A no-tendency tendency. Proper names in Polish translation. An analytical study on the basis of the Harry Potter series

Abstract

Due to the fact that the Polish translation of the Harry Potter series by Andrzej Polkowski is one of the most popular and influential in the latest years it seems to be very interesting to find out what qualities make a translation as popular as the original text. Obviously, it can be assumed that there must be a wide range of conditions to be met. However, this paper focuses only on one aspect, namely proper names, which can be found in the books as the plot is set in a non-real world containing a significant number of nouns that were invented for the purpose of the scenery and action. Thus, they pose a real challenge for translators. What is more, the article aims at answering the question of tendencies in the use of translation procedures.