Translation into English, with a dose of word-making

[rusquen]

I'm translating my story, originally written in Russian, into English. Part of the setting has a distinct Slavic flavour, which I really want to preserve, but, being bilingual, I have issues appreciating just how confusing all my translations and transcriptions look to anglophone speakers

Comments

[anonymous]

"Prince" originates from the ruler of a principality, i.e. a minor king, you could say. Modern audiences are somewhat more immediately familiar with the other meaning of the word, i.e. king's son, thanks to Disney, but the former meaning is definitely still valid.

1. Maybe knezi? Pronounced as knez-ee. This is one way to indicate an adjective in my language and some others. Preserve the internal consistency of the language. Would -al be natural or alien to the language? What is usually used for adjectives? (I don't personally like knezal. It sounds nasal.)

1b. I wouldn't pronounce knez as knees since there's one "e." Probably some people will, as technical rules are not always well-known. Case in point: popularization of hehe, which should technically be heehee.

2. Non-English word confuse English speakers, but if you are trying to consciously impart a Russian setting, English will diminish that. If you are trying to convey that setting, sprinkle in a few iconic, recognizable Russian words. (And perhaps introduce a few new cultural dynamics, if you want. You don't want to fatigue the reader and exhaust their patience learning titles when they can learn about interesting cultural dynamics useful to plot, atmosphere, etc.)

Just my two cents. Hope that's helpful in some way.

[marycatelli]

It originates from Augustus Caesar's modest title of Princeps civitatis, or First Citizen, which is why it can also mean "a sovereign regardless of title or sex."

(hops off pedant soapbox.)

hehe=/=heehee

[tamtrible]

Personally, at least, I use those for 2 different kinds of laugh. Hehehe sounds almost like a dog panting or something, with an "eh" kind of e (like "meh"), heeheehee is more high-pitched with a distinct "eee" sound to it. Hehehe is more... diabolical or sly, heeheehee is more gleeful.