Helen Genevier May 22, 2014:

Re capitalisation The Chicago manual of style advocates capitalisation for translations of foreign institutions: "If given in the original language, names of foreign institutions and businesses are presented in roman type and capitalized according to the usage of the country concerned. (...) If translated, such names are capitalized according to English usage.."

Bashiqa (asker) May 20, 2014:

Thank you Nikki. I have left the French and put explanation in brackets. And you're quite right about the ad infinitum bit.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne May 20, 2014:

Having worked for a UK statutory body, they take unkindly to translations being done. The translation industry convention is that proper names are not to be translated. International organisations generally have official translated titles, but not national ones, or it is rare. The reasons are obvious, one such example being provided by BD Finch. One should not calque organisation for organisation unless you are prepared to support that the functions, missions, obgliations and duties are identical : they seldom are.
On a more flexible note, it can be helpful to give an idea of course, in which case no it should be made perfectly clear that a loose parallel is being drawn. Any "translated" version of the official originla language title should not be done with any capital letters, as to do so immediately suggests the existence of an organisation of that name; at best confusing, at worst, a mistake.

PS : I suspect this one is already in the glossary, along with many others with explanations about the translation of the names of official bodies, ad infinitum I suspect!

Bashiqa (asker) May 20, 2014:

Thank you Barbara.

B D Finch May 19, 2014:

Note the difference between the British Medical Association:
"We represent doctors locally and nationally
We are your trade union and professional body"
http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma

and the Royal College of Physicians:
"We support our fellows and members during every stage of their career and thus improve the quality of patient care. By setting and monitoring the standards of medical training, we ensure that patients are seen by fully trained, capable doctors."
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/what-we-do