Issue #27

Abstract: The author of the essay, a linguist, continues to argue that a certain part of human statements, spoken, written or printed, reaches the listeners and readers in an inaccurate form, sometimes being distorted, changed or edited arbitrary by publishing editors using abridgements or insertions. Even some proverbs and popular quotations can be queries as to their correct spelling and meaning. In this part of his essay the author often appeals to “The Essays” of Michel de Montaigne quoting him and discussing his controversial assertion such as “glosses increase doubts and ignorance”. He provides an example from Russian history when a marginal remark made by a zealous priest was mistakenly transferred into the Prayer book and it was quite difficult to erase it in the later editions. The establishment of true authorship is also discussed as well as the accuracy of existing translations of classic texts including the Russian version of Montaigne’s Essays.