Borgia (Pope Alexander VI)

English translation: Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia*,

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Italian term or phrase:	Borgia (Pope Alexander VI)
English translation:	*Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia,**
Entered by:	Wendy Streitparth

07:33 Aug 18, 2015

Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Religion

Italian term or phrase: Borgia (Pope Alexander VI)

Do we always drop papal surnames in English?

Hi, everyone! Thanks in advance for your help! The topic of my text is actually art history, but the text contains references to a lot of popes. The text refers to each pope variously as (for example) Papa Alessandro VI, Papa Alessandro VI Borgia, Papa Borgia, Alessandro VI or Alessandro VI Borgia. My instinct tells me that in English we never use the surname, but I haven't found any source to tell me exactly what the protocol is or why surnames would continue to be used so often in Italian texts but not in English.

If any of you has more experience than me in this field, I'd greatly appreciate your wisdom.

Thanks!

Meaghan Toohey KudoZ activity Questions: 6 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 7 United States
Local time: 07:34

Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia*,

Explanation:
That's how I would write it.

(* or the Spanish, Italian or Catalan equivalent)

Selected response from:

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 13:34

Grading comment

Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia*,

Wendy Streitparth

4 +2

Borgia Pope Alexander VI

Isabelle Johnson

Pope Alexander VI, given name Rodrigo Borgia

LindaLattuca

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

Borgia Pope Alexander VI

Explanation:
I think that where the Borgias are concerned you'd better include the surname. I would imagine that the author wants his or her refernce to this notorious family kept in the text.

Isabelle Johnson
Italy
Local time: 13:34
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 20

42 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia*,

Explanation:
That's how I would write it.

(* or the Spanish, Italian or Catalan equivalent)

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 13:34
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 11

Grading comment

Thank you!

6 hrs confidence:

Pope Alexander VI, given name Rodrigo Borgia

Explanation:
I would keep the name and surname of a pope.

Reference: http://www.nndb.com/people/159/000092880/

LindaLattuca
Italy
Local time: 13:34
Native speaker of: Italian

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Borgia (Pope Alexander VI)

English translation: Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia*,

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Borgia (Pope Alexander VI)

English translation: Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia*,

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