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Old 05-05-2011, 07:28 PM   #8
Catlady
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhadin View Post
I agree with Susan about the centered row/horizontal line, but disagree about the spelling. If the purpose is to simply recreate the original, then the original spelling should be maintained, regardless of idiosyncracy. But if the purpose is to have modern readers read it, the spelling and punctuation should be modernized. We no longer read, for example, Beowulf or other classics of the Middle Ages in Old English because few readers are capable of dealing with it or have the patience to do so. Using the original spelling simply creates roadblocks for modern readers. You want readers to get to the story not struggle with tangentials.
But this is not Beowulf. If the original were written in Old English, then the person digitizing it is acting more in the capacity of a translator, and should be credited as such. The case at hand is something modern.

Where do you draw the line? Note that the OP mentioned grammar, not just spelling. I just would not start down the slippery slope of fixing existing works to adhere to modern standards.
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