- Joined
- Jan 20, 2015
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I write in medieval and ancient Ireland.
My constant conundrum is between having non-anglicized names (as most of my writing is pre-Norman conquest in Ireland) and having the reader be able to read them.
Example:
Anglicized name: Ewan
Gaelic spelling of name: Eógan
(They are pronounced the same).
A more extreme example:
Anglicized: Turlough O'Connor
Gaelic: Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobair
They are not quite pronounced the same, but close. More subtlety in the Gaelic version.
I know that the Gaelic is certainly more accurate, and adds an exotic/historic flavor to the tale. I DO include a pronunciation guide in all my books for any Gaelic names or words I include (I use them sparingly). However, I also know that often readers will just skip over a difficult name and ignore it. On the other hand, the English just seems so - Anglicized. For the Irish, who have recently begun spelling some of their names with the old Gaelic spelling now that they're finally out from under the English, I feel like it's a betrayal to their culture to Anglicize names set in that pre-Norman period.
My main characters I try to keep relatively simple - Conn, Orlagh, Maelan, Finn, etc.
However, when I insert historical chiefs and heroes, I want to use their proper names, their proud Gaelic names. Muirchertach Ua Briain, Bé Chuille, Cathasach Ua Conaill, Cu-Uladh, Rognavaldr (OK, that's an Ostman, not a Gael, but the principle applies).
Thoughts? What are your preferences, both as readers and as history lovers?
My constant conundrum is between having non-anglicized names (as most of my writing is pre-Norman conquest in Ireland) and having the reader be able to read them.
Example:
Anglicized name: Ewan
Gaelic spelling of name: Eógan
(They are pronounced the same).
A more extreme example:
Anglicized: Turlough O'Connor
Gaelic: Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobair
They are not quite pronounced the same, but close. More subtlety in the Gaelic version.
I know that the Gaelic is certainly more accurate, and adds an exotic/historic flavor to the tale. I DO include a pronunciation guide in all my books for any Gaelic names or words I include (I use them sparingly). However, I also know that often readers will just skip over a difficult name and ignore it. On the other hand, the English just seems so - Anglicized. For the Irish, who have recently begun spelling some of their names with the old Gaelic spelling now that they're finally out from under the English, I feel like it's a betrayal to their culture to Anglicize names set in that pre-Norman period.
My main characters I try to keep relatively simple - Conn, Orlagh, Maelan, Finn, etc.
However, when I insert historical chiefs and heroes, I want to use their proper names, their proud Gaelic names. Muirchertach Ua Briain, Bé Chuille, Cathasach Ua Conaill, Cu-Uladh, Rognavaldr (OK, that's an Ostman, not a Gael, but the principle applies).
Thoughts? What are your preferences, both as readers and as history lovers?