The role of context in the translation of proper names

Abstract

The role of context in the translation of proper names  

The aim of this study is to present the problems that may be raised by the translation of proper names on different levels of context, and the methods with which translators can solve these issues. To this end, using the framework of relevance theory, the author first clarifies the concepts of translation, meaning and context. Section 4 attempts to define a proper name and then, comparing the semantic structures of proper names and common names, proposes that there is no qualitative semantic difference between the two categories. Consequently, the translation of proper names essentially raises the same questions as the translation of common names, thus the translation operations applied to them must be selected with as much regard to the context as in the case of common names. Section 5 defines four translation operations called transfer, translation (proper), substitution, and modification. Following which Section 6 illustrates their uses in solving translation problems on various levels of context through examples.