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Post by potet on Jul 23, 2023 12:42:07 GMT
You probably know that PDF programs have a reading facility.
Mine is PDF995, that I bought about 15 years ago for a reasonable price.
When I want to check a chapter, I convert the word-processor file into a PDF, and make the system read the text aloud. This helps me detect plenty of mistakes - missing words, illegible words, akward constructions, etc.
Also listening to someone reading your own work gives another dimension to your creation.
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 23, 2023 22:56:18 GMT
So does Word. But neither reads out punctuation.
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 24, 2023 23:46:20 GMT
Even in books from large traditional publishing houses, you know, those with captive editors and proof-readers, often have mistakes. They are not always obvious but can cause a reading "huh?" double-take.
A common fault seems to be the writer or editor substituting a word, but not deleting the original one. Or removing something like 'a' or 'and' but then not adjusting the sentence to continue making sense. Not to mention unusual punctuation. It's remarkable that they can get to multiple print runs, and 100s of reviews, and never notice.
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Post by potet on Jul 25, 2023 10:06:06 GMT
I am not a native speaker of English so that sometimes I see what looks like a mistake, but probably is not.
Here are two examples from the 1992 Penguin edition of _Paradise News_ (1991) by David LODGE, p. 11
I added the word apparently missing in round brackets.
1) aiming a hand-held video camera at them from about (a) ten yards' range
2) I spotted the uniform (as) soon as we came through the door.
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 25, 2023 23:54:42 GMT
1) without the added a is OK.
2) can be OK without the added as, but I would use the added as. However, American English literature is often not the same as English English. Some examples of American English in literature bugs me! and there are too many examples to mention!
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 25, 2023 23:59:56 GMT
And yes, I know David Lodge is English.
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Post by potet on Jul 26, 2023 11:20:41 GMT
1) without the added a is OK. 2) can be OK without the added as, but I would use the added as. However, American English literature is often not the same as English English. Some examples of American English in literature bugs me! and there are too many examples to mention! Thanks a lot. David LODGE is a famous British author. |
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 26, 2023 23:20:21 GMT
Canna say I have ever heard of him. I looked him up! You have to add John or it comes up as an American actor, who I have never heard heard of either. It's not possible to know of every one. Especially if their work is far away from what one reads.
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Post by potet on Jul 27, 2023 8:32:35 GMT
I just meant that abroad, David LODGE's English is regarded as standard modern British English. He is quite famous, and his novels are translated in all the major languages of the world.
You are like me. There are plenty of French authors I have never read because there are only 24 hours in a day, and I don't feel like reading them.
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 27, 2023 23:19:33 GMT
To me, famous means a household name. Nowadays famous is an overused word. People often only known by those who follow them on tiktok or whatever, but unknown to the general public.
Often one of my sons introduces me to writers I have never heard of. But they are often newish. Currently I am reading The Third Body Problem. It's a trilogy SF written by a Chinese chap called, Cixin Liu. Or Liu Cixin using the western method of Surname last. Sold 15,000,000 apparently, but I have no idea if that was before translation or including translation. There's a lot of people in China! It's remarkably complex and I have it in one volume of 1460 pages of story. It cost £29.99. God knows what it would have cost if SPed! Apparently Netflix is turning it in to a series. Good luck with doing that! Another novel ruined I bet. But if they do manage a good job it will be faster to watch than to read.
As to Mr Lodge's version of English I cannot comment, not ever having read his books, or seen them on sale.
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Post by potet on Jul 28, 2023 11:45:18 GMT
Kevin wrote: "a Chinese chap called, Cixin Liu. Or Liu Cixin using the western method of Surname last."
His family name / surname is LIU. His personal name /forename is Cixin. In the Chinese order his full name is LIU Cixin.
"Liu Cixin (modern : 刘慈欣 ; traditional : 劉慈欣 ; pinyin : Liú Cíxīn " (Wikipedia)
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 28, 2023 23:31:01 GMT
The writer, in the book, describes it in the way I said. I am sure he knows what his name is. But in the story it can be confusing I have to admit.
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Post by potet on Jul 29, 2023 15:58:02 GMT
Sometimes the name of a Chinese or a Japanese author in their English translation is reversed to comply with English usage. For instance Yukio MISHIMA in English is MISHIMA Yukio (三島 由紀夫) in Japanese.
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 29, 2023 23:23:17 GMT
Not being used to such names I find them hard to remember, and there are a lot of characters in the story!
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jul 29, 2023 23:24:47 GMT
I also doubt that any read aloud software could handle the names.
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