Book & literary translation
Let Chinese works find their readers on Turkish bookshelves
From novels to children’s books, and from corporate biographies to non-fiction, book translation calls not only for accuracy but also for style and rhythm. Yeni İpekyolu (New Silk Road)’s literary translators translate directly between Chinese and Turkish, prepare sample chapters and support your communication with Turkish publishers, making it easier for a work to enter the local publishing process.
How a Chinese work reaches Turkish readers
Translating via English strips a Chinese work of its tone
Türkiye has a long-established publishing industry and a large readership, and translated literature holds an important place in bookshops. In the past, however, many Chinese works reached Türkiye through English, and tone and cultural detail were frequently lost along the way. Translating directly from Chinese better preserves the style of the original work. For publishers, a sample chapter prepared by a professional translator and a clear submission package are an important basis for evaluating a foreign work.
It is worth remembering that the decision to publish rests entirely with the publisher; no translation service can guarantee publication. What the author or rights holder can do is make sure the work is seen at its best and be prepared for the rights terms.
From sample chapter to a final text ready for typesetting
The first step is getting to know the work and its target readers and setting the overall style of the translation. In the second step, a sample chapter is translated, and equivalents for the title, character names and key images are established. In the third step, the book is translated in stages, delivered a few chapters at a time so the author or publisher can give timely feedback.
When the translation is complete, an editor who is a native speaker of the target language reads and corrects the text from start to finish, followed by a final pre-press proofread. Finally, the typesetting-ready final text and a list of name equivalents are delivered. If communication with publishers is needed, we can interpret in correspondence and meetings.
Full translation first, publisher second: a risky order
One common mistake is translating the entire book first and then looking for a publisher; the publisher may not be interested in the subject or may want the length changed. The safer route is to prepare a presentation and a sample chapter first and decide on full translation after initial contact with publishers. Another mistake is overlooking rights; a contract the author signed earlier may have granted foreign-language rights to another party.
Personal relationships and face-to-face meetings matter in the Turkish publishing world. Attending book fairs in Istanbul or meeting editors directly is often more effective than just sending emails. We can provide interpreting support for such meetings.
Submission packages and interpreting at the Istanbul book fair
Yeni İpekyolu offers two-way Chinese–Turkish sample translation, full book translation, editing and proofreading, submission packages and publisher liaison support. Your lawyer or literary agency handles rights and contract matters; we translate the related documents and meetings. For corporate albums and bilingual books, we can also work together with typesetting and printing services.
Please prepare the full text, copyright ownership information or a permission document, the target readership and publishing plan, and any existing name equivalents or previous translations. An editable Word file is easier to work with than a PDF.
For those who want their work published in Turkish or Chinese
Chinese authors who want to be published in Türkiye
Turkish editions of novels, poetry, essays and non-fiction are prepared. Turkish publishers usually want to see a presentation of the work and a sample chapter first, and then decide whether to continue talks. By preparing these materials, we help your work reach the editor in a professional form.
Publishers and literary agencies
Suitable for Chinese publishers selling rights to Türkiye or Turkish publishers acquiring Chinese books. Before rights negotiations, the parties often want to assess translation quality and the work’s potential. We can offer sample chapter translation, a content assessment note and interpreting support in negotiations.
Companies and institutions
Bilingual editions of company histories, founder biographies, cultural introduction books and albums are prepared. These books are often used as gifts for business partners or at trade fairs and anniversary events, so expectations for language and typesetting quality are high. We can prepare a parallel bilingual edition together with your design team.
Those who want to bring Turkish works to China
Turkish literature and academic works are translated into Simplified Chinese for the Chinese publishing market. Translating directly from Turkish avoids the deviations that arise via English. The translation follows mainland China’s publishing conventions for spelling and punctuation.
From sample translation to publisher meetings
Sample translation
A chapter or a few pages are translated so the author and publisher can evaluate the style. Before formal collaboration, the sample chapter lets you see whether the translator has captured the voice of the work. Short passages can also be translated in different styles to help you choose a direction.
