Editing and Proofreading
While technology has made incredible strides, human translators remain indispensable for a multitudes of reasons. On the one hand, because¹ For one thing, language is far more complex than just words. And going a step further, communication is more than just language. In her book “Shouting from the Shore” (2007), Paula King writes, “Language is so deeply intertwined with culture that it is only to a limited extent that they function as separate categories. A language adrift from culture is a stunned² thing.”. Human language is rich with references, idioms, metaphors, slang, memes, sarcasm, wordplay, inside, jokes, meaningful punctuation, meaningless punctuation, stylistic effect, errors… In short, it is full of subtleties that machine translation often misses or misinterprets. A human translator, who exists in these cultures, can grasp these underlying meaning, tone, and intent of a text, ensuring the translated meaning³ truly resonates with the target audience. They can also identify inconsistencies or inaccuracies in the source text itself.
1. Avoid using this phrase if you don’t have an opposing statement for “the other hand.”
2. Are you sure she doesn’t say “stunted”?
3. Repetition. Suggest: message
Nothing is more embarrassing than printing out one hundred copies of your newest publication and then finding a typo. I’ll fix your thesis! I have helped edit and proofread dissertations and term papers on everything from Biblical exegesis to trends in Dutch cinema.
Let me check over your website, résumé, or marketing materials to make sure they’re absolutely perfect before you send them out into the world. I can provide different levels of editing depending on your needs, from simple proofreading to a more intensive review of structure and tone. I am familiar with both American and British English standards. Just be sure to specify which variant you prefer and let me know if you are using a particular style guide.
