La conexión española

English translation: Tolkien\'s Spanish Connection / The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:La conexión española
English translation:Tolkien\'s Spanish Connection / The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Entered by: broca

08:34 Jun 15, 2013
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History
Spanish term or phrase: La conexión española
When translating the title of this book:
La Conexion Española de J.R.R. Tolkien: El Tío "Curro",
which sounds more idiomatic?:
-The Spanish Connection of J.R.R. Tolkien: Uncle "Curro"
or

-J.R.R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection: Uncle "Curro"

http://www.josemanuelferrandez.com/conexion.html

Thank you
broca
Local time: 23:51
Tolkien's Spanish Connection / The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Explanation:
In everyday speech it would be more idiomatic to say "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection" rather than "The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien". In a title, however, the issue is not so clearcut, and the latter is an option worth considering.

If I were a publisher bringing out an English version of this book, I would simply call it "Tolkien's Spanish Connection", without the initials. Tolkien is a well known name in Spanish, but much more so in English, of course, and it seems natural to me to omit the initials in English, since the author is usually referred to simply as "Tolkien", and the title is more "punchy" without the initials. Undoubtedly, if you do that, "Tolkien's Spanish Connection" sounds much better than "The Spanish Connection of Tolkien".

If the initials are retained, however, the issue is different. Including the initials makes it more formal, and I think "The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien" is suitable, even though English references to this book on the Internet call it "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection". Really either could be justified, but with the initials I think I would opt for "The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien.

One small point of presentation, if I may: if the initials are included there should be spaces between them. This rule is often not observed in English, but style manuals insist on it.

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Note added at 1 hr (2013-06-15 09:36:52 GMT)
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I have been saying this to myself in both versions since I posted my answer, and I've come to the conclusion that even with the initials it's better to use the so-called "English genitive": "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish connection". It's very hard to say why. You get titles like "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien" or "The Poetry of J. R. R. Tolkien" or "The Fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien", but with "Spanish connection" I think it's different, perhaps because it refers to an aspect of his personal life. So I would cancel what I first said and opt for "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection". The more I say it to myself the more natural it sounds like that and the less convincing the alternative seems (because the formality seems less appropriate to the subject).
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 23:51
Grading comment
Thank you
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3Tolkien's Spanish Connection / The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Charles Davis


  

Answers


32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
la conexión española
Tolkien's Spanish Connection / The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien.


Explanation:
In everyday speech it would be more idiomatic to say "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection" rather than "The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien". In a title, however, the issue is not so clearcut, and the latter is an option worth considering.

If I were a publisher bringing out an English version of this book, I would simply call it "Tolkien's Spanish Connection", without the initials. Tolkien is a well known name in Spanish, but much more so in English, of course, and it seems natural to me to omit the initials in English, since the author is usually referred to simply as "Tolkien", and the title is more "punchy" without the initials. Undoubtedly, if you do that, "Tolkien's Spanish Connection" sounds much better than "The Spanish Connection of Tolkien".

If the initials are retained, however, the issue is different. Including the initials makes it more formal, and I think "The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien" is suitable, even though English references to this book on the Internet call it "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection". Really either could be justified, but with the initials I think I would opt for "The Spanish Connection of J. R. R. Tolkien.

One small point of presentation, if I may: if the initials are included there should be spaces between them. This rule is often not observed in English, but style manuals insist on it.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2013-06-15 09:36:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I have been saying this to myself in both versions since I posted my answer, and I've come to the conclusion that even with the initials it's better to use the so-called "English genitive": "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish connection". It's very hard to say why. You get titles like "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien" or "The Poetry of J. R. R. Tolkien" or "The Fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien", but with "Spanish connection" I think it's different, perhaps because it refers to an aspect of his personal life. So I would cancel what I first said and opt for "J. R. R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection". The more I say it to myself the more natural it sounds like that and the less convincing the alternative seems (because the formality seems less appropriate to the subject).

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 23:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 312
Grading comment
Thank you
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, as always, Charles, for your prompt reply. Yes, I am retaining the initials, since this is just a translation of the book title, and not an English version, though I believe the author is considering an eventual translation into English. I would say it is also necessary to put a space between the initials in Spanish, so I have done that in the translation, although the author originally wrote them with no spaces.

Asker: I mean to say that I corrected the title in Spanish as well (the separation of the initials)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  JaneTranslates: //Yes, it is. I read your answer and added notes with interest. I do agree, and as usual, you've explained it quite well.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Jane! This is an endlessly elusive subject.

agree  Jenni Lukac (X)
5 hrs
  -> Many thanks, Jenni!

agree  boudica2011
17 hrs
  -> Thank you, Boudica!
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