Translation guidelines

The collaborative translation system is meant to make it possible to translate Board Game Arena into any language, in order to enable more people to discover and play board games, even when not knowing English or French. For example, if you want to play 'Dragonheart' with your 10-year-old nephew and he doesn't speak English yet, no problem! Just help us translate Board Game Arena into your language!

Co může být přeloženo?

Můžete přeložit každý kousek textu, jak z hlavní stránky, tak z herního rozhraní. Jediné, co na těchto stránkách přeložit zatím nejde, jsou fóra, příspěvky a články. Možná později...

Kdo by měl překládat?

Důležité: text překládejte pouze do zvoleného jazyka a za předpokladu, že jde o váš rodný jazyk. Když překládáte hru, měli byste ji alespoň trochu znát, a pokud možno ji mít koupenou včetně pravidel ve vašem rodném jazyce pro kontrolu. Překladatelé by měli vzít v úvahu úroveň a formální/neformální stránky svého rodného jazyka.

Mateřským jazykem Board Game Arena týmu je francouzština, což znamená, že budeme mít na starost překlady do francouzštiny. Budeme také vydávat první verze anglického překladu. Protože však nejsme stejně perfektní v angličtině jako byl Shakespeare, všechny naše překlady necháváme kontrolovat lidmi, jejichž mateřský jazyk je angličtina, aby provedli úpravy, pokud budou potřeba. Totéž platí u ostatních překladů.

About context

Some strings can be translated differently depending upon the context. When this is the case, you should use the most obvious translation. Then when the site has been released in your language, native speakers will spot incorrect forms (if any) while playing and be able to correct them.

Also, you can ask us for context in the translation forum (in English or in French), and we will try to look it up and provide the information.

When will the site be made available in a new language it is being translated into?

As soon as a sufficient number of the strings have been translated in the new language in order for the site to make sense into that language, the Board Game Area team will make the site available in the language.

I fixed some translations, but they don't appear to have changed on the site

Translation files are updated nightly, so you just have to wait till the tomorrow for your changes to appear on the site.

How long will it be possible to change the translations?

The first translations may not be perfect (as explained in the 'about context' section). So they can be modified until they are 'validated'. Validation occurs when a translation has not been modified for 30 days straight. It is then considered stable and valid (golden icon) and cannot be changed anymore.

Is there some reward for translating?

Yes! Every translator that gets 100 translations validated (golden icon) will get one free month of 'Board Game Arena Club' membership (and one more month for every batch of 100 new translations validated).

This is of course only a symbolic gesture of thanks for people participating in making BGA accessible to more and more people. The possibility to enjoy board games with people from many countries is the greatest reward of all!

Translation tips

• Use the 'TAB' key to go from one text box to another. This is easier than clicking.

• Strings such as ${SOMETHING}, %SOMETHING, <SOMETHING> are markup strings for formatting or substituting text and must be left as is. Their position in the overall string can be changed as appropriate in a given language (for example for pronouns such as ${you}).

• When in doubt, leave a comment for the next translator.

• When you fix someone's translation, leave a comment if the reason for the change is not obvious.

• When the translation can depend on context which is not explicit, go with the most straightforward translation. If it is not correct, it will be spotted and fixed later by native speakers while playing.