Cite your sources. Over and over, we are told to cite our sources. And it’s excellent advice.
That’s why I bought the best genealogy citation reference book, Evidence Explained — all 892 pages, by Elizabeth Shown Mills. It is one of my top go-to genealogy reference books.
While I am far from perfect about citing sources, I do try to cite every bit of information I receive, even when it is a comment about a birthday or wedding anniversary posted on Facebook. (Section 2.33 in Evidence Explained explains how to source them too.)
Citing in foreign languages
But how do you cite a source written in a language other than you own? Evidence Explained provides the answer, and you also learn it is not essential to provide a translation. The decision on whether or not to do so is your own.
These are the key points to remember.
Citing titles — Section 2.23
- When citing the title of a resource or work written in a foreign language, copy the title of the document exactly as it appears.
- Add a translation (if desired) in square brackets, after the original title.
- Write the title in roman type, not italic.
- Capitalize the first word and proper nouns if your translation is written in English.
- Do not place quotation marks around the translated words because your translation is not an exact quote.
- Do not repeat the translation in subsequent notes.
Example
First reference note
1. Jean Milfort-Leclerc, Mémoire, ou, Coup-d’oeil rapide sur mes différents voyages et mon séjour dans la nation Creek [Memoir: Or a quick glance at my different travels and my sojourn in the Creek nation] (Paris: Giguet et Michaud, 1802), 41.
Subsequent reference note
1. Jean Milfort-Leclerc, Mémoire, ou, Coup-d’oeil rapide sur mes différents voyaages et mon séjour dans la nation Creek (Paris: Giguet et Michaud, 1802), 41.
Foreign words — Section 2.68
The first time you use a foreign word in a piece of writing, you should italicize it. Thereafter, you may write the word in roman type.
Microfilm — Section 6.54
The same rules apply to citing a microfilm.
Example
Italy. Palermo. Gratteri. 1815 census. “Riveli di beni e anime [Disclosures of families and property].” Archivio di Stato Palermo. FHL microfilm 2,154,489, item 3. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Record books with foreign language titles — 7.16
When a record book, such as a church register, uses a language other than the one you are writing, you may add a translation of the title.
Example
Untranslated title
St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church (East St. Louis, Illinois). “Registrum Defunctorum, 1904-1942.” Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Illinois.
Translated title
San Antonio de Valero Parish (San Antonio, Texas). “Libre en que se Assientanlos Bautismos de los Indios de esta Mission de San Antº de Valero” (Book in which there has been entered baptisms of the Indians attached to this mission of San Antonio de Valero). Catholic Archives, Archdiocese of San Antonio.
To learn more about citations, I encourage you to purchase a copy of the third edition of Evidence Explained, to read the Evidence Explained Blog for quick tips, and to follow the Evidence Explained Facebook page.
Many thanks to Elizabeth Shown Mills who provided permission to share the above information on this blog. Any mistakes above are likely mine. Now, if I only knew how to cite this permission, I would do so… Back to the book.
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