Lektorat

Lektorat is a term used in Polish to describe two related but distinct activities. In publishing and writing, lektorat denotes the process of language editing and proofreading: improving text quality, readability, grammar, punctuation, terminology, and consistency, in line with a house style. A lektor or editor may perform several layers, including linguistic editing (redakcja językowa), content or stylistic editing (redakcja merytoryczna or redakcja stylistyczna), and proofreading (korekta). The goal is to prepare a manuscript for publication, ensuring clear expression and linguistic correctness, while preserving the author’s voice. The editor often provides feedback and concrete rewrites; the author implements changes, and a final check confirms that issues are resolved.

In academia, lektorat also refers to the unit within a university responsible for teaching foreign languages. It typically organizes language courses, selects teaching materials, prepares exams, and employs lektorzy to conduct classes. The scope varies by institution and language offerings.

Etymology: the term derives from lektor, a reader, lecturer, or language instructor. In practice, the two senses—editorial and educational—are distinguished by context, with editorial lektorat focusing on text editing and educational lektorat focusing on language teaching.