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This document defines how translations are created, reviewed, and maintained across the Craftpedia ecosystem. | This document defines how translations are created, reviewed, and maintained across the Craftpedia ecosystem. | ||
It applies to all language versions and all regional portals. | It applies to all language versions and all regional portals. | ||
Revision as of 21:59, 28 November 2025
This document defines how translations are created, reviewed, and maintained across the Craftpedia ecosystem. It applies to all language versions and all regional portals.
The goal of this guide is to ensure that translated articles remain accurate, consistent, and respectful of the original crafts and cultures.
Purpose of This Guide
The Translation Guide establishes:
- principles for translating Craftpedia articles;
- rules for craft names and proper nouns;
- expectations for language quality;
- the workflow between translators, proofreaders, and fact-checkers;
- guidelines for the responsible use of machine translation.
This guide is valid for all languages unless a portal defines additional local rules.
General Translation Principles
All translations in Craftpedia must follow these principles:
Fidelity – The meaning of the original text must be preserved. Clarity – The translation must be easy to understand in the target language. Consistency – Terminology must be used consistently across articles and languages. Neutrality – The tone must remain neutral, factual, and non-promotional. Cultural Respect – Names, traditions, and communities must be treated with respect.
Translations must never introduce:
- new facts not present in the original;
- personal interpretations or assumptions;
- romanticised or speculative descriptions.
What Should Be Translated
The following elements must be translated:
- section headings and paragraphs;
- captions and labels (unless defined otherwise);
- navigation text that is part of the article content.
The following elements should not be translated:
- original craft names in their source language (e.g., 有田焼);
- official names of museums, institutions, and collections (unless an established exonym exists);
- personal names of craftsmen, artists, or historical figures.
When in doubt, keep the original proper noun and add an explanation in parentheses if necessary.
Craft Names and Proper Nouns
Craft Names
Craft names usually combine:
- an English (or local-language) descriptive name, and
- the original-language name in script and transliteration.
Example:
- Arita ware (有田焼, Arita-yaki)
Rules:
- Do not translate the original-language craft name.
- Use the standard transliteration system defined in the Craft Article Style Guide.
- If a widely accepted local-language name exists in museum literature, it may be added after the English name.
Place Names (Prefectures, Regions, Cities)
Place names must follow the naming conventions defined for each language.
Examples:
- English
- Aichi Prefecture
- Kansai Region
- German
- Präfektur Aichi
- Region Kansai
- Spanish
- Prefectura de Aichi
- Región de Kansai
- Russian
- префектура Айти
- регион Кансай
The chosen form must be used consistently across all articles in that language.
Personal Names
- Do not translate personal names.
- Keep the original order appropriate to the cultural context (Japanese names may remain surname-first unless the target language strongly prefers inversion).
- Provide transliteration when needed.
Use of Machine Translation
Machine translation (MT) is a tool, not a final product.
Allowed:
- Using MT to create a preliminary draft.
- Using MT to speed up translation of simple, repetitive text.
- Using MT for internal understanding of the source article.
Not allowed:
- Publishing unedited machine-translated text.
- Relying on MT for culturally sensitive or highly technical sections.
Every MT-based draft must be:
- fully read and corrected,
- checked for terminology accuracy,
- compared to the original text for meaning.
Translation Workflow
The recommended workflow is:
- Translation – The translator creates a draft based on the source article.
- Self-check – The translator reviews terminology, names, and factual accuracy.
- Proof-reading – A proofreader checks language quality and style.
- Fact-checking – A fact-checker verifies alignment with trustworthy sources.
- Publication – The article is finalised and properly categorized.
In smaller language communities, one person may temporarily perform multiple roles, but this should be documented.
Tone and Style in Translations
Translations must follow the same tone rules as original Craftpedia articles:
- Use a neutral, academic tone similar to museum catalog texts.
- Avoid subjective adjectives (e.g., “beautiful,” “wonderful”).
- Prefer short, clear sentences.
- Do not simplify technical descriptions to the point of inaccuracy.
- Preserve the structure of the source article.
If the source article requires improvements (clarity, balance, or structure), translators may:
- enhance clarity,
- propose corrections to the original language version.
Terminology Management
Translators are encouraged to maintain:
- a shared glossary for each language,
- mappings of craft names, place names, and historical periods,
- notes on preferred translations of recurring terms.
These may be maintained:
- as separate wiki pages (e.g., “Glossary/de”),
- in shared documents,
- in translation memory systems.
If disagreements arise:
- check usage in museum publications and academic literature;
- document both variants and select one standard form;
- mention alternatives in a note when needed.
Handling Missing Concepts
Some cultures have terms that cannot be directly translated.
In such cases:
- keep the original term (in italics or quotes);
- provide a brief explanation;
- avoid creating artificial equivalents.
Example:
- The Japanese term wabi-sabi describes an aesthetic concept focused on simplicity, imperfection, and impermanence. It has no direct translation in many European languages.
Partial Translations and Stubs
If only part of an article is translated:
- The translated sections must be complete and correct.
- The page should clearly indicate that it is incomplete.
- Sections not yet translated may be omitted or marked as “to be added.”
Unedited machine-translated fragments must not appear in published articles.
Coordination Between Languages
Craftpedia portals are interconnected. Updates in one language may require updates in others.
Best practices:
- Monitor significant updates to source articles.
- Use watchlists for key pages.
- Maintain accurate interlanguage links.
Translations should reflect essential corrections or new research added to the original article.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Over-translating proper names (places, crafts, festivals).
- Adding personal interpretations or subjective language.
- Losing chronological or technical precision.
- Ignoring established museum terminology.
- Trusting machine translation without thorough revision.
Version History
- 1.0 – Initial release (English)