Translating place names

[Clive Porter (cporter%esa.bitnet@esoc.esa.de]

Hi James

>I have been engaged to do an English translation of a historical and
>tourist-oriented book about the area around Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic,
>from what could be called co-original versions in Czech and German.  The tone
>of the originals is chatty and a bit quaint.  Right at the start of the
>project, I can see a complication with place names that the Czech and German
>writers never had.  I would therefore like to hear the ideas of other list
>subscribers on the matter.

If it were me undertaking this translation excercise, I would use the Czech
names ofr all towns and, perhaps, put the German equivelent in brackets
after.

I have seen too many books with references to Czech towns where the German
names have been used and the Czech names omitted. This can be confusing as
the Czech names are used in the CR and any visitors refering to a guide
using only the German names would be virtually useless to somebody who
does not know the country. Any translation into English would be of no
value other than for information purposes, e.g. if you were to explain
why Marianske Lazne is called Marianske Lazne - orr Karlsbad come to
that.

Regards

Clive
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