- The famous line from Moby Dick is, Call me Ishmael.
- When translated into German or Spanish, would this usually be second person informal imperative, second person, formal imperative, or even the plural second person?
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Great question! The line “Call me Ishmael” is not actually an imperative (“You, call me Ishmael”) but rather an invitation in English—almost a shorthand for “You may call me Ishmael” or “My name is Ishmael.” Translators usually try to preserve that effect.
In German
Most standard translations use “Nennt mich Ishmael.”
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This is the 2nd person plural imperative (“Call me Ishmael, you [all]”), which in German is the most neutral imperative form—it can address either one person formally or a group in a general way.
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Translators avoid the very formal imperative (“Nennen Sie mich Ishmael”), since that would sound stiff and businesslike.
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A simple declarative like “Mein Name ist Ishmael” would lose the flavor of Melville’s opening.
In Spanish
Most classic translations use “Llamadme Ismael” or “Llámame Ismael.”
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“Llamadme” is the old-fashioned 2nd person plural imperative (vosotros)—archaic and literary sounding, which fits the 19th-century style.
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Some modern versions prefer “Llámame Ismael” (2nd person singular, informal, tú) because it sounds more natural to contemporary readers.
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The formal imperative (“Llámeme Ismael”) is almost never used—it would feel inappropriately stiff, as if Ishmael were introducing himself at a bank.
Bottom line
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German → plural imperative (“Nennt mich Ishmael”).
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Spanish → either plural imperative (“Llamadme Ismael,” older) or singular informal imperative (“Llámame Ismael,” newer).
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Rarely, if ever, is the formal imperative used in either language.
Would you like me to show you side-by-side comparisons of how different published translations of Moby-Dick actually render that line in German and Spanish?
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FRENCH
In French, translators have made similar choices to German and Spanish—they almost always reach for an imperative that feels neutral, not stiff.
Common renderings
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« Appelez-moi Ishmaël. »
– This is the 2nd person plural/formal imperative. In French, appelez is both the plural and the polite vous form. That makes it nicely ambiguous: it can address one reader politely or many readers collectively.
– It’s the most common and accepted version in French editions. -
You won’t usually see « Appelle-moi Ishmaël » (tu form, singular, informal), since that would be overly casual and out of tone with Melville’s 19th-century style.
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A declarative like « Je m’appelle Ishmaël » (My name is Ishmael) appears in some modernized or abridged versions for younger readers, but that loses the subtle rhetorical flavor.
So in summary:
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French → almost always “Appelez-moi Ishmaël” (vous-form imperative).
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Rarely, simplified children’s versions shift to “Je m’appelle Ishmaël.”
Would you like me to compare the stylistic nuance between “Appelez-moi” (French) and “Nennt mich” (German)—since both are plural/formal imperatives, but they land with slightly different tones in their respective literary traditions?
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ITALIAN
In Italian, the famous opening is almost always rendered with the imperative as well:
Standard translation
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« Chiamatemi Ismaele. »
– This is the 2nd person plural imperative (voi form).
– Like German Nennt mich and French Appelez-moi, it works for addressing an open audience (plural, neutral) and has a slightly literary ring.
– It keeps the flavor of Melville’s “Call me” as a brisk, direct introduction.
Alternatives
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« Chiamami Ismaele » (tu, singular, informal) is rare in print—it feels too casual, like talking to a friend.
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« Mi chiamo Ismaele » (My name is Ishmael) shows up in simplified/children’s editions, but it loses the rhetorical edge of the original.
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A formal imperative with Lei (e.g., « Mi chiami Ismaele ») is essentially never used—it would sound like Ishmael introducing himself to a judge or a clerk, not a reader.
So in short:
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Italian → almost always “Chiamatemi Ismaele.”
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Informal tu or declarative forms exist only in adaptations, not in literary translations.
Do you want me to put together a side-by-side table of German, Spanish, French, and Italian renderings so you can directly see how each language balances formal vs. informal tone?
