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Lost in Translation With the popularity of ethnic literatures rising, the need for clarity increases as well. All too often, I am witness to readers becoming lost in a book and not for the right reasons. They do not understand the lingo or circumstances of the book. This is a devastating event that can mean lower book sales and a loss of a potentially great storyline. Let me cite an example. I had recommended a favorite book to a student. She began reading it, hoping to capture the same elements I had. Two months went by. I heard nothing from her. I called her to see if she was enjoying the book. She confessed that she had not gotten past the first few chapters. She was lost. She couldn’t “feel” it. She couldn’t understand the words in italics. She knew they had some meaning other than emphasis, but wasn’t sure what they meant. The book had died in her hands. Wanting her to experience the beauty of the book, I wrote up a glossary of the italicized words for her. I poured through the book, filling in the blanks to a “foreigner.” She was able to catch the gist of it, but never captured the enormous emotion of the author’s micro-world. Slightly frustrated, I gave the book to my mother since she grew up in the cultural setting and situations found in the text. It moved her more than it did me. My mother opened up more passages as she placed me in the time and space of the story. It was then that I realized how crucial it is for books to be written in a global frame of mind. Following are some suggestions for broadening the scope of your audience: 1. Set apart foreign words in italics. I find this to be aesthetically beautiful as two cultures combine in one sentence; a brilliant example of a “salad.” 2. Establish a glossary at the end of the book. So often, the word cannot simply be translated into a single word. There is a context. For example, I was trying to explain the word “belleza” to a friend. Belleza is a Spanish word meaning “essence of beauty. A glossary can provide a context or a simple definition. 3. Footnotes or endnotes can help the reader. If endnotes are used, I particularly like them placed at the end of each chapter instead of the very end of the text. It provides a quick reference point for the reader and less interruption. 4. Appositives are an excellent way of crossing lingual borders. Language is not the only barrier. Context can be equally misleading. In my most recent editing experience, this issue came to light. As I was reading the text, I was quite comfortable with the terminology used. My author was relating her experience in a cult and was using terms often used in the Christian church. It was with a slight shudder that I realized the cult had taken familiar Christian terminology and twisted the familiar definitions so subtly as to not to be initially noticed. I began to write them down and define them myself, however, my author found a website with a full glossary of the cult’s jargon that we gained permission to use. We both feel this will allow the readers to feel on their own, the subtle manipulations this cult used in training its members. Plus, it distinguishes the terms from the common Christian vernacular. Please open the doors of your books to a global community. If only your culture hears, you only reach your culture. And unfortunately, the rest of the world hears nothing. By Deborah Austin, American Book Publishing Editor
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