conquistadors who found it, name it "Islas de Baja Mar" (low sea islands), which to English speakers' ears it sounds like Bahama(r).
Something I've wondered all of my life! ,
Austria for Österreich
Prague for Praha
You finally get to visit one of these places and the maps and freeway signs don't make sense.
Drive through Switzerland and try to find the off-ramp for Geneva!
Actually that may be a bad example, Genf is probably labeled in three different languages ... one will be close enough to recognize.
Some people's sensibilities are offended by what we call their towns ... and here we go telling them they just don't know where they live!
So, should we use the original names instead of our fancy versions?
Not looking to start a debate or contribute anything terribly profound, but because you asked, I, for one, say yes.
It will take some getting used to, but what doesn't.
Your name is your name, regardless of where you visit, or move to. When you come up in a discussion in any other country, there is no need to translate your name.
Especially now with the internet transcending borders and languages, wouldn't it be better if everyone referring to Deutschland used Deutschland. The way it is now, one has to know that Germany, Allemagne, Alemania, Déguó and Tyskland refer to the same place.
If Zhongguo decides it wants to be called China, it would be fine with me but until then I actually think it would be fair for all to learn that country calls itself Zhongguo.
I see logic in most all of what Lazarus laid out, and agree somewhat to most of it. So don't waste any effort debating, I am just saying:
People all over the world are working on being able to use English, the least we can do is honor the name they or their ancestors chose.
Such an interesting question, you might be interested in this article. link text
Sometimes, it just matter of how it sounds. For instance, there are Spanish place names in the U.S. and these were left untranslated although the pronunciation is anglicized For instance would you rather in a place called Casa Grande, or Big House., Los Gatos, or the Cats , Los Angeles or the Angels. Brand name and medical eponyms and trade names for medicines are lef are often left untranslated For example Parkinson diease is Enftremdad de Parkinson.
The worst is when people translate peoples names into their own languages. ie when other countries call Shakespeare Shekspear (though who am i to judge, i called him Shakespear (no e) in a previous thread here).
