How does translation of names work in spanish
I've noticed that people's names, famous people especially, are frequently translated into Spanish versions of the name. For example Jules Vernes is called Julio Verne in Spanish. Why is this and how does a name get translated? Why not keep the names as they are in their native language? Does it have something to do with pronunciation?
3 Answers
As far as I can figure out, the translation of names is only done for certain historical characters, or for certain people or great worldly import, particularly Royalty. I really don't know where this "tradition" comes from, and who makes the decision. I certainly cannot see a firmly consistent patter.
The name of the Catholic Pope, for example, is always translated. So Pope Benedict XVI is: Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI ; Spanish: Benedicto XVI.
Some British Royalty names also get regularly translated: La Reina Isabel II, El Príncipe Carlos, la Princesa Diana (written the same way, pronounced differently).
Likewise, very famous historical characters sometimes, but not always, appear translated: Guillermo Shakespeare (although William is far more common, at least nowadays), Guillermo Tell, EL Rey Enrique Octavo (Henry VIII), The Three Magi: Mechior - Melchor, Caspar - Gaspar, Balthasar - Baltasar; and of course, Jesus Christ and all His disciples as well as all the Saints get their names translated.
Now, when it comes to regular folk, the rule is that the names should not be translated, unless of course we're talking about different alphabets, where you try to do your best to approximate the phonetic equivalent.
There is a long, detailed essay that deals with this phenomenon here. Read it at your heart's content, but for me, the most important line is: "Uno de los criterios en los que se alcanzó consenso muy amplio con cierta rapidez fue en el de respetar escrupulosamente la escritura original de los antropónimos (o nombres propios de personas) extranjeros," In short - leave the names alone.
This happens in my language too(Slovak), though not so often these days anymore (at least I think so). I think it has something to do with different languages having different pronunciation and also accent. Every language is different and maybe some names sound a bit odd in some languages. For example in my country, a change I see often is that they add ¨ova¨ to a surname of a woman to indicate her gender because this is the way the surnames are formed there:D (Like Edith Stein - > Edita Steinova, Marlene Dietrich -> Marlene Dietrichova). Still, no one would call Natasha Bedingfield Bedingfieldova because it doesn't sound natural. So I guess it can be similar with spanish
With Julio Verne, my guess would be that -s ending sounds as if it was plural but it isn't so maybe that's why they omit it. But that's a pure guess
Very good question... I've wondered the same myself. I'm curious to know myself.
