: Re: Is it required to cite the original author, when the original author is unknown and in a foreign language and adapted by an oral narrator? Here's the scenario. Person A may read a story in

@Holmes449

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Ethically, you should make it clear that the story is not your own work. Surround it in quotes, intent it differently, do whatever you would do if the author was known. Then, where you would normally cite the original author, just say "author unknown".

Claiming someone else's work as your own is unethical, regardless of how you came by the work or whether the author is known.

If you retell a story from the christian bible you should acknowledge that fact for the benefit of the majority of the world's inhabitants who are not familiar with that document. I think the bible is either public domain or owned by Google, but in any event it is unethical to use material from any other source and claim it as your own original work.

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