Full book translation
The entire book is translated by the same translator, keeping names, terms and style consistent. A list of equivalents is created for personal names, place names and other proper nouns. For long works, a lead translator and an assistant translator can work together, with the lead translator unifying the text.
Literary editing and proofreading
An editor who is a native speaker of the target language reads and corrects the text, followed by a final pre-press proofread. The editor focuses on whether the translation reads as fluently as an original work. The proofread checks spelling, punctuation and formatting errors.
Publisher submission package
Turkish or Chinese versions of the work’s presentation, the author biography and a synopsis are prepared. The submission package should be short and compelling, highlighting what the work offers local readers. We take into account publishers’ usual submission formats.
Publisher liaison support
We help establish contact with Turkish publishers and act as a language bridge in meetings and correspondence. We take care of communication and translation, but we don’t make rights or contract decisions on your behalf. We recommend that contract terms be reviewed by a lawyer or literary agency.
Service summary and requirements
| Turnaround | Phased plan according to length |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Per word or per project |
| Language direction | Chinese ⇄ Turkish |
| Service languages | Chinese · Turkish · English |
| Cities served | Mainly Istanbul; also Ankara, Izmir and other cities |
The final price and timeline depend on your documents and scope; we send a clear quote within 2 hours.
What you need to provide
- Full text (Word or PDF); an editable format is preferred
- Copyright ownership information or a permission document
- Target readership and publishing plan
- Existing equivalents or previous translations, if any
The translation process, from getting to know the work to final proofreading
- 1
Getting to know the work
Send the manuscript or printed book and tell us the publishing goal and readership. For example, the target may be general readers, children or academic readers. This determines the language style of the translation.
- 2
Sample translation
The translator translates the sample chapter and discusses the style and key equivalents with you. The title, character names and recurring images are settled at this stage. If you are satisfied, we move on to the full translation.
- 3
Staged translation
Delivered chapter by chapter, so you or the publisher can review at intermediate stages. Early feedback allows the direction to be adjusted in time and prevents major changes after the book is finished. A query list comes with each delivery.
- 4
Editing and final version
After editing and proofreading, the typesetting-ready final text is delivered. A list of name and term equivalents is provided with the final text. On request, another proof check can be done after typesetting.
Frequently asked questions
Can you guarantee the work will be published in Türkiye?
We can’t guarantee it; the publisher decides on publication according to its own list and market assessment. We prepare a high-quality translation and submission package and support your communication with publishers.
Should rights be sorted out before translation?
Generally, yes. Translating and publishing someone else’s work usually requires permission from the rights holder; we recommend having your lawyer or literary agency review the contract terms. If you are the author, also check whether a publishing contract you signed earlier transferred the foreign-language rights.
Will the translator’s name appear in the book?
The translator’s name usually appears in published books; details can be agreed with you and the publisher before work begins. It is also recommended that the translator’s rights and the method of payment be stated clearly in the contract.
How long does it take to translate a book?
Time depends on length, the difficulty of the text and the number of editing rounds. Literary works usually progress much more slowly than business documents, since they need to be worked on repeatedly. After the sample translation, we provide a phased schedule.
Can poetry and classical literature also be translated?
Yes, but such works demand a great deal from the translator; we first assess the text and select a suitable translator. Poetry translation often involves choosing between meaning, rhythm and imagery, and we add notes explaining these choices. A sample translation is especially important for such works.
Can I self-publish?
It is an option. In Türkiye, some publishers accept publishing models in which the author contributes to the cost, but terms vary widely. Confirm current rules for ISBN applications and the publishing process with the relevant authority and the publisher; we can support communication and the translation of documents.
Do you also do typesetting for corporate albums?
We can do bilingual typesetting in your design file or deliver the translation to your designer. Because Turkish is longer than Chinese, space must be left in the page layout. For printing, we can work together with our printing and production service.
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