PROBLEMS OF THE TRANSLATION OF NICKNAMES IN THE LANDNÁMABÓK

Abstract

Old Norse nicknames (both ordinary and in the form of prepositive name extensions) found in written sources should not be transliterated, but translated for a better understanding of plot twists and turns and ease of perception of the text by a Russianspeaking reader. In view of the relative small size of the Old Icelandic society, the same Icelanders are not only mentioned in the Landnámabók (‘The Book of Settlements’), but also act as characters in various Icelandic family sagas, which, in turn, have several independent translations into Russian. A comparative analysis of the material of the family sagas and the Landnámabók helps to choose the most appropriate version of the translation of nicknames (especially in the case of polysemy of roots), and the presence of a commentary in problem situations will allow the Russian-speaking reader to identify the carriers of these nicknames.