If something is in the public domain and you modify it (e.g. translate it into another language), are you allowed to license it Creative Commons, or does it have to stay in the public domain?
@cassolotl AIUI this works basically the same as with any other 'permissive' license (noting that 'public domain dedication' doesn't exist in many countries to begin with); you can license the combined work with your own input however you want, but that doesn't take away anyone's right to use the original work under the original license, nor your obligation to comply with that license in terms of eg. attribution (which is not applicable in the case of PD or PD-like licensing specifically).
TL;DR: Yes you can, but anyone can still use the original work as PD instead of your license, you are effectively just licensing your own contribution
