You Found a Book in a New Language? Don't Fret, Chicago's Got Your Back (Literally, in the Bibliography)
So, you've been trawling the library stacks, on a quest for knowledge, and WHAM! You stumble upon a literary gem – but hold on, it's not in English! Fear not, intrepid scholar, for unearthing translated treasures is practically a rite of passage in academia. But here's the thing: how do you cite this foreign friend in Chicago style without summoning the wrath of your professor (or worse, the dreaded plagiarism patrol)?
Relax, It's Not Brain Surgery (Unless You're Reading a Medical Textbook in Finnish)
Chicago might have a reputation for being a stickler for the rules, but fret no more! Citing a translated book is actually pretty straightforward. It's all about giving credit where credit is due, to both the original author and the valiant translator who brought the work to your English-speaking fingertips.
Here's the Lowdown (Chicago-Style, Obviously)
- First things first: List the original author's last name, followed by their first name (just like any other book citation).
- Then comes the title: Pop in the book's title, exactly as it appears in the translation (don't worry about the original language title here).
- The Hero Behind the Words: Here's where the translator gets their due. After the title, add "Translated by" followed by the translator's name in full, first and last (think of it as a mini-victory lap for their hard work).
- City of Lights, Big Publishing Houses: Next, mention the city where the translated version was published. This might be different from the original publication location, so be sure to check the book's details.
- The Publisher Who Brought it Home: List the publisher's full name, because hey, they deserve a shout-out too!
- The Year it all Came Together: Finally, add the year the translated version was published. This helps folks track down the specific edition you used.
For Example: Let's say you're citing a translation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's masterpiece, "One Hundred Years of Solitude." Here's how it would look in a Chicago bibliography:
Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Translated by Gregory Rabassa. New York: Harper and Row, 1970.
Bonus Tip: Don't Be a Show-Off (Unless You're Citing in a Footnote)
In footnotes, you can shorten things up a bit. Just use the original author's last name, followed by a comma, then the abbreviated title of the book, and the page number you're referencing.
For example (footnote style):
Márquez, One Hundred Years, 17.
There you have it! Now you can confidently conquer any translated text and give it the proper Chicago-style treatment. Remember, referencing is your friend, it keeps you honest and your professor happy (and maybe even impressed by your newfound multilingual expertise). So, get out there, explore those international literary landscapes, and cite with confidence!
