English- language editing for the Latvian EU Council Presidency Aidan McCartney European Parliament Editing Unit

European Parliament Editing Unit: when, who, why, what and how

When and who  Since February 2012  Editing or ‘mise en forme’ work was previously done by the English Translation Unit  9 editors (including Head of Unit) and 4 assistants

Why  Massive increase over the years in texts written in English  English is usually the common language when a group of people are involved in drafting a text  All editors in the unit are former translators with an appreciation of the difficulties of writing in another language

What and how  Non-legislative texts  All areas of European Parliament activity  Parliamentary questions  Own-initiative texts (known as INIs)  Plenary documents

Parliamentary questions  Regarded as the property of the individual Member, not of Parliament  Questions by native speakers: ‘light’ editing  Questions by non-native speakers: thorough revision

INIs  Complex texts coordinated by Parliamentary Committees over time by a number of parties  Deadline of 1 working day regardless of length  Track Changes version submitted to administrator for approval

Plenary documents  Editing is MANDATORY for resolutions, joint resolutions and amendments  Extremely short deadlines  Technical AND linguistic checks  Ideally, approval is sought for all changes

Objectives  Best possible text in English within the deadline set  As close as possible to the original draft  A clear and reliable source text for fellow translators

Methods  Guiding principles: respect, empathy and help  Track changes and comments  and telephone

Constraints  Time  Political sensitivity  Jargon developed among the authors of a text

Editing for the Latvian EU Council Presidency

Background  Secretariat is the coordinating body for the LV Presidency  Contacted the European Parliament about seconding an English-language translator or editor  I was seconded from 1 October 2014 to 30 June 2015

Remit  General English-language related work  Specific work relating to the cultural programme and the public relations and communication programme  Presidency website

Origin  Texts translated into English by native Latvian translators  Texts written in English by Latvians

Guiding principles  Based on EP Editing Unit practice  Basic values: respect, empathy, true to original  Track Changes and Comments  interaction

‘UK English’  No ‘better’ than US English  Consistent use preferable  UKUS OrganiseOrganize HarmonisationHarmonization LabourLabor CentreCenter ProgrammeProgram

EU terminology in English  Interinstitutional style guide for publications in English  Correct terminology ensures ‘authenticity’ of texts

Use of the definite article  Problematic for non-native speakers  Rarely affects meaning of text, so minor editing issue

Stylistic aspects  Tone and register  Informal and non-technical  Occasional problems with political sensitivity

Website headings and titles  Short with key words  BBC website good reference point  What to do about Zanda?!

Cultural texts  Extensive Presidency cultural programme  Poetic language  Wider scope to move away from literal translation

Summary  Leap into the unknown!  Team spirit essential  Impossible to edit everything, BUT  Positive multiplier effect obtained through cooperation

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