Journey to the West - An Audio Drama Series cover image

Journey to the West - An Audio Drama Series

Production Notes - Episode 3 | How to avoid going insane over animal names

Feb 20, 2023
Discover the intricate world of translating animal names in a legendary Chinese tale, revealing the cultural nuances that can drive one to the brink of madness. Delve into the mythical figures of Chinese lore, as the importance of localizing names for cultural accuracy takes center stage. Uncover the fascinating nuances of classical Chinese literature, especially the meanings behind animal names and their evolving significance. This journey highlights both the challenges and the rich heritage behind every name.
13:04

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast emphasizes the complexity of translating animal names due to cultural differences in naming conventions and classifications.
  • It discusses the significance of unique naming for legendary creatures, highlighting the need for careful interpretation to preserve cultural context.

Deep dives

The Complexity of Animal Names

The episode delves into the challenges associated with translating animal names from the original Chinese text of the story. It highlights how different cultures assign various names to the same animals, complicating the translation process significantly. For instance, while Chinese may differentiate between types of fish with unique names, English often groups them under a single term. This linguistic disparity is compounded by differences in real versus legendary creatures, making it a daunting task for translators to find accurate English equivalents for the animals mentioned in the narrative.

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