Editing EAL Writing: The Advantages of Multilingualism in Editing

Editing the written work of an EAL (English as an Additional Language) speaker is one of the most challenging yet rewarding endeavours an editor can undertake. Where the stylistic and grammatical issues encountered in writing by native English speakers tend to follow predictable patterns, the errors and weaknesses in EAL writing vary widely depending on the writer’s mother tongue. When an editor accepts an EAL project, they are tasked with reconciling the pull of the writer’s mother tongue, in addition to any other languages they speak, and the conventions of written English. At this stage, working knowledge of the writer’s first language and respect for their unique linguistic background become indispensable tools in an editor’s arsenal.

Identifying meaning and intention

As a book editor with a degree in French-to-English translation and a Spanish-speaking family, multiple languages have shaped me personally and professionally. When I became an editor, I did not expect my academic French or colloquial Spanish to be of much use when editing books written in English. Yet as I began to encounter EAL writers from a variety of linguistic backgrounds, I realized that if I knew their mother tongue, I could often understand the intention behind words, expressions and stylistic techniques that might puzzle a monolingual English speaker. 

Take the following passage:

“How was your day, honey?” Nicolette asked.

“Not bad,” Isaac mumbled.

“Well, I hope you’re hungry,” said Miss Ramirez.

Isaac shrugged and the pretty blonde gave him a pat on the shoulder. 

The preceding excerpt models a stylistic technique I have encountered when working with writers whose first language is French. In the above exchange, Nicolette, Miss Ramirez and the pretty blonde are, in fact, the same person. French-speaking writers will often use multiple words and phrases to refer to a single person or concept because French loves variety. English, on the other hand, prefers repetition, which is why the exchange between Nicolette and Isaac may leave monolingual readers a tad confused. 

Another issue an editor may come across when working with an EAL writer is the literal translation of idioms. In some cases, the writer may have done this intentionally to give the reader a better understanding of the source language. In other cases, the writer may assume the same idiom exists in English and have a character “stretch the foot” rather than “kick the bucket” if Spanish is their first language. 

Having a working knowledge of the writer’s mother tongue enables the editor to identify the meaning and intention behind non-standard use of English grammar, style and expressions, making it easier to provide tailored feedback. However, linguistic proficiency alone isn’t enough to build a supportive relationship with EAL clients.

Respecting the mother tongue

Making an effort to acknowledge and validate the role a writer’s mother tongue plays in their writing is also essential to building trust and mutual respect. For example, rather than labelling an awkward stylistic decision as “wrong,” an editor can check whether the same technique would work in the writer’s first language and acknowledge the intelligence behind the attempt before offering correction. They can even provide a side-by-side comparison of the conventions that govern English and those that govern the writer’s mother tongue so that the client not only understands where they went wrong but also why they went wrong. This type of sensitive, tailored feedback will build their confidence while giving them the insight they need to become a better writer.  

As editors, our job isn’t just to correct but also to educate and empower. Having a practical understanding of an EAL client’s mother tongue and respect for the unique influence it exerts over their writing is the first step toward meeting these needs. 

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