1. Proper Names in Geography
Seminar: Advanced Translation Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

2. Proper Names in Geography
Outline
Definitions
Scientific/Linguistic Approach
Translation of Cities – A Theory
Tips and Recommendations
EU Guidelines
Continents
Countries And Their Inhabitants
Regions
Cities
Rivers
The Use of the Definite Article
Exercises
Sources
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

3. Proper Names in Geography
Definitions
(according to Oxford Dictionaries Online )
Proper noun
noun  
[compare Old French propri nom (1155; Middle French, French nom propre)]
‘a name, consisting of a proper noun or noun phrase including a proper noun, that designates an individual person, place, organization, tame animal, ship, etc., and is usually written with an initial capital letter’
Toponym
noun
[compare Greek topos 'place' and onuma 'name‘]
‘a place name, especially one derived from a topographical feature‘
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

4. Proper Names in Geography
2. Scientific/Linguistic Approach
ENDONYM and EXONYM
Definitions according to UNGEGN (UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names)
Examples: München – Munich
España – Spain
‘Name of a geographical feature in one of the languages occurring in that area where the feature is situated.’
‘Name used in a specific language for a geographical feature situated outside the area where that language has official status, and differing in its form from the name used in the official language(s) where the geographical feature is situated.’
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

5. 3. Translation of Cities – A Theory
Proper Names in Geography
3. Translation of Cities – A Theory
Firenze – Florenz – Florence; Krakow – Krakau – Cracow; Bruxselles – Brüssel – Brussels
≙ old European towns/cities founded in antiquity or the Middle Ages
 use of exonyms
Chicago – Chicago – Chicago; Toronto – Toronto – Toronto;
Buenos Aires – Buenos Aires – Buenos Aires
≙ more recent cities on the American continent  use of endonyms
Theory: The names of ancient cities are changed in different languages,
whereas more recent ones stay the same.
BUT:
Exceptions: Amsterdam – Amsterdam – Amsterdam
≙ Amsterdam is an old European city  no use of exonym
The aforementioned theory is not a general rule!
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

6. Proper Names in Geography
4. Tips and Recommendations
- If no commonly used exonym is available, use endonym!
- When using endonyms, be consistent!
- If there are too many endonyms, use exonym! (e.g. The Alps)
- Recommendation of the UN: minimize use of exonyms in
international usage, especially in scientific/academic context.
- When there is doubt about translating a proper
name, consult a dictionary or find an official document
that serves as a primary source.
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

7. Proper Names in Geography
5. EU Guidelines
The EU publishes  an Interinstitutional Style Guide in 23 languages all spoken in the EU.:
obligatory for all those employed by the institutions of the EU who are involved in preparing EU documents and works
The Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission publishes its own English Style Guide:
similar website initiated by the US Board on Geographic Names
Consult these websites for dependable information!
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

8. Proper Names in Geography
6. Continents
Source:
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

9. Proper Names in Geography
7. Countries And Their Inhabitants
Always consult your dictionary and the internet (EU Guidelines, US Board on Geographic Names) for the correct names and spelling!
Adjectives and names of the inhabitants are not always the same.
To form the plural of a countries' inhabitants, add an –s.
Words ending in -man and -woman change to -men and –women
IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS: Swiss and names that end in -ese
(Ex. Japanese) stay the same
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

10. Proper Names in Geography
Countries and Their Inhabitants: Examples
Burma - Burmese
Denmark - Danish - a Dane
Iceland - Icelandic - an Icelander
Mali - Malian
(the) Netherlands - Dutch - a Dutchman, Dutchwoman
Peru - Peruvian
Poland - Polish - a Pole
(the) United Arab Emirates - Emirati
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

11. Proper Names in Geography
8. Regions
Anglicize those names with translations in the Country Compendium.
Leave others in the native spelling, without inverted commas.
Anglicize if the English has wide currency, e.g. the Black Forest, the Ruhr.
Otherwise retain original spelling and accents.
Regional products are a frequent example:
a Rheinhessen wine,
the eastern Périgord area,
the Ardèche region
(NB: it is useful to add ‘region’ or ‘area’ in such cases)
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

12. Regions Baltic Sea Coast North Sea Coast Luneburg Heath Uckermark
Saxon Swizer- land
Regions
Baltic Sea Coast
North Sea Coast
Luneburg Heath
Uckermark
Lusatia
Saxon Swizerland
Rhine Valley
Black Forest

13. Federal States
changed:
Mecklenburg- Western
Pomerania
Lower Saxony
Saxony Anhalt
Saxony
Thuringia
North Rhine-Westphalia
Hesse
Rhineland-Palatinate
Bavaria

14. Proper Names in Geography
9. Cities – Further Examples
Cologne – Köln
Moscow
Prague
Vienna
Warsaw
Athens
Rome
Further Tipp: Do not just simply translate names!
Freiburg = Freecastle
an der Saale = by the Saale
but: Halle, a city by the Saale
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

15. Proper Names in Geography
10. Rivers
Moselle for Mosel  only if the context is solely of the country
Rhine for Rhein
Danube for Donau
Thames for Themse
Nile for Nil
Elbe is Labe in Czech
If included at all, the word ‘river’ normally precedes the proper name (the River Thames), unless it is regarded as an integral part of the name (the Yellow River).
In either case, it takes a capital letter.
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

