Proposal for the method of a group translation of a novel

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janAetherStar
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Proposal for the method of a group translation of a novel

Post by janAetherStar »

http://www.reddit.com/r/tokipona/commen ... lation_of/

Hello, all! So, here's a "big idea" (again) that I might not do myself, since school has just started and I've got a long journey around the corner. But, for the sake of sharing ideas, I've come up with a structured approach to group translations, which could be used by anyone willing to start up such a group. It's mainly reproduced ideas from a facebook post I wrote up, but in any case, here it is, and if no-one begins this, I might be inclined to later this year:

A translating group is formed, with around 5-10 members, if not more. While the group will be mostly community-based, there will be one or two chief supervisors who are actively online (at least once per day), fluent in toki pona, and are able to handle the group when making a general consensus.

Each month, or set period of months (preferably with time in-between for translators to have a break, and for the community to read their work), a new translation project is posted and voted upon. While there will be a vote for whether or not the group wants to start with the particular book, the book itself will be decided upon and posted by the chief supervisor/s to keep everyone assuredly on the "same page" (excuse the pun). Suggestions for future books will likely be integrated into the process once the general interests of the group have been gauged. If one book translation can get kicked off, then the group will likely be more friendly with each other and able to quickly choose a new book after that. All pages of the chosen book must be available in some format to ALL of the translators, whether it be online or at a library. (If someone in the group cannot attain a copy of the book, then they can either leave, supervise the current project or request that someone types up their designated chapter for them to read.)

The chosen book is broken up into its chapters, with each member assigned to a set number of chapters. Negotiations could be made among the group for the number of chapters allocated to each person - such negotiations will be based on A. The skill of the translator involved, and B. The spare time the translator can afford to spend on the project. The list of chapters, their page numbers and their subsequent translators will be posted to a private Google Docs excel file. (The translator names will be for the platform of the translator's choice, e.g. Reddit username or forums.tokipona.org username.)

If the book turns out to be too complex and difficult to read without extra context, either a different book will be chosen quickly or a group of artists (or single artist) will work on a picture for each chapter or defining moment in the book, with a similar table to the translator's table. These options will be based on user availability and a vote within the group. If 2/3 of the members wish to continue, then the current project will be upheld.

On the Google Docs file, each chapter name will include a link to the original chapter in an online format (if possible) and a link to the translated chapter (in another Google Docs file, to allow for commenting) when it is complete.
To the side of the Google Docs excel file, there will be a "General Terms" list, in which accepted translations of important key words - such as mythical creatures or character names - will be recorded and discussed if necessary.
Below the main section of the file will be a "bulletin board" with information on the times for the project to be completed. Help with translations, reviews or artistic concepts can be requested here.

Once a chapter is complete, it will be reviewed by at least 2 other translators, who will comment their approval or else suggest fine edits to the translated chapter. If 2 other translators accept the chapter after careful revision, then it will be approved for the final document.
All members of the group will be allowed to read the final draft before the project's official release to the public. This is the last opportunity to comment on the document and suggest edits. After a set time frame, if there have been no edits suggested, the final copy of the book will be released for download and online viewing.

The group rules are: If a member receives 3 strikes, they will not be allowed to continue translating in the current project and, depending on the severity of their actions, will be kicked from the group entirely or else be temporarily banned from co-operating in future projects. A member can be given a strike if they: Harass other members or repeatedly ask for personal information, repeatedly use profane language out of the context of the book, edit or remove parts of any document that they have not been given permission to do so, share information on the translation without first getting permission, belittle or put down another's work (v.s. constructive criticism), don't complete their designated chapter/s or artwork without clear reason and/or notice.

In the event that a member abandons their chapter, the chapter will be designated to another member in the group.

A side idea is that someone then takes the finished book and makes it into an audio book (or an audio-visual book, using any art drawn if that was involved in the project). This could bolster interest in learning to listen to toki pona, rather than having the majority of tp works only in a written format.
ale li pona. :)
sina o sona e ni.
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