Translating bibliography? Thread poster: Nina Spencer
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I am translating a research paper. The text is made up of approx 6500 words and the bibligraphy is 3 pages. The list is made up of a mix of English, German, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish titles. Do I attempt to translate these or should I not leave then as their true original title?
What is the "official" practice?.
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Eva Blanar 
Hungary
Local time: 14:05
English to Hungarian
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| Leave it as it is | Aug 29, 2006 |
Bibliography is a list of sources to be consulted: the person who wants to check a Danish original will need the original title etc.
Sometimes, when the paper is for a larger audience, it might make sense to add, in brackets, a translation or even some explanation on the character of that paper, but this is not a general requirement.
Eva
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The original title must be used. Otherwise, you mislead the reader into thinking the work has been translated.
However, if the work cited in the bibliography is a translation, I look for the original title and publisher. For example, Italian bibliographies may cite an English work in translation. I look for the original and use that in the bibliography. A few months ago I had the citation "W. Shakespeare, "Giulietta e Romeo". Obviously I put "Romeo and Juliet"!
Catherine
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| Depends (as always :-) ) | Aug 29, 2006 |
This is something you have to agree upon with your customer.
For example, I translated articles for some magazines with a short bibliography and they asked me not to translate it, but to suggest, if possible, books on the same topic in the target language.
If the works are cited (with reference to certain pages) within a book that contains this bibliography, you absolutely have to keep the titles. Otherwise you would have to look up all quotations and correct the page n... See more This is something you have to agree upon with your customer.
For example, I translated articles for some magazines with a short bibliography and they asked me not to translate it, but to suggest, if possible, books on the same topic in the target language.
If the works are cited (with reference to certain pages) within a book that contains this bibliography, you absolutely have to keep the titles. Otherwise you would have to look up all quotations and correct the page numbers etc. Often it is even important what edition of a work is mentioned.
If the customer wants you to do this, then you should agree on the price for such work (a kind of research bonus) since this is not part of a translation.
What you have to translate are the describing terms in the Bibliography (pages, pp., cit., etc.) and perhaps you may have to localize the bibliography style, since there may be different styles for different countries. But this again should be discussed with your client. ▲ Collapse
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| Leave it as it is | Aug 29, 2006 |
Just as cbolton and Eva say, you should leave the bibliography as it is in the original so that readers can find the references. Otherwise it would be impossible to find the original texts.
But I think that you can provide only the translation of the title of the referenced document since this is the information readers need to decide if they want to look for the referenced book or not.
Good luck!
Liliana Ayllón
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MMUlr
Germany
Local time: 14:05
English to German
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| Nothing to add! | Aug 29, 2006 |
Eva Blanar wrote: Bibliography is a list of sources to be consulted: the person who wants to check a Danish original will need the original title etc. Sometimes, when the paper is for a larger audience, it might make sense to add, in brackets, a translation or even some explanation on the character of that paper, but this is not a general requirement. Eva
 MMUlr
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texjax DDS PhD
Local time: 08:05
Member (2006)
English to Italian
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| leave it as it is | Aug 29, 2006 |
Nina Spencer wrote:
What is the "official" practice?.
leave it as it is,
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