Translating source text inside square brackets — are there any conventions?
Автор темы: Fábio Romaneli
Fábio Romaneli
Fábio Romaneli
Local time: 22:23
английский => португальский
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Jul 29, 2024

Hello,

Are there any established and detailed conventions about source text inside brackets for content to be translated and localized? I've received a test result for a Gaming project stating that my translation was indeed good, but the only issue was that I didn't translate a word inside square brackets. Naturally, I wrote a note about leaving the source word as it was due to internal processing and offered a translation in the comments. The reviewer stated that they "thought" the
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Hello,

Are there any established and detailed conventions about source text inside brackets for content to be translated and localized? I've received a test result for a Gaming project stating that my translation was indeed good, but the only issue was that I didn't translate a word inside square brackets. Naturally, I wrote a note about leaving the source word as it was due to internal processing and offered a translation in the comments. The reviewer stated that they "thought" the brackets were meant to have a highlighting purpose, but I've never seen such purpose around this industry. If that's the case, a better text formatting would fit. Have anyone seen such thing in IT/Gaming field projects?
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Sergei Leshchinsky
 
Sergei Leshchinsky
Sergei Leshchinsky  Identity Verified
Украина
Local time: 02:23
Член ProZ.com c 2008
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they should have... Jul 29, 2024

... let you know the mark-up convention for this specific text.
Square brackets for bold text... I see it for the first time too.

[Редактировалось 2024-07-29 22:15 GMT]


 
Stepan Konev
Stepan Konev  Identity Verified
Россия
Local time: 03:23
английский => русский
You should have asked them either Jul 29, 2024

Even if your client didn't tell you why they used brackets, it is you who should have asked them about their conventions and your doubts before you start translating the text.
Words in brackets can be not only bold or underlined text but also hyperlinks for example:
**Setting Form access permissions for projects is available for
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Even if your client didn't tell you why they used brackets, it is you who should have asked them about their conventions and your doubts before you start translating the text.
Words in brackets can be not only bold or underlined text but also hyperlinks for example:
**Setting Form access permissions for projects is available for all [Premium](https://domain.com/premium), [Business](https://domain.com/business), and [Enterprise](https://domain.com/enterprise) customers.**
OR variables:
Navigate to the integration page on the admin panel: **https:/[Instance Name].domain.com/admin#/integrations/available**

[Edited at 2024-07-29 21:42 GMT]
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Sergei Leshchinsky
Jorge Payan
 
Sergei Leshchinsky
Sergei Leshchinsky  Identity Verified
Украина
Local time: 02:23
Член ProZ.com c 2008
английский => русский
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Yes... Jul 29, 2024

... asking right additional questions at the test job is a good sign of an expert, it shows that you know more than they expect

Jorge Payan
 
Stepan Konev
Stepan Konev  Identity Verified
Россия
Local time: 03:23
английский => русский
Asking questions as part of test Jul 30, 2024

Sergei Leshchinsky wrote:

... asking right additional questions at the test job is a good sign of an expert, it shows that you know more than they expect
So what? If you see strange things in a test job, asking additional questions can be a part of that test. It won't demonstrate your lack of knowledge but it would demonstrate your attention to details.


Renée van Bijsterveld
Carlos de La Riva
Kay Denney
 
Fábio Romaneli
Fábio Romaneli
Local time: 22:23
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Автор темы
They listened to me Jul 30, 2024

I've sent them an email yesterday saying that I've never heard about this issue before, and that the highlighting thing should be done through more adequate means. Today they decided to send my test to another reviewer.

 
Fábio Romaneli
Fábio Romaneli
Local time: 22:23
английский => португальский
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Автор темы
Update Aug 19, 2024

They ghosted me. Anyway, moving on. Thank you for the comments, guys

 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Нидерланды
Local time: 01:23
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Thought Aug 20, 2024

Fábio Romaneli wrote:
The reviewer stated that they "thought" the brackets were meant to have a highlighting purpose, but I've never seen such purpose around this industry.

I've seen it, but it's rare. In a software text, words in any kind of brackets tend to have a special function. The client should tell you how to deal with such words. However, if the client doesn't, then I suppose you have to do whatever you think is the right thing to do, based on your experience, and just point this out when you deliver.


Fábio Romaneli
 
Fábio Romaneli
Fábio Romaneli
Local time: 22:23
английский => португальский
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Автор темы
Yes, indeed Aug 20, 2024

I added a comment in the test stating that words or strings between square brackets use to be left alone, but offered a translation just in case. However, what intrigues me is that this "issue" sounds like a scam.

 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Португалия
Local time: 00:23
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A style guide or any reference material Aug 21, 2024

Next time that you take a translation test, read the test first and ask questions if you have any doubts.
Another important thing is if the translation agency has a style guide or any reference material from the client, ask them to send it to you.
These documents will serve as an auxiliary reference and proof in the event of any flaw/error/misunderstanding, no matter how minor it can be.


 


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Translating source text inside square brackets — are there any conventions?







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