[Sca-cooks] Translation Criteria - long

[Debra Hense]

What with all the people who are doing translations out there.  I took the liberty of drawing up some translation criteria for competitions. While this criteria is specifically drawn up for Calontir competitions, I thought it would be good to get feedback from you folks, and also just to share.

Kateryn de Develyn

Translations

Includes period documents which have been translated to modern English.  Entries must be typed. Limit 3 pages; if work is longer, entrants may specify a section of up to 3 pages for judging.

DOCUMENTATION (0-5 points)

Give one point for each of the following that is present:
·	Identification/description of the entry.  I.E. Is this a translation of a history, cookbook, poem, diary, etc.?
·	Approximate date in history original text being translated was written.
·	Place/nationality of text being translated.
·	Overview of intended use of original text.
·	Bibliography of sources used both primary and supporting.

AUTHENTICITY (0-4 points)

·	0: Copy of text being translated not included.
·	1: Out-of-period text being translated on an out-of-period subject. Include copy of text being translated.
·	2: Out-of-period text being translated on a period subject. Include copy of text being translated.
·	3: Period text being translated from transliterated/transcribed source. Include photocopy of text being translated. (Note: this assumes that an error or errors may have been introduced during the process of transliterating/transcribing.)
·	4: Period text being translated from period source. Include photocopy of original hand-written or period-printed text being translated (only that portion which applies to the competition entry is needed).

COMPLEXITY (1-10 points) Rank the ambition of the attempt based on the following:

·1 - 3 pts - Intricacy of subject matter.
·	1 - The source is largely terms that are already known from other translations (eg., a cookbook where most of the cooking terms are well known)
·	2 - The source is composed of simple, non-technical, or everyday terms, but is heavily idiomatic or colloquial (eg., a saga, diary entry, or personal correspondence)
·	3 - The source contains many terms that are highly technical or specific to a profession, (eg., a 14th century treatise on the treatment of thrush in cows, a legal contract, a theological dissertation)

·1 - 3 pts - Scope of work.
·	1 - Short poem or passage - does not exceed 12 lines in length.
·	2 - Moderate length - a diary entry or letter.
·	3 - Booklet/book length - entrant includes copy of entire translation with section submitted for competition marked to show scope.

·1 - 3 pts - Language.
·	1 - Translation of medieval English to American-English.
·	2 - Translation of modern foreign language to American-English.
·	3 -Translation of medieval foreign language to American-English.
·	1 pt - Glossary. Is a glossary of terms included?

TRANSLATION (1 - 7 points) Rank the translation on a scale of 1 to 7 based on the following:

·	1: Literal or straight translation.  Leaves in the gender adjectives, awkwardness when reading another language translated to American-English.
·	2: Interpreted translation.   Takes out the gender adjectives. Attempts to restructure sentences/phrases from another language into American-English. Still does not read like modern American-English.
·	3 - 4: Annotated translation.  Rephrases work into American- English with explanations given for words/phrases which might be interpreted differently.  Give points for researching the translation - when translator acknowledges that there are different interpretation/translations for a specific word/phrase.
·	5 - 7: Annotated discussion. Rephrases work into American-English with explanations given for words/phrases which might be interpreted differently, and places word/phrase meanings into context for the place and time it was written.  Give points for not only researching the translation, but also for placing the text in place within the medieval mindset/picture. (e.g. a discussion of when turkey was available to "old world" cooks. Turkey may refer to a Guinea Hen or a North/South/Central American turkey. If american turkey - includes references to extant paintings, diaries or other period references. )

QUALITY (1-4 points)

Evaluate the work as a whole. NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, intuitive response, and other such items not previously addressed.