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PROJECT OVERVIEW

Cross-Cultural Translation & Editing Partnership (TAPP)

Role: Editor & Collaborator | Partner University: University of Padua (UniPD), Italy | Course: Technical Editing & Style

Primary Competencies: Editing, Copyediting, Translation Review, Cross-Cultural Communication

Project Overview

The Translation and Editing Project Partnership (TAPP) was a core component of my Advanced Editing course, facilitating a unique cross-cultural collaboration between UCCS students and peers at the University of Padua, Italy. I was paired with Anna Bellaro, a student pursuing Modern Languages for International Cooperation at UniPD. The project's objective was for me to receive an English translation performed by Anna (from an Italian source text) and then provide comprehensive edits, focusing on clarity, grammar, style, flow, and localization for a general public English-speaking audience.

Initiating Collaboration & Understanding the Task

Following our instructor's guidance, I initiated contact with Anna via email in late October/early November. We exchanged introductory messages and our "pre-learning reports," which helped establish context and expectations for the project. This initial communication was crucial for building rapport and ensuring we were both clear on the process and timeline. Anna provided a translation brief outlining the specifics of her task.

Translation brief detailing the project: Source Italian, Target English, 223 words, Medical Field topic, Delivery format Word docx, Purpose Training, Audience General Public.
Figure 1: The translation brief provided by my UniPD partner, outlining the project parameters.

Shortly after, Anna sent the source material: an online news article in Italian discussing the first successful full-eye transplant performed in New York. This established the context and subject matter I would be working with.

Screenshot of the original Italian news article text about the eye transplant.
Figure 2: The original Italian source text provided for translation.

The Editing Process: Refining the Translation

Anna then provided her initial English translation of the Italian article. My primary role began at this stage: to meticulously edit her translation, transforming it into polished, natural-sounding English appropriate for the target audience (general public) while respecting the original meaning and intent.

Screenshot of the initial English translation of the news article as provided by Anna Bellaro.
Figure 3: The initial English translation received from my UniPD partner.

I utilized Microsoft Word's Track Changes and Comments features extensively. This wasn't just about correcting errors; it was about explaining the *rationale* behind the changes. My edits focused on several key areas:

  • **Clarity and Flow:** Restructuring sentences that sounded too literal or awkward in English (e.g., breaking down complex sentences, improving transitions).
  • **Word Choice (Diction):** Replacing words or phrases that, while technically correct, might not be the most common or natural-sounding choice in English for a general audience (e.g., ensuring medical terms were accurate but accessible).
  • **Grammar and Syntax:** Correcting grammatical errors and adjusting sentence structure for better readability.
  • **Punctuation and Style:** Ensuring consistency with American English punctuation standards (e.g., quotation marks).
  • **Conciseness:** Removing redundancy where possible without losing meaning.
Screenshot of the edited English translation in MS Word, showing tracked changes and comment bubbles explaining edits related to sentence structure, word choice ('optic nerve'), and flow.
Figure 4: Detailed edits and rationale provided via MS Word comments (Part 1).
Screenshot continuation of the edited English translation in MS Word, showing more tracked changes and comments explaining edits to verb tense, punctuation (quotations), and streamlining phrasing.
Figure 5: Further examples of edits focusing on grammar, punctuation, and conciseness with explanations.

Providing clear explanations in the comments was vital for the pedagogical aspect of the project, allowing Anna to understand *why* certain changes were recommended, contributing to her learning process as a translator.

Outcome & Key Takeaways

After incorporating all edits and ensuring the text flowed smoothly, I finalized the document, resulting in a polished and accurate English version of the original Italian news article, suitable for its intended audience and purpose.

Screenshot of the final, clean version of the edited English translation after all changes were accepted.
Figure 6: The final, polished English translation after incorporating all edits.

This TAPP project was a valuable practical exercise in several key areas:

  • **Detailed Editing:** It required moving beyond simple proofreading to substantive editing, focusing on clarity, style, tone, and flow for a specific audience.
  • **Translation Review:** While I didn't perform the translation, I had to evaluate the English text against the implicit meaning and structure of the Italian source (based on the provided translation) to ensure accuracy and naturalness.
  • **Cross-Cultural Communication:** Successfully navigating communication and expectations with an international partner via email required clarity and professionalism.
  • **Technical Proficiency:** Effectively using editing tools like Track Changes and Comments in MS Word was essential for documenting and explaining revisions clearly.
  • **Applying Style Conventions:** Consistently applying American English grammar and punctuation rules was critical for producing a professional final product.

The project effectively simulated a real-world editing scenario involving translated text, highlighting the importance of not just correcting errors but also enhancing readability and ensuring the text resonates appropriately with the target audience.