Proofreading Broadly - Proofreading Compilation

Author: Cheng Qianfan/et al
Editor-in-Chief: Sun Yancheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-09-01
Features: Excerpt: Secondly, because the Yuan Dian Zhang has distinctive characteristics, the erroneous examples summarized, such as Volume 1: Errors in Formatting, Volume 3: Errors in Yuan Dynasty Alternative Characters, Volume 4: Errors in Yuan Dynasty Usage, and Volume 5: Errors in Yuan Dynasty Terminology, can supplement the shortcomings of previously cited errors in other books, thus also holding universal significance. For example, in Volume 5: Errors in Yuan Dynasty Terminology, Example 41 Misuse of Yuan Dynasty Proper Nouns states: Each era has its own proper nouns, and those who proofread must have a sufficient understanding of the proper nouns used in the era of this book, as is the purpose of works like Fangyan (Local Speeches) and Shimei (Explanations of Names). "Fuli" (Abdomen) is a Yuan Dynasty proper noun, referring to the regions of Shandong and Hebei under the jurisdiction of the Zhongshu Sheng. In the Shen edition of Yuan Dian Zhang, it was mistakenly written as "Changli" (Intestines) and later as "Fuli" (Clothing Inside). In Volume 6, Example 63: "Changli" already had established rules for imperial examinations in the Yuan Dynasty, originally written as "Fuli." In Volume 76, Example 76: "Fuli" for committing crimes resulted in penal servitude in the Yuan Dynasty, originally written as "Fuli." Although the examples are specific, the principles they illustrate hold universal guidance for proofreading work. Additionally, the authors pay attention to analyzing the causes of errors, making it clear to readers at a glance. For instance, in Volume 2: Errors in Common Characters and Phrases, Example 13 Misuse Due to Similar Sounds states: Misuse due to similar sounds can result from regional dialects or attempts to simplify writing. What is meant by regional dialects? For example, the characters "li," "li," "ji," "ji," "cheng," "chen," "dian," and "dian" are pronounced differently in Guangzhou dialect and do not confuse each other. However, in the Shen edition of Yuan Dian Zhang, many are mixed, indicating that the proofreaders' regional dialect must have been similar. What is meant by simplifying writing? In Guangzhou dialect, "huang" and "wang" are not distinguished. In the Shen edition of Yuan Dian Zhang, "huang" is often mistakenly written as "wang," but "wang" is not mistakenly written as "huang," suggesting it was merely an attempt to simplify writing, as the names of officials are considered less significant. Another example is in Volume 4: Errors in Yuan Dynasty Usage, Example 29 Misuse of Unfamiliar Yuan Dynasty Terms states: The common language of one era may not be commonly used in another, so it is important for proofreaders to be aware of language that was widely used in their time but may become obscure in later eras. The most notable example is the character "mei" in Yuan Dynasty phrases like "tamei" and "renmei," which functions similarly to today's "men." However, in the Shen edition of Yuan Dian Zhang, "mei" is often mistakenly written as "meimei," indicating a lack of understanding that "mei" and "men" have the same usage. Another example is the character "ni." "Ni" was the plural second-person pronoun in the Yuan Dynasty, frequently used by Mongol khans when addressing officials. In The Secret History of the Mongols, the singular is "ni," and the plural is "ni." However, in the Shen edition of Yuan Dian Zhang, "ni" is often mistakenly written as "ni," which does not reflect the original meaning of the time.