On many occasions translators face difficult decisions as to what requires translation or further explanation. Many cultural aspects are specific to a given setting and the guidelines below aim to provide support with the issues this can lead to. The intention is not to lay down the law, but to provide a point of reference to help you make decisions when you are faced with these complex questions.

8.1 Names

8.1.1 People’s names

Maintain the accents in people’s names (for example, Sílvia). Write out the abbreviations M. and M.ª in full as Maria. Respect the way people write their surnames: if they use an i to connect their first and second surnames, do not translate it, remove it or replace it with a hyphen. Likewise, if they do not use a connecting i, do not add one.

8.1.2 Public figures

Generally speaking, do not translate the names of public figures. For example, royalty should be referred to in the original language.

However, there are some exceptions. Popes should be referred to by the English equivalent of their papal names. Likewise, transliteration of names in non-Latin scripts can cause problems (a notable example being Gadhafi). For additional details, see Appendix II: Resources and further reading.

Well-known Catalan figures are often referred to in foreign media by the Spanish version of their first name. Use the Catalan version, unless there is a clear and well-founded tradition otherwise. Thus, Pau Casals, but José Carreras.

8.1.3 Historical figures

Only translate the names of famous figures from history when they have a well-established English translation.

8.1.4 Place names

i) Place names in the Catalan-speaking territories

When there is a well-established English translation for a place name in the Catalan-speaking territories, use it.

When there is no well-established English translation, use the Catalan name.

When the Catalan place name may not be as familiar to the reader as the Spanish place name, after the Catalan name you may decide to add the Spanish name. Do this by adding the Spanish name in brackets.

Avoid the use of demonyms (words used to describe inhabitants) for towns and cities. Use the inhabitants of Barcelona or the people of Barcelona, rather than Barcelonans. Note that the demonym for Catalonia is Catalan (not Catalonian).

Do not translate addresses, but if they can be made more understandable or easier to read for an English-speaking audience, then this is advisable.

Transcribe the first letter of lower-case Catalan terms such as avinguda, carrer, carretera, passeig and plaça in upper case for English-speaking audiences even though these are lowercased in Catalan (so Carrer de Sant Pau, Avinguda Diagonal, etc.).

Write out the full address rather than using abbreviations (so for pl. de Catalunya, write Plaça de Catalunya).

Floor and door numbers should be expressed in cardinal rather than ordinal numbers (i.e., 1, 2 rather than 1st, 2nd).

ii) Rivers and lakes

Do not translate the names of rivers and lakes (River Sec) unless there is a well-established English version (River Danube).

iii) Seas

Translate the names of seas. A notable example is the Bay of Biscay (rather than the Cantabrian Sea).

iv) Islands

Translate the names of islands.

v) Mountain ranges

Translate the names of mountain ranges when there is a well-established English translation.

Do not translate them when there is not.

vi) Landmarks and buildings

Generally speaking, do not translate the names of landmarks and buildings. However, there are some exceptions such as the Catalan Parliament building or the Great Wall of China. Likewise, descriptive translations may be used to make references clearer: for example, the Les Àligues building at the University of Girona or the Camp Nou stadium.

8.1.5 Public institutions

Generally speaking, translate the names of public institutions. If the original is required, use it on first mention with a descriptive translation in brackets. Use the translation on subsequent mention. Examples include Generalitat Valenciana (the Valencian government) and Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police force). Organisations with abbreviations should be translated but the abbreviation should be maintained and used on subsequent mention: Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) or European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). As can be seen above, use lower case for descriptive translations into English, but maintain capitals when you are translating proper names word for word or using established English versions.

8.1.6 Universities

Translate the names of universities, unless otherwise stipulated by the university in question itself. Below is a list of the names of Vives Network universities to be used when writing in English.

University names that incorporate a proper noun, such as the Miguel Hernández University of Elche, should include the definite article in running text.

8.1.7 Courses

Translate the names of courses.

8.1.8 Public lectures

Do not translate the titles of public lectures. However, they may be accompanied by a descriptive translation in brackets where deemed appropriate.

8.1.9 Books, music and art

Do not translate the names of books. If there is an English translation of the book, give this in brackets. Nonetheless, avoid any possible confusion about which version of the work is being referred to. Do not translate the names of musical and art works unless there is a well-established English translation.

8.1.10 Awards

Translate the names of awards. Examples include the Catalan government’s Saint George’s Cross or the Max Theatre Awards.

8.1.11 Museums

Translate the names of museums, but refer to them on subsequent mention by their abbreviation if they have one: for example, the Catalan National Museum of Art (MNAC).

8.1.12 Political parties and unions

Translate the names of political parties and unions in brackets on first mention. Use the original abbreviation, where applicable, on subsequent mention.

8.1.13 Official gazettes

Translate the names of the governmental gazettes, accompanied by their original abbreviation.

8.1.14 Companies

Do not translate company names, although a descriptive translation in brackets may be deemed useful on occasions.

8.1.15 Trade fairs and conferences

Translate the names of trade fairs and conferences. That said, if the trade fair or conference is referred to by its original abbreviation, this should be maintained in the translation. For example, CONSTRUMAT (International Construction Exhibition) and simply CONSTRUMAT on subsequent mention.