Book title \"The Unknown Babylon\" or \"Unknown Babylon\"

05:03 May 15, 2019 

This is actually similar to what Susan was saying: "it suggests that the book will contain something specific that is amazing and hitherto unknown". If that is indeed what the author intends to suggest.

22:18 May 14, 2019 

There could be a UK/US difference. On the other hand, as a British speaker, I now find myself thinking there could be a case for the article, depending on the content. In the examples Björn and I have cited, "Unknown England", "Unknown France" and so on suggest that the book will introduce us to a number of things about England or France — places, sights, maybe cultural or historical curiosities — that most people don't know, to supplement those they do know. It will be, if you like, an anthology of unknown things that doesn't necessarily claim to add up to a whole different image of England or France. That would be the implication of "Unknown Babylon": the book will expand our knowledge of Babylon. On the other hand, "The Unknown Babylon" might work if the implication is that our current idea of Babylon is not the real truth, or only part of the truth, and that there is a whole other unknown side to Babylon, which the book is going to tell us about. In a sense, "The Unknown Babylon" is a more ambitious title, as if the book is going to change our idea of Babylon as a whole.

20:37 May 14, 2019 

...there is a UK/US difference here.

UK again, with "Unknown Egypt" on the last page: http://www.ancientegyptmagazine.co.uk/Ancient-Egypt-Magazine...

Maybe a compromise would be: If it was translated into UK English, drop the article; if it was translated into American English keep it?

I wish you could change the title. Because from what I've heard/read about the book, I think the following would be a great way to sum up its contents (and then you don't need to worry about that pesky article business):

The Untold Story of Babylon

Similar to:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-India-Untold-British-Enterpr...

Best wishes

19:09 May 14, 2019 

I somewhat prefer the version with the article, because it suggests that the book will contain something specific that is amazing and hitherto unknown.

08:57 May 13, 2019 

Could you help me out here? I'd like to agree with Charles, but I can't even post an agreement because of that ProZ.com requirement. I'm sure you've been thinking along the same lines?

Best wishes

Björn

08:26 May 13, 2019 

By the Unknown Waters of Babylon [
Babylonunknown. Used to indicate a strong and powerful, yet corrupted and immoral place - https://www.google.de/search?q=Babylon, the unknown -dict.cc...

08:04 May 13, 2019 

I asked a native English speaker about the title and he agrees with dropping the definite article.

He also provided me with some other examples of unknown + country. So, if you really need to stick to that title, Leandro, that's the way to go, IMO.

Maybe that helps. Obviously, I can't post an answer because of the ProZ membership requirement.

Best

15:52 May 12, 2019 

Why didn't you ask this Q in the DE-EN forum? I'm a GNS and I had a feeling this was a translation from German.

Of course, I haven't read the book, but my objection is based on the fact that unbekannt is used to describe parts of the region/history that (some) people may have yet to see, hear about or explore.

If you need to stick to the title, drop the article, as in "Unknown England":
https://www.amazon.com/England-Ian-Niall/dp/0713418435

I think that'd be short for "parts of England unknown to most readers." It's more about landscape "blind spots."

Though, take this one, for example:
"Das unbekannte Ruhrgebiet (Eine Bildreise)"
https://www.amazon.de/Das-unbekannte-Ruhrgebiet-Eine-Bildrei...

I really wouldn't say "The unknown/Unknown Ruhr region"; that sounds odd to me. And the history of Babylon is relatively well documented, I thought--it's more like you have uncovered evidence or posit theories that could help paint a more detailed picture of the past.

Not saying I couldn't be wrong about this. A few other suggestions:
"Babylon: A History of..."
"...Life in Babylon"

However, many of these have already been used.

Best

15:10 May 12, 2019 

Thank you guys for the cooperation. But the author would like to stick to the original German title that's "Das unnbekante Babylon".

13:30 May 12, 2019 

...don't you use "The Secrets of...":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4Z2viYYSU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aobBpYdvgIc

Babylon isn't exactly unknown...or you could use something like "Babylon: A Journey into the Unknown." Cf https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703385404576259...

Best

02:35 May 11, 2019 

the ball in is your court on this

02:00 May 11, 2019 

or "Babylon, Answers to the Unknown" --

00:16 May 11, 2019 

very hard to suggest anything without having read the content but both your suggested options have their merits...

00:05 May 11, 2019 

deciding on a suitable book title is never easy and involves at least a couple of actors... you (the author), the editor/publisher (looks at it from a "what's the best way to sell this" perspective) and maybe others so the best way to go is to discuss the matter and come up with a manageable solution... I know because I was involved in this process with a book that was eventually published with a title I wasn't particularly happy with but ok ...

22:11 May 10, 2019 

The Big Unknown (South Babylon Remix) - The Big Unknown (South Babylon Remix) - https://soundcloud.com/southbabylon/sade-the-big-unknown-sou...