English language service by WordNun
WordNun is a team of English native-speaking medievalists spread around the globe, but co-ordinated by Claire Mabey.
We are conscious that English is increasingly the medium for worldwide scholarly exchange in Medieval Studies. Non-native-speakers can be at a disadvantage in presenting their research and work in idiomatic English for a specialist audience.
While scholars are not expected to compose like Shakespeare, they still want to present their work favourably to a global audience, particularly one where almost half of the scholars remain native-speakers of English.
We hear from many fellow medievalists:
• There is a limit to how many times I can ask a colleague in Britain or the States to tidy up my text. I now feel like I am a burden and imposition, but where else can I go to?
• I can’t trust the translation bureau that I’ve been recommended – either they are not native-speakers or they are not familiar with the technical vocabulary used by medievalists and people in my own small field. And they are so expensive!
• I see colleagues from my own country making typical errors with English articles, syntax, tenses and suchlike. I know I’m much better, but I just hope I don’t do the same.
• My English is pretty good, certainly good enough to write public talks at conferences, but I’m sure it is not good enough for publication.
• My department or project’s website is bright, colourful and technically good, but we have devoted no budget to getting the English text checked and proofed, and it reads poorly.
What can we provide for you?
1. A revision of your English, when you (and we) consider that it is generally fine and publishable, but we both agree that it needs some tidying to make it fully idiomatic.
2. A very careful reworking of your text, including the checking of references and citations against library catalogues, to ensure that your material is in a definitive state ready for publication.
3. Proofreading and revision of the English on your website – We can make this text bright and snappy, but also appropriate to an audience of medieval scholars worldwide.
4. Translation: of your article, of extracts within your manuscript or article.
5. Affordable rates and prompt, professional service.
We ensure that your text will be publishable by making it conform to:
(ii) The rules of internal consistency, in terms of spelling, punctuation and referencing.
(ii) The proper idiom and register for academic English used in publications worldwide.
(iii) The norms for proper nouns and technical vocabulary used by medievalists in the English-speaking world.
WordNun comprises scholars who have gained doctorates in medieval studies, or have graduated from prestigious universities in Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia, but who also have extensive experience as copyeditors, freelance translators, and publishers of their own material in reputable series by Brill, Boydell & Brewer, Brepols and others. Their knowledge of languages includes Latin (ancient, medieval and neo-Latin) and a panoply of modern European languages.
For all enquiries contact Claire Mabey at claire@wordnun.com