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[karatemago]

Hi,

This is my first time posting. I have just finished editing a selection of translations of short literary pieces by the same author but by different translators. One of these translators is very good but sometimes reckless. In one of his translations two lines mean exactly the opposite of the original text. Being a translator myself I am very open to creating original versions in the target language, however this translation goes too far.

This text that I'm referring to here can be brought closer to the original meaning by erasing two words, thus changing the meaning of the lines from affirmative to negative. My question is this, can I as an editor change these two words without informing the translator? Can these be considered minimal changes that fall within the realm of editorial discretion or would this be a complete infringement of the translator's copyright?

Now that I write this it sounds a bit dictatorial and I would lean towards talking about this with the person, however I would still like to know what are the limits of an editor's discretion to alter a text.

[seniorscholar]

When a professional copy editor employed by a press changed anything at all, it comes back to the author with a query, in the olden days in blue pencil in the margin; nowadays with a footnote at the bottom of the page using Roman numerals instead of Arabic, and with the all of the changes done thus: changes {alterations} (at least in the program used by the copy editor of my most recent book). That is, the copy editor can make changes, but the author gets a chance to argue; and, in my experience, there are usually one or two whoppers (generally because I've read the literary text I'm discussing and the editor has not).