English- language editing for the Latvian EU Council Presidency Aidan McCartney European Parliament...

English-language editing for the Latvian EU Council Presidency

Aidan McCartney European ParliamentEditing Unit

European Parliament Editing Unit: when, who, why, what and how

When and who

Since February 2012

Editing or ‘mise en forme’ work was previously done by the English Translation Unit

9 editors (including Head of Unit) and 4 assistants

Why

Massive increase over the years in texts written in English

English is usually the common language when a group of people are involved in drafting a text

All editors in the unit are former translators with an appreciation of the difficulties of writing in another language

What and how

Non-legislative texts

All areas of European Parliament activity

Parliamentary questions Own-initiative texts (known as INIs) Plenary documents

Parliamentary questions

Regarded as the property of the individual Member, not of Parliament

Questions by native speakers: ‘light’ editing

Questions by non-native speakers: thorough revision

INIs Complex texts coordinated by

Parliamentary Committees over time by a number of parties

Deadline of 1 working day regardless of length

Track Changes version submitted to administrator for approval

Plenary documents

Editing is MANDATORY for resolutions, joint resolutions and amendments

Extremely short deadlines

Technical AND linguistic checks

Ideally, approval is sought for all changes

Objectives

Best possible text in English within the deadline set

As close as possible to the original draft

A clear and reliable source text for fellow translators

Methods

Guiding principles: respect, empathy and help

Track changes and comments

Email and telephone

Constraints

Time

Political sensitivity

Jargon developed among the authors of a text

Editing for the Latvian EU Council Presidency

Background Secretariat is the coordinating body

for the LV Presidency

Contacted the European Parliament about seconding an English-language translator or editor

I was seconded from 1 October 2014 to

30 June 2015

Remit

General English-language related work

Specific work relating to the cultural programme and the public relations and communication programme

Presidency website

Origin

Texts translated into English by native Latvian translators

Texts written in English by Latvians

Guiding principles

Based on EP Editing Unit practice

Basic values: respect, empathy, true to original 

Track Changes and Comments

Email interaction

‘UK English’

No ‘better’ than US English

Consistent use preferable  UK US Organise Organize Harmonisation Harmonization Labour Labor Centre Center Programme Program

EU terminology in English

Interinstitutional style guide for publications in English

Correct terminology ensures ‘authenticity’ of texts

Use of the definite article

Problematic for non-native speakers

Rarely affects meaning of text, so minor editing issue

Stylistic aspects

Tone and register

Informal and non-technical

Occasional problems with political sensitivity

Website headings and titles

Short with key words

BBC website good reference point

What to do about Zanda?!

Cultural texts

Extensive Presidency cultural programme

Poetic language

Wider scope to move away from literal translation

Summary

Leap into the unknown!

Team spirit essential

Impossible to edit everything, BUT

Positive multiplier effect obtained through cooperation

Paldies par uzmanību Contact: aidan.mccartney@ep.europa.eu