Oct 4, 2002 14:01
21 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
Canada
A question
German to English
Other
What is the conventional wisdom on company names, parts of which could be translated? Do I translate these parts or not?
Example: Gebrüder XXX GmbH
Transport und Logistik
Is that XXX Brothers Ltd.
Transport and logistics, or shouldn't I translate at all?
I've read some posts on the subject, though they didn't deal with company names.
Example: Gebrüder XXX GmbH
Transport und Logistik
Is that XXX Brothers Ltd.
Transport and logistics, or shouldn't I translate at all?
I've read some posts on the subject, though they didn't deal with company names.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
16 mins
Selected
I wouldn't touch the Gebrüder XXX GmbH at all.
the name of the company as officially registered should be as is and not changed at all. With a transport firm, their whole name is plastered across their lorries so changing any aspect of it would be dangerous.
If you are writing about them, as opposed to working on something for them, you can give some sort of explanation in () for something like Transport und Logistik . And then only once for the sake of clarity, if it seems absolutely necessary.
If you are doing something directly for the firm, don't even bother with that once.
Anyway, this is how I've been dealing with this up to now and I'm still alive.
HTH
If you are writing about them, as opposed to working on something for them, you can give some sort of explanation in () for something like Transport und Logistik . And then only once for the sake of clarity, if it seems absolutely necessary.
If you are doing something directly for the firm, don't even bother with that once.
Anyway, this is how I've been dealing with this up to now and I'm still alive.
HTH
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks so much, and thanks to all who answered!"
+10
16 mins
Legal names
should never be translated (for clarification, explanatory translations may be added in parens). You wouldn't call Kaiser Wilhelm emperor William or Volkswagen AG the Peoples Car Inc.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
OlafK
1 min
|
| agree |
Ingrid Grzeszik
3 mins
|
| agree |
Sheila Hardie
: I like the Peoples Car Inc - never thought of it like that:-)
4 mins
|
| agree |
Joanne Parker
11 mins
|
| agree |
Tea Fledderus
12 mins
|
| agree |
AmiHH
24 mins
|
| neutral |
Nadders
: He's called Emperor William II often enough
35 mins
|
| agree |
jccantrell
1 hr
|
| agree |
Chris Rowson (X)
: The Kaiser may be debatable, but legal company names definitely remain unchanged. But is "Transport und Logistik" part of the name or a slogan? If a slogan, then it is debatable. For company image, keep, for comprehensibility, translate.
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Nancy Arrowsmith
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Ron Stelter
3 days 4 hrs
|
20 mins
Ingrid Grzeszik
Native in German
20+ years of secretarial experience
Native in: German 
Works in: English to German, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
139
no
You should definitely not translate parts of the name.
You could add a translation in brackets, but just treat the company name as a proper name. You would not translate Hans to Jack, would you?!
You could add a translation in brackets, but just treat the company name as a proper name. You would not translate Hans to Jack, would you?!
+1
24 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
214
Depends how well known the German name is.
There is not really a hard-and-fast rule to cover all cases.
No-one would ever turn Volkswagen GmbH into People's Car Ltd., for instance.
But your Gebrüder XXX Transport und Logistik might well be better translated.
Depends to some extent on context. In an official document such as a contract it might be better to give the German name followed by a translation in brackets.
For borderline cases, the factor of whether the German would be understood by a non-German speaker might also be a factor. "Transport und Logistik" is pretty obvious, but another word, e.g. "Fernsehen", might not be.
No-one would ever turn Volkswagen GmbH into People's Car Ltd., for instance.
But your Gebrüder XXX Transport und Logistik might well be better translated.
Depends to some extent on context. In an official document such as a contract it might be better to give the German name followed by a translation in brackets.
For borderline cases, the factor of whether the German would be understood by a non-German speaker might also be a factor. "Transport und Logistik" is pretty obvious, but another word, e.g. "Fernsehen", might not be.
16 hrs
explain first then use German name
My policy on this is to keep the German name intact(I agree with all the others), but instead of glossing or explaining it afterwards, try bringing the English explanation forward into the sentence:
e.g. .....(family) transport and logistics firm/company, Gebrueder XXX GmbH (Transport und Logistik)..... i.e. I would leave out the (T und L) bit if it doesn't form part of the legal name. By explaining the type of company before the name, I find the sentence usually flows better. Explanations that follow names tend to interrupt the reader's train of thought (IMHO)
e.g. .....(family) transport and logistics firm/company, Gebrueder XXX GmbH (Transport und Logistik)..... i.e. I would leave out the (T und L) bit if it doesn't form part of the legal name. By explaining the type of company before the name, I find the sentence usually flows better. Explanations that follow names tend to interrupt the reader's train of thought (IMHO)
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