Имена в диалоге Сашка, Машенька, Лариска, Натах, Андрюха

12:04 Mar 17, 2023
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Romance novel
Russian term or phrase: Имена в диалоге Сашка, Машенька, Лариска, Натах, Андрюха
What would be more appropriate for translating Russian names used in a conversation into English (dialogue sequences in a romance novel).

For example:
"Натах, ты что?"
"Андрюха, ну хватит уже..."

Would transliteration be suitable in this case? Or localization, such as "Natasha --> Tash, or Andrey --> Andy..."?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated here. Thanks
ValeriyaP
United Kingdom


Summary of answers provided
4 -1Alex, Liitle Mary, Lara, Nata, Andrew
Alexandra Shapovalova


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Alex, Liitle Mary, Lara, Nata, Andrew


Explanation:
I would use:
Alex for Sashka (boyish character, could be both male and female)
Little Mary for Mashenka (someone gentle, nice and small)
Larissa (or Lara) for Lariska (tomboy character)
Tash (or Nata) for Natakh (someone nice and close friend but a bit of tomboy), and
Andrew for Andryukha (a next door boy, but still quite young)

Alexandra Shapovalova
Ukraine
Local time: 16:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Inna Borymova: I've seen Mashenka and Ivanushka (e.g. Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka) in many translations including classics.
5 mins
  -> Why not. It depends on whether the translator wants to use Russian-like option or localize it.

neutral  Boris Shapiro: Just omit 'Little'. The Russian suffixes themselves do indeed have almost nothing to convey to the English-speaking reader.
1 hr
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