To translate or not to translate?

A literary translator’s dilemmas of proper names with respect to speculative fiction

Abstract

To translate or not to translate? A literary translator’s dilemmas of proper names with respect to speculative fiction  

The paper attempts to list the dilemmas proper names present to literary translators based on the author’s own and others’ literary translations. There is no consistent rule governing whether or not to translate proper names in Hungarian. Generally names embedded in the text are dealt with according to the client’s requirements, the context and the literary translator’s resources. This is the case even if a name does not simply serve as an identifier, to separate an entity unambiguously, but has significant meaning, refers to something important or contributes to the overall ambience. There are arguments for and against the translation of proper names; using the originals is time-saving, cost-efficient and makes reference to the original easier, while translation provides the reader with extra information, to say nothing of the ’magical vibes’ of the name, the evoked feeling of unfamiliarity or familiarity, the atmosphere produced by it. As every case differs, a translator must take all significant factors into consideration and make a decision that will greatly influence the reception of a literary work. Although it may seem logical to expect consistency within a work, series or oeuvre, the paper attempts to show why consistency in dealing with proper names is something a literary translator aspires to, but never fully achieves.