“Thank goodness! in the book I started, there is no Kázmér Rezeda...”

A stylistic approach to the translation of Krúdy’s ironic naming

Abstract

“Thank goodness! in the book I started, there is no Kázmér Rezeda...” A stylistic approach to the translation of Krúdy’s ironic naming

Functional cognitive linguistics and cognitive stylistics provide the linguistic background and methodological foundations of this paper. The most significant tenet of cognitive stylistics is the proposition that the formation of linguistic structures does not function merely as stylistic embellishments; instead, style represents an integral aspect of textual meaning. Names created by literary naming can be interpreted and analysed as defining elements of style. Following an introduction to the theory of language and style, the paper examines the fundamental issues of translating literary proper names. The most relevant question is whether it is necessary or possible to translate proper names in literary works. The following section presents an analysis of the significance of naming in Krúdy’s prose, followed by an examination of the main types of Krúdy’s names with ironic stylistic purpose. The third section analyses the German translations of Krúdy’s ironic names. In conclusion, it can be stated that the appropriate reproduction of Krúdy’s ironic names, which reflects the stylistic effect and meaning formation of the source language, is a particularly challenging task for translators. It is not uncommon to observe that connotational meanings and shades of meaning present in source language texts are not fully conveyed in translation. In certain instances, pre-existing linguistic coincidences (e.g., Hungarian Rezeda ‘reseda’ – German Reseda ‘reseda’) can assist in the translation process. In other cases, however, the translator’s professionalism, linguistic sophistication, and creativity are crucial to ensure such names’ accurate and effective translation.