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Non-English and Multiple Language Hymns

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Home » Forums » Hymnary Editor Room
Wed, 03/26/2025 - 17:56 — aliceqpenguin

In an old post I dredged up from the forum, it says "Texts in multiple languages with English translations included, appearing in hymnals published in the U.S. (and other English language speaking countries) should go under the English language authority."

By that measure, it would seem to me that both instances currently attached to the authority Du är helig should in fact be attached to You Are Holy, since they both include the English and are published in hymnals for English speaking audiences. Is that correct?

If I were to then go and add an instance of that song from a Swedish hymnal (in Swedish only), would the correct authority be Du är helig (or a new authority, if that one disappears when it has no instances), since it neither includes an English translation nor is intended for an English-speaking audience? Or would it be You Are Holy, the existing authority in which most of the instances also include the Swedish text?


Comments

Thu, 03/27/2025 - 09:45 — dianneshapiro

We have changed the way we handle multiple languages. The hymn should be connected to the original language authority. The translated (non original language) first line should be noted in the text authority (notes field), especially if it does not exist by itself (that is, if the hymn in our database always includes both languages). If the translated hymn exists in our database without the original language text, it can be linked in the text authority notes field.

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