Names of Characters in Foreign Editions.

[Tonyblack]

I was given a copy of 'Dat Wonderbare Licht' by a Dutch friend of mine some time ago. I'm sure you can all work out that that is The Light Fantastic.

What really fascinated me was the difference in the character's names. I'll list some of the ones I can work out. But what foreign character names do you know from the Discworld?

Dutch Discworld

Discworld = Schijfwereld
Ankh-Morpork = Ankh-Meurbork
Great A'Tuin = A'Tuin de Grote
Unseen University = Gesloten Universiteit
Cori Celesti = Axis Firmamenti
Potent Voyager = Potige Padvinder
Rincewind = Rinzwind
Twoflower = Tweebloesem
Luggage = Bagage
Death = Dood
War = Oorlog
Famine = Honger
Pestilence = Pestilentie
Cohen the Barbarian = Cohen de Barbaar
Bethan = Betta
Herrena the Henna-Haired Harridan = Herriena de Haaibaai met Henna-haar
Ook = Oeoek

 

[Annebn]

I don't read the books in Danish, but here are some of the names I have found online.

Danish Discworld

First some book titles:

"The Amazing Maurice and his educted rodents" is called "Mageløse Maurice og hans rådsnare rotter", which is a close translation of the English title, and in addition has some nice allitterations. The others are a bit more doubtful:

The Colour of Magic=Magiens farve (an earlier translation was called "Når magien bliver for broget" which means "When magic gets too colourful")
The Light Fantastic=Det fantastiske lys
Equal Rites=Den ottende datter (The 8th daughter)
Mort=Dødens lærling (Death's aprentice)
Sourcery=Megamagikeren

And some names
Discworld=Diskverdenen or (even worse) Diskplaneten
Ankh-Morpork = Ankh-Morpok
Rincewind = Vindekåbe (a pun on Turncoat, which is Vendekåbe)
Twoflower = Småblomst (litterally Smallflower)
Luggage = Kisten (litterally "the chest")
Cohen the Barbarian = Babaren Cohen
Bad Ass=Røvbølle
Drum Billet=Magnus Mager
Death=Døden
Coin=Mynt

I think I'm going to stick with the English versions, although it might be fun to take a look at one of the translations.

 

[TheMole]

I can supply you with Czech translation

Discworld - Zeměplocha
Ankh-Morpork - no difference
Great A´Tuin - Velká A´Tuin
Unseen University - Neviditelná univerzita
Cori Celesti - no difference
Potent Voyager - Mocný poutník
Rincewind - Mrakoplaš
Twoflower - Dvoukvítek
Luggage - Zavazadlo
Death - Smrť
War - Válka
Famine - Hlad
Pestilence - Mor
Cohen the Barbarian - barbar Cohen
Bethan - no difference
Herrena the Henna-Haired Harridan - Herrena - Hennovlasá Babina
Ook - no difference

 

[Tonyblack]

Ook is an actual word in Dutch, it means (more or less the same as) 'too' in English. Presumably that's why they've changed the name.

 

[TheMole]

oh, so the Librarian is Dutch, then? how interesting indeed...

 

[Tonyblack]

What always makes me laugh is the fact that 'Vader' means 'Father' in Dutch and in the Star Wars Movies, Darth Vader is still called Darth Vader.

So while the rest of us were stunned the first time we saw The Empire Strikes Back and the revelation: "Luke, I am your father!" All the Dutch people must have been thinking "yeah, and?"

 

[chris.ph]

i love things like that. my favourite is about the toyota mr2 never sold in france because mr2 sounds very similar very derogatory word in the french lingo

 

[Tonyblack]

i love things like that. my favourite is about the toyota mr2 never sold in france because mr2 sounds very similar very derogatory word in the french lingo

MR Deux = Merde Yep, I can see why they might not like that.

 

[Tonyblack]

I don't read the books in Danish, but here are some of the names I have found online.

Danish Discworld

First some book titles:

"The Amazing Maurice and his educted rodents" is called "Mageløse Maurice og hans rådsnare rotter", which is a close translation of the English title, and in addition has some nice allitterations. The others are a bit more doubtful:

The Colour of Magic=Magiens farve (an earlier translation was called "Når magien bliver for broget" which means "When magic gets too colourful")
The Light Fantastic=Det fantastiske lys
Equal Rites=Den ottende datter (The 8th daughter)
Mort=Dødens lærling (Death's aprentice)
Sourcery=Megamagikeren

And some names
Discworld=Diskverdenen or (even worse) Diskplaneten
Ankh-Morpork = Ankh-Morpok
Rincewind = Vindekåbe (a pun on Turncoat, which is Vendekåbe)
Twoflower = Småblomst (litterally Smallflower)
Luggage = Kisten (litterally "the chest")
Cohen the Barbarian = Babaren Cohen
Bad Ass=Røvbølle
Drum Billet=Magnus Mager
Death=Døden
Coin=Mynt

I think I'm going to stick with the English versions, although it might be fun to take a look at one of the translations.

Anne, it's interesting that Coin is Mynt. Is that the Danish word for a coin in general? I'm sure you know that a Mint in English is where coins are made. I'm wondering if it's a word that was picked up by the English from the Danish occupation.

 

[Annebn]

Well, mynt is almost Danish for coin (the correct spelling is mønt, but that would be the same pronounciation- I'm getting more and more sceptical about the Dansih translations!)

