This chapter explains the criteria that are important for the translation of dialogue in one of most translated literature genres on the German book market, the sentimental novel, (mainly) marketed to women. Under the pressure to push the prices down, big segments of the publishing business have been scaling down their editing and proofreading efforts. Conversely, sentimental novels are still being subjected to meticulous scrutiny both by editors and professional proofreaders. The production of sentimental novels involves a range of amending activities that include rewriting, reshaping and re-adjusting in length. Furthermore, this often encompasses rigorous style adjustments aimed at making the titles in the series more uniform. The analysis illustrates the measures taken by the publisher in order to meet the readers’ expectations. These include avoidance of certain cultural references, words and expressions, as well as the explicit content. The language of dialogue and inner speech that constitutes fictional orality is particularly affected by those measures.
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