Le panda Moudou

06:58 Apr 15, 2009 

All the non- super hero names are out, and so is Moodoo thanks to Anne's organic cow manure tip (now that would have been a translation error!) - what do people thinkof Sueaberwoman's Kudli? Would you like to propose it as an answer, Sue?

11:22 Apr 13, 2009 

Good point, not Kugli then! That's the trouble with it. The adventure quest is a computer game, an mmorpg, I am not a specialist in how such things are put together, I simply assume it would complicate matters if there were different names for each character in each different language version, I'm reticent about betraying my Luddite soul by commenting any further on the issue! The game would have to use the English names in the English version or else it wouldn't work - each player assumes one of the characters of the basic tale and then creates their own story by taking on various quests, missions and so forth. Does that make sense?

10:55 Apr 13, 2009 

Kudli, maybe, but not K-ugli IMO! I'm a bit confused: what's the exact link with the computer game? Are the names you choose going to be the ones in the game too, or will the game use the original French names?

10:46 Apr 13, 2009 

If I were you I would prepare two options (phonetic/meaning) and contact the publisher, who will talk about it with the author. There was a thread about comics translation and character names (with "Asterix" as an example) in the forums.

10:39 Apr 13, 2009 

I must admit now I am beginning to wonder about the other names! For example, there is an ostrich called Partalis and a monkey called Manylia. Since these are (I assume) Latin derivations and you can pronounce them OK in English I decided to leave it at that. Also since this is all linked to a computer game I didn't want to complicate their lives too much by changing names unnecessarily. But I really can't see Moudou the Panda, can you? I'm not sure you'd know how to say it if you didn't speak French. Maybe something like Kugli would do.

10:26 Apr 13, 2009 

That sounds like a lot of fun! You said other animal names had been easy to translate into English.　Could you give a couple of examples? I would ask myself what was more important with the other names : meaning or sound? and do the same for the panda.

10:13 Apr 13, 2009 

I should add that the panda in question is a superhero of the animal world with tremendous powers, a role model for the youth of today... I need to be able to associate the name with bravery, courage, strength and benevolence (I think we are looking at children old enough to have some idea what these words mean).