Sat., Dec. 6, 1 - 5 p.m.
Sophia University Library
Fee: ?7,000

Lynne Riggs began working as a translator and editor for The Japan Interpreter and Center for Social Science Communication in 1976. She started her own company, the Center for Intercultural Communication, with a CSSC associate in 1990. She is also managing editor of Monumenta Nipponica. She translates and edits books, journalistic articles, scholarly research, and general-interest material on Japan.

Lynne writes: “We often face English texts to ‘proofread’ or ‘edit’ that have to be completely overhauled before they are usable. Although such jobs can seem thankless and arduous, sometimes there is no choice, and sometimes they offer a real challenge. The basic premise of this class is that you have to do something. You cannot just reject the job. There are some tricks for deciphering the garble and resurrecting these texts. I’ll share what I’ve learned so far, my particular style and approach to dealing with them. It’s responsible rewriting based on a Japanese text or what I call ‘conjecture of the Japanese text,’ as well as background knowledge of the field, to write substitute material for the author.”

Participants will be sent one or more sample pieces (one topic is related to Japanese politics) to examine and rewrite prior to the class, and will be invited to bring in difficult rewriting tasks to discuss. Topics for discussion include available tools, client relations, and such questions as whether or not to re-translate if there is a Japanese text.

Participants should have worked in Japan for at least three years and be interested not only in editing/rewriting but translation as well, preferably having advanced knowledge of Japanese.