Bourth (X) Nov 1, 2010:

What I do If I think the region is known to the readership, I translate it. Thus, Normandy, Alsace, Dordogne, Brittany. But Auvergne, Rhône-Alpes, Pays de Loire. And/or explanations, as necessary. Similarly, I might expect to see Université d'East Anglia but Université d'Edimbourg.

Sheila Wilson (asker) Oct 31, 2010:

It's a mixture, Tony That's the problem here - some of the entries are clearly names of Universities, others just refer to the département or region. Regarding envelopes etc, I agree with you, but in this case I think it would be valid to translate Uni. de Marseille as Marseilles etc. It isn't part of an address.

Tony M Oct 31, 2010:

To me, it all depends... ...on the function of these terms: if they are being used as the proper names of the establishments, then I really don't think one should attempt to translate them; however, if they are simply being used to describe the establishment and it's geographic location, then there would be of course an argument for translating all of them.

Take an EN > FR example: how would you approach 'The University of East Anglia'? To me, you either have to keep it as a proper name in EN and not translate it (perhaps explaining it as 'l'Université établie à Norwich dans le comté de Norfolk, dans l'est de l'Angleterre') — or else translate each of the terms (which would to my ears at least produce a rather odd result in FR!)

As I asked one of my clients the other day: "What would people see written on the panel as they drive up? What would the postman (sorry, I meant 'postal delivery operative'!) need to read on a letter?"

Rachel Fell Oct 31, 2010:

Yes, I thought that if you were going to put Upper and Lower Normandy, then it would seem better to put Normandy for Normandie.

Sheila Wilson (asker) Oct 31, 2010:

@ Rachel Any ideas? Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_France) and many other sites give Upper and Lower Normandy. Certainly a possibility.

Rachel Fell Oct 31, 2010:

Hi Sheila perhaps it depends on what you are going to put for Haute et basse Normandie -?

Sheila Wilson (asker) Oct 31, 2010:

Thanks to Fleur and Noni I follow my instincts for isolated cases, doing what seems most natural, but here it's more difficult. Writing Normandie (Normandy) seems to be an insult to the reader's intelligence, particularly as it's an academic brochure. On the other hand, would everyone link Bourgogne with Burgundy?

Noni Gilbert Riley Oct 31, 2010:

Debate It¡s always a tricky one. In a sense, since these are proper nouns, the names of the institutions, and not strictly speaking the place names which I would always recommend translating if there is an accepted different English form, then we shouldn't. But I've "run that past myself" with am example from my primary language pair, and find that I wouldn't say "Universidad de Sevilla" or "University of Sevilla", but rather "University of Seville", so, in conclusion, I agree with Fleur, even if it does leave us with a slightly motley list.