16. Proper Names in Geography
11. The Use of the Definite Article
source: Murphy. Essential Grammar
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

17. Proper Names in Geography
German Borders
Germany shares borders with __ Netherlands, __ Belgium, __ Luxemburg and __ France in __ West, with __ Switzerland and __ Austria in __ South and with __ Czech Republic and __ Poland in __ East. The frontiers to __ West follow natural features for a relatively short stretch of __ River Rhine between Basel and Karlsruhe; __ southern boarder is marked by __ Swiss and Bavarian Alps. Further eastwards the mountain ranges of __ Bohemian Forest and __ Erzgebirge divide Southern and Eastern Germany from __ Czech Republic. Germany's principal sea harbors are __ Hamburg at the mouth of the Elbe on __ North Sea Coast, and __ Rostock, which has direct access to __ Baltic Sea.
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

18. Proper Names in Geography
Names with ‘Republic’/ ‘States’
‘Kingdom’/ ‘Union’
the Dominican Republic
the Soviet Union
the United Kingdom
the USA
Oceans/ Seas/ Rivers/ Canals/
Gulfs
the Pacific
the Dead Sea
the Nile
the Panama Canal
the Persian Gulf
Deserts
the Gobi Desert
the Sahara
the Gibson Desert
Forests
the Black Forest
the Vienna Woods
the Bavarian Forest
source: Murphy. Essential Grammar
Peninsulas and Archipelagos
the Iberian Peninsulas
the Malaya Archipelago
Directions and Points on the Globe
the north/ south/ east/ west (of)
the North Pole
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

19. Proper Names in Geography
source:
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

20. Proper Names in Geography
Continents/ Countries/ Cities
Europe
Iraq, Iran, Switzerland, Turkey
Miami
Streets
Fifth Avenue
Front Street
Sheppard Rd
Single Islands
Corsica
Jamaica
Prince Edward Island
Squares and Parks
Time Square
Hyde Park
Single Mountains
Mount Everest
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Lakes/ Bays/ Falls
Lake Titicaca,
Hudson Bay
Victoria Falls
source: Murphy. Essential Grammar
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

21. Proper Names in Geography
Countries
the former Czechoslovakia
Streets
the Strand
the Mall
the High
Isle of …
the Isle of Man
the Isle of Wight
Bay of …
the Bay of Fundy
the Bay of Bengal
source:
Groups of Islands
the Bahmas
the British Isles
German Mountains
the Matterhorn
the Zugspitze
Ranges of Mountains
the Alps
the Andes
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

22. Proper Names in Geography
German Borders Germany shares borders with the Netherlands, __ Belgium, __ Luxemburg and __ France in the West, with __ Switzerland and __ Austria in the South and with the Czech Republic and __ Poland in the East. The frontiers to the West follow natural features for a relatively short stretch of the River Rhine between Basel and Karlsruhe; the southern boarder is marked by the Swiss and Bavarian Alps. Further eastwards the mountain ranges of the Bohemian Forest and the Erzgebirge divide Southern and Eastern Germany from the Czech Republic. Germany's principal sea harbors are __ Hamburg at the mouth of the Elbe on the North Sea Coast, and __ Rostock, which has direct access to the Baltic Sea.
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

23. Proper Names in Geography
12. Exercises
1. Die Türkei und die ehemalige Tschechoslowakei bemühten sich 1991 um die Aufnahme in die EG.
Turkey and the former Czechoslovakia sought admission to
the European Community in 1991.
2. Die Pakistanische Fußballnationalmannschaft reiste 1969 in den Iran und errangen einen 2:1 Sieg gegen den Irak.
In 1969, the Pakistan national soccer team travelled to Iran an
scored/ achieved a 2–1 victory against Iraq.
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

24. Proper Names in Geography
Exercises continued
4. Man wächst an der Themse anders auf als an der Spree, am Bodensee oder am Inn.
On the Thames people grow up differently from the way they do on the Spree, Lake Constance and the Inn.
5. Im Vergleich zum Großglockner oder dem Dachstein stellte der Mount Snowdon keine Herausforderung dar.
In comparison to the Großglockner or the Dachstein, Mount Snowdown was no / didn’t present any challenge.
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz

25. Proper Names in Geography
13. Sources
Bokor Language Service:
Castañeda-Hernández, Gilberto. “Navigating through Treacherous Waters: The Translation of Geographical Names.” Translation Journal 8.2 (2004).
Humphrey, Richard.Grundkurs Übersetzen Deutsch-English. Stuttgart: Klett, 2007.
Jordan, Peter / Orožen Adamič, Milan / Woodman, Paul (eds.): Exonyms and the International Standardisation of Geographical Names. Approaches towards the Resolution of an Apparent Contradiction. Wien, Berlin 2007 ( = Wiener Osteuropastudien 24).
MAP: ,
Murphy, Raymond.EssentailGrammar in Use: A self-studyreferenceandpracticebookfo
elementarystudentyof English.Third Edition. Cambridge: UP, 2009.
Oxford Advanced Dictionary. 7th edition. Oxford: UP, 2007.
Oxford Dictionaries Online,
Oxford English Dictionary: Proper+noun#eid ,
Preschool by Stormie:
Seminar: Advanced Translation - Patricia Niemöller - Cindy Traste - Elisabeth Freymann  - Tina Schulz