METM25 panel

Books and the dynamics of collaborative translator-revisor teams

Allison Wright, Faro, Portugal; Sandra Lustig, Hamburg, Germany; Linda Jayne Turner, Prague, Czech Republic; Virve Juhola, Taivassalo/Kustavi, Finland

This panel discussion is a deep dive into the intricacies of working as a translator and revisor team on books intended for publication. It will provide a frank, behind-the-scenes review of the dynamics that lead to the positive outcome of achieving the signed-off proof of a published work.

The discussion will focus on the process of translating and revising non-fiction books before they ever reach the publisher or the publisher’s editor, and will be structured loosely as a chronological journey through the project – often quite a long haul. Some of the following questions will be addressed: What motivated the pairs – or larger team, in some cases – to work together and what was agreed before the project started? Do the translators and revisors in each team feel they complement each other in terms of skills, subject knowledge and temperament? Do these complementary skills result in a better quality of the work overall? How do they communicate outside of the text being worked on (via apps, video or phone) and when? At what stage is the author/client contacted to clarify specific queries? Do they work chapter by chapter so that, by the time they reach the last chapter, the copy is “almost final”? How do they deal with the publisher and the final proof of the typeset document? Questions that might be indirectly examined include possible contributions to front matter (Translator’s preface, Copy-editor’s note, Acknowledgements), memorable book launch moments, and how the personality and character traits of each party help advance the project.

The panel will highlight lessons learnt and, perhaps more importantly, what sparks joy. Anyone who wishes to gain insights into how to improve the successful management of such projects, or is contemplating working in this way, should attend this session.
[Read a member’s review of the session.]

About the presenters

	A passionate advocate of collaborative revision for years, Allison Wright has contributed as a PT-EN translator/revisor to 26 published works since 2011, half of which have been in the same translator-revisor pair. Her eagle eye darts all over the place, and her process is seldom linear until it really matters.
	An interpreter, DE-EN and EN-DE translator, and editor, chiefly of academic texts, Sandra Lustig has also published work of her own. The areas that benefit from her expertise and experience include the social sciences, politics and policy, economics, and art and culture. She particularly enjoys working in a team.
	Linda Jayne Turner has been a translator and copy-editor for over 25 years, specialising in the social sciences, politics, environment, economics, Irish studies and history of science. She has also published several articles on translation and editing. She believes meticulous revision is key to delivering consistently high-quality texts to her academic and other clients.
	Virve Juhola has translated into Finnish and English since 1995 and has worked as a language and communications specialist since 2012. She produces editorial and corporate content, often with a technological bent. She believes project style guides are essential for consistency. She also revises and translates fiction and non-fiction and dabbles with poetry.