Some problems in the "translation" of English proper names into Arabic

الملخص EN

Of all the aspects and categories of language, proper names (PNs) may appear, at first sight, to be the least problematic or challenging in as far as the 'translatability' from one (source) language into another (target) language is concerned.

However, when duly and profoundly approached, PNs would turn out to be much more notorious and slippery than otherwise.

The present paper seeks to bring out and highlight cases of variation, inconsistency and instability that are so markedly observed in the 'transla- tion' of English PNs into Arabic.

Two major types of problems in the process of translating English PNs will be spotted, presented and extensively discussed with lots of illustrative and illuminating examples.