Baka-Tsuki:Project Conventions

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This page is a DRAFT.

Please use caution. There many be inaccurate or incomplete material.

This page describes the "default" Baka-Tsuki Translation Project Conventions for all English light novel translation projects. These are the "default settings" and rules that should be observed for a translation project until a Project Manager specifies more detailed guidelines.

Only Project Managers have the full power to modify the default conventions with respect to their corresponding translation projects. Project Managers also have the privilege to grant one-time exceptions to their own rules, or the conventions defined here. Thus, if a certain rule defined by a Project Manager excludes you from a project you would like to participate in, do not be disheartened! If you contact the Project Manger, they may grant you an exception.

Please note that all conventions in this section may be overridden by a Project Manager for his/her specific project.

Project Specific Guidelines takes precedence over the items stated in this section.

Language

Default English Dialect: American English

• The standard spelling lexicon for this Wiki will be based upon American English as defined by the Fourth Edition of the American Heritage Dictionary (5th edition).
• After editing, manuscripts should only contain colloquialisms and slang understood in American English.

Note that some Project Managers may change the default language to British English, Australian English, etc.

Typographic Style & Grammar Conventions

Default Manual of Style: None

• Baka-Tsuki has no default style manual. However, we do encourage that a single translation project adhere to the same typographic choices.
• Here are some popular style manuals:

• The Chicago Manual of Style -- Most authoritative style guide in American publishing (requires purchase)
• The Elements of Style (Strunk and White) -- An extremely influential general American style guide (full text available)
• The Wikipedia Manual of Style -- Better suited for factual prose (full text available)

Note that some Project Managers may have specified precise ways to use dashes, em-dashes, and ellipses.

Translator Conventions

TIP: Project Managers can customize these rules freely: (ie: ALLOWED / DISCOURAGED / NOT ALLOWED / IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES / ETC.)

Translating from Intermediary Languages: ALLOWED

• Chinese to English and Korean to English translators of novels originally published in Japanese may participate in a Translation Project.
• Note: Or the equivalent analogs if the original source material is Korean or Chinese.

Note that some Project Managers may request that only Japanese to English translators participate in a project (ie: Bakemonogatari).

Translating from Fan-Translation Sources: ALLOWED

• Second-hand translations made using fan-translations as a raw are allowed.
• Example: Translations made from the officially published Chinese version of OreImo are allowed, as well as translations from Chinese fan-translations.

Note: If the statement were false, translations made from the officially published Chinese version of OreImo would be allowed, but translations from Chinese fan-translations would not.

Machine Translations: DISCOURAGED BUT ALLOWED

• Machine Translations (translating with a full dependence on language software) is allowed, so long as it adheres to the Preview Script and Machine Translation Guidelines

Note that some Project Managers may not allow machine translations on their translation project.

WORK IN PROGRESS

References