On Transliteration of Chinese Anthroponyms and Toponyms Into Azerbaijani and Establishment of Guidelines

Abstract

Accurate translation facilitates seamless communication. Personal and geographical names are frequently used in communication, necessitating a uniform standard for transliterating anthroponyms and toponyms from the source to the target language. The Republic of Azerbaijan achieved independence nearly three decades ago. Despite extensive efforts in various fields throughout time, problems with transliteration persist. In 2013, a state program on using Azerbaijani was launched, including a clause on formulating guidelines for mutual transliteration between Azerbaijani and other languages. Over the last decade, transliteration tables for toponyms in Azerbaijani-Russian and Azerbaijani-English languages have been compiled, and publications utilising materials in both languages have been released. However, the absence of research concerning the Chinese language has led to considerable problems in the translation process and daily interaction. Currently, there are no established criteria for transliterating Chinese anthroponyms and toponyms into Azerbaijani, and some transliterations have phonetic inaccuracies. In this article, transliterations of certain Chinese anthroponyms and toponyms found on the AZERTAC (The Azerbaijan State News Agency) portal were examined and criticised, and guidelines for transliterating Chinese anthroponyms and toponyms into Azerbaijani were also proposed. Translating Chinese characters into other languages is not undemanding, and finding a comprehensive solution within the confines of a single article poses a challenging endeavour. This article laid the initial scientific foundation for creating Chinese-Azerbaijani transliteration tables.