I just looked the word up in a dictionary, which has some information of the origin of words, to see how it is related to English mint. It seems that both words (and the similar German) are derived from the Latin moneta. So it's the same as money.

 

[Annebn]

Fun to see the Czech translations Mole. "Barbar Cohen" is the only one I think I would recognize.

 

[Casaninbetween]

Anne, it's interesting that Coin is Mynt. Is that the Danish word for a coin in general? I'm sure you know that a Mint in English is where coins are made. I'm wondering if it's a word that was picked up by the English from the Danish occupation.

Mynt is the Swedish word for coin - in general.

 

[TheMole]

Fun to see the Czech translations Mole. "Barbar Cohen" is the only one I think I would recognize.

Some other names:

Esme "Granny" Weatherwax - Esme "Bábi" Zlopočasná
Gytha "Nanny" Ogg - Gyta "Stařenka" Oggová
Magrat Garlic - Magráta Česneková
Havelock Vetinari - Havelok Vetinari
Samuel Vimes - Samuel Elánius
Fred Colon - Fred Tračník
Moist von Lipwig - Vlahoš von Rosret

 

[Tonyblack]

Thanks guys, this is great stuff - really interesting.

 

[Dotsie]

What always makes me laugh is the fact that 'Vader' means 'Father' in Dutch and in the Star Wars Movies, Darth Vader is still called Darth Vader.

So while the rest of us were stunned the first time we saw The Empire Strikes Back and the revelation: "Luke, I am your father!" All the Dutch people must have been thinking "yeah, and?"

What?! He's Luke's father??









Only joking

 

[Casaninbetween]

Translations into Swedish

A list from Wikipedia of all the novels currently translated.
In brackets, literary translation of the title back into English (if different from the original) (my translation).

The Colour of Magic - Magins färg
The Light Fantastic - Det Fantastiska Ljuset (The Fantastic Light)
Equal Rites - Trollkarlens stav (The Wizard's Wand)
Mort - Mort
Sourcery - Svartkonster (Black Arts)
Wyrd Sisters - Häxkonster (Witches' Arts)
Pyramids - Pyramidfeber (Pyramid Fever)
Guards! Guards! - I lagens namn (In the Name of the Law)
Faust Eric - Eric
Moving Pictures - Rörliga bilder
Reaper Man - Döden ligger lågt (Death Lies Low)
Witches Abroad - Häxor i faggorna (Witches Approaching)
Small Gods - Små gudar
Lords and Ladies - Herrskap och häxor (Lords and Witches)
Men at Arms - En man på sin vakt (A Man on Guard)
Soul Music - Levande musik (Living Music)
Interesting Times - Spännande tider
Maskerade - Masker (Masks)
Feet of Clay - På lerfötter (On Clay Feet)
Hogfather - Svinvinternatt (Hog Winter Night)
Jingo - Jingo
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents - Den Makalöse Maurice och hans Kultiverade Gnagare
The Wee Free Men - Små blå män (Small Blue Men)*

A selection of characters.

Rincewind - Rensvind
Twoflower - Tvåblomster
The Luggage - Bagaget
The Librarian - Bibliotekarien
The Bursar - Skattmästaren
Ponder Stibbons - Grubblemus Stibbons
Ghenghiz Cohen, Cohen the Barbarian - Djingis** Cohen, Cohen Barbaren
Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson - Kapten Morot Järngrundsson***
Granny Weatherwax - Mormor Vädervax
Nanny Ogg - Nanna Ogg
Magrat Garlick - Viväcka Vitlöök****
Greebo - Gråbo
Death - Döden

* I don't know how the heck they translated Feegle speak. Swedish with a Scotish accent? I've got to read this one (haven't done it yet).
** Genghiz Khan is spelled Djingis Khan in Swedish.
*** Interestingly, in Swedish, all last names that end with -son are spelled with a double s, just like Carrots last name.
****Garlic is actually vitlök in Swedish. I don't know where the translator got the extra ö from.

 

[Jinx]

Re: Translations into Swedish

Magrat Garlick - Viväcka Vitlöök****
<snip>
****Garlic is actually vitlök in Swedish. I don't know where the translator got the extra ö from.

Possibly done on purpose, like Garlick has a K in Magrat's name. (Just speculating, though...)

 

[Casaninbetween]

Re: Translations into Swedish

Magrat Garlick - Viväcka Vitlöök****
<snip>
****Garlic is actually vitlök in Swedish. I don't know where the translator got the extra ö from.

Possibly done on purpose, like Garlick has a K in Magrat's name. (Just speculating, though...)

Of course, that must be the case! I didn't even see the extra K (slaps myself on the forehead).

 

[WannabeAngua]

Here's the norwegian translation of some of the books:

Reaper man = Mannen med ljåen (translates into reaper man)
Moving pictures = levende bilder (pictures alive)
Guards guards = I lovens navn (in the name of the law)
Wee free men = Skrellingene (????)
Wyrd sisters = Sære søstre
Mort = dødens læregutt (deaths apprentice)
Witches abroad = hekser på tur
Granny W. = Godmor Verveks (have no idea how they came up with that name)

 

[Tonyblack]

What does the Witches Abroad and Wyrd Sisters ones translate as Angua?

Those are great by the way.