When I started to send out a weekly writing tip to my Chicago colleagues at Edelman (the world's largest privately owned PR firm), little did I know how quickly the list of those receiving it would grow. But word spread, as word is wont to do, and for the past three years about 1,500 of my 2,400 colleagues worldwide have been receiving it. The tips, which are about grammar, usage and style, have a dual purpose – to remind my colleagues in public relations of the power of the written word (I’m lucky to work for a company that not only prizes, but expects, expert communications skills), and, more generally, to support and perpetuate clear, concise, creative, honest, lively, stylish, compelling writing everywhere.
With “Word Wise,” I hope you’ll challenge me, challenge other readers, make suggestions, argue minutiae, add commentary, exchange ideas, and help all of us become the best writers we can be.
This is a very relevant post for me, as I deal with a lot of press releases that have been translated from Chinese. Chinese-language releases are filled with quotes from bigwigs who are excited about a product or event. It's a cultural issue as much as a linguistic one, and I often find myself leaving the quotes in, despite my own misgivings. Am I right to assume that consistency between translations trumps style?
Posted by: Andrew Galbraith | June 05, 2007 at 06:04 AM
I'm not really sure what you're asking - when translating should you change a stupid quote to a smart one? Probably not unless you have made some arrangement in advance. (I'm not familiar enough with the culture in which you work to respond with any definity.)
Posted by: Dan Santow | June 05, 2007 at 09:25 PM
Re-reading my question, I'm not entirely sure what I was asking either! It was a long day.
I think the basic issue is that the English translations I deal with are often used for internal approval, and are not widely distributed. There is a temptation in these cases to translate in such a way that the essential meaning of the release is kept, but the style (including use of quotes) conforms to English-language press release norms. Like all translation, it can be a tricky balancing act!
Posted by: Andrew Galbraith | June 06, 2007 at 01:53 AM
I was looking for the words to the Pointer Sister's song and hence 'googled my way to your sight.
A local bank, "Berkshire Bank" Pittsfield, Mass, has a complete ad campaign based on this song, tv and radio both.
They even have plate size plastic whack-a-button doohickies at teller stations that play an exuberant snippet of the song.
!!! This campaign, which is the global antithesis of your advice, is enormously 'catching' and successful.!!!
--cognitorex blogspot com--
Posted by: Craig Johnson | June 10, 2007 at 06:51 AM