Recto nomine nuncupari: A Note on the Debate over the Slovenisation of Classical Names

Abstract

This paper begins by investigating how Latin or Greek names and expressions have been adapted in the existing Slovene translations of the major historiographical works. It continues by focusing on the adaptability of their use according to the political conditions: the outstanding example may be a specious etymological bridge spanning the name of an ancient Germanic chieftain, Arminius, and a contemporary German name, Hermann. Boosted by the mythologised reception of history, it expanded from a patriotically motivated etymological simplification into a literary topos with a strong political charge.