SOME PROBLEMS In The PRODUCTION OF A MULTILINGUAL JOURNAL

Whether it is correct or not to describe it as multilingual, plurilingual or polyglot, the journal with which I am particularly concerned falls into the category which produces complete separate editions in two or more languages. The number of such journals is by no means insignificant, the majority of them being the house journals of industrial firms, produced essentially for prestige purposes, although often containing a high proportion of original and interesting technical material. Switzerland is the country which has long been foremost in their production, while other smaller European nations are also energetic in issuing English editions of journals in addition to those in their own languages. There would seem to be, however, no counter‐part among such multilingual journals to Endeavour, the scientific quarterly‐review produced in five editions, English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian, by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, contributors to Endeavour being drawn impartially from all fields of scientific activity—the academic world, scientific research institutions, and industry. Although sponsored by I.C.I., no discrimination whatever is made in favour of contributions by scientists of the company's own staff. To help maintain the international character of the journal, articles from abroad are also frequently included. Endeavour was first published in January 1942, at a period of the war when the fortunes of Britain were at a low ebb. Its purpose then was to give scientists at home, and particularly overseas, a balanced summary of the continuing progress of science. A secondary but no less important aim was to counter, by encouraging scientific workers to read outside their own subject, the trend towards over‐specialization. Notwithstanding the difficulties due to material shortages and security restrictions, Endeavour was safely launched. It has continued to flourish ever since. It is distributed free of charge to individual scientists, scientific bodies, laboratories, and libraries throughout the world. The total circulation of all editions is about 35,000 copies.