This master's thesis deals with the problem of translating geographical names from Slovenian into English. The topic of translation of proper names has aroused great interest in translation studies. Given that there are currently no established guidelines for translating proper names, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate how the problem of translating proper names can be solved as part of a larger group of so-called culture-specific elements. The main objective of the master's thesis is to comprehensively investigate the way geographical names are translated and to identify the strategies currently used by translators in popular discourse. In this context, the present work deals with the types of translation conversions and the appropriate use of the definite article with geographical names, the presentation of the transfer of proper names from Slovenian into English, and the best ways of translating proper names according to the typical use of English. The author believes that she has found an innovative solution to this dilemma faced by many non-native speakers. The conclusion is that proper names have a hidden meaning and can convey hidden information that cannot be understood without deep cultural awareness, and that this form of culture-specific elements must be translated into the target language using linguistic and cultural knowledge. The master's thesis investigates three hypotheses: i) according to previous research results, it is expected that translations will be inappropriate in more than half of the cases, ii) it is expected that translations will be more appropriate in larger Slovenian cities, and iii) the most frequently used translation method was translation with explanatory addition (for example Lake Blejsko jezero) and the inappropriate use of the definite article.
The first part describes the use of the definite and indefinite article and article linking, and it explains in more detail the use of the definite article with geographical names, the difference between common and proper nouns, and the translation strategies used by translators when translating geographical names. The results of the analysis of geographical names in tourist texts are presented. The analysis includes a total of forty-one tourist texts and 1,276 geographical names. For the purpose of the analysis, the appropriateness or inappropriateness of the translation and use of the definite article is determined. Finally, unexpected and interesting examples are highlighted, as well as possible reasons for choosing such a term in translation. Guidelines and corrections for inappropriate translations are also given.
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