http://wp.me/pBAPd-oP
[翻譯] 翻譯語系的驅魔守則
How to translate a game into 20 languages and avoid going to hell
原文: http://www.pocketgamer.biz/feature/58406/sponsored-feature-how-to-translate-a-game-into-20-languages-and-avoid-going-to-hell/
作者：Vladimir Kupratsevich
Greetings! I’m Vladimir Kupratsevich, head of translation projects at Alconost.
We were once approached by a client – a game developer for Android and iOS. He had a game he wanted localized into 20 languages, including Arabic, Japanese, and Korean.
Why not? we thought. We know how to localize apps and we love doing it; we have the native-speaker translators for it. But the devil was in the details.
各位好！我是Vladimir Kupratsevich，Alconost翻譯專案的負責人。我們最近接觸了一位客戶，一位Android與iOS平台的遊戲開發者。他的遊戲想要翻譯成二十個語系，包含阿拉伯語，日語，韓語。
我們不覺得有甚麼問題？因為我們已經深深了解把app區域化這個事業，而且我們熱愛這份工作。我們在各種語言都有母語翻譯者。但是魔鬼就在細節中等著我們。
Getting ahead of myself, let me say that we successfully performed the exorcism, and gained some useful experience in the bargain. We decided to conduct the translations on a cloud platform – and we were not mistaken.
Now let me tell you about the devils we exorcised using this solution. I suspect every developer and translator who works in IT can learn something useful from our experience.
老王賣瓜，事實上我們完成了整個驅魔儀式，得到了寶貴的經驗。我們決定在雲端指揮翻譯者大軍，這是正確的決定。現在我要說明關於我們如何驅除這些惡魔。我相信IT產業的開發者與翻譯人員都匯獲益良多。
The first devil
惡魔法斯特
The game is updated regularly. On average, each day three lines need to be translated into 20 languages. This means we can’t simply deliver a turn-key translation and pack all the project documentation away into a trunk with a sigh of relief.
遊戲是不斷更新的。平均的話一天會有三行要翻譯成二十個語言。意思是我們沒辦法訂出一個時間，打包所有翻譯項目。一口氣交付工作。
For the new lines may refer to subjects and concepts already contained in the game. They need to be translated consistently, so that a Scarecrow once translated as such does not appear as a Bogeyman or an Uglie-Wuglie.
那些新產生出來的文字，可能與遊戲中先前的文句有相關。就必須同步地翻譯，避免稻草人在前後被翻譯為鬼差及怪胎。
Exorcising the first devil: First, a custom terminology database is created. We immediately acquaint each new translator joining the project with this glossary (if one of the “Big Twenty" transfers to another project or drops out for other reasons). Second, this database is always provided to the proofreader – the editor who reads through the translated text.
驅逐惡魔法斯特，我們有一個自製的語典資料庫。新加入專案的新翻譯人員會先閱讀過這個術語辭典。第二，經由這個資料庫組成後續翻譯完成的文句後還會有編輯人員來校正。
Benefit for the client: The result is that the client receives quality translations into the required languages. We avoid bothering the client by asking the same questions repeated by different associates: the translator’s access to the glossary immediately eliminates a number of questions. And quality control by the editors is the best defense against less-than-ideal interpretations, inaccuracies, and typos.
幫助客戶：成果是客戶能收到各種語言有品質的翻譯。也不會用重複的確認動作讓客戶煩惱。翻譯人員只要透過這個詞典就可以排除很多問題。編輯人員的品質管理則確保不會有隨便的直譯，不準確，還有錯別字。
The second devil
惡魔色肯德
Frequently, identical phrases are encountered in versions of the app for iOS and Android. To translate each phrase separately would be expensive and impractical. To hunt for the equivalent in the localization for the other platform would be inconvenient and time-consuming.
通常，在不同平台上的不同版本都會有相同短語，個別對不同的短語進行翻譯是一件不敷成本也不實際的事情。相反地說，要追求不同平台上的一致性，是既不方便又很花時間。
Exorcising the second devil: The cloud platform we employ contains a “translation memory" option. If word sequences or phrases in the project have previously been translated (even for a different OS), the system automatically supplies the existing translation. Like all phrases taken from the translation memory, the phrase is invariably checked by an editor, who notifies the translator if for some reason the auto-suggested version is not a good match.
驅逐惡魔色肯德，我們使用的雲端平台提供了一個翻譯記憶的功能。假如一個單詞或短語被翻譯過（即便是不同的平台），系統會自動提供那些翻譯結果。這些翻譯記憶的項目，同樣會被編輯人員所檢查，假如那些自動建議的項目並不合適，編輯也會通知翻譯人員。
Benefit for the client: Localization cost is ordinarily calculated by the number of symbols. Having a translation memory in the cloud system reduces the amount of text for “live" translation. This means a lower cost of localization for the client.
幫助客戶：地區化的成本通常以符號數量為計算。雲端系統的翻譯記憶則降低這個活躍中項目的數目。也就是客戶更低的成本。
Even if the localization is only for one OS, a translation memory still comes in handy for auto-suggesting standard phrases. For example, if we begin the first quest with the phrase: “Great things await you, O young Padawan!", the second quest should begin the same way, so as not to confuse the user.
Translation memory not only optimizes the client’s expenses, but also helps ensure consistency of the text, to help users feel confident and well-oriented in the game.
即便只需要翻譯一個平台，翻譯記憶也仍然有用。譬如我們在第一個任務碰到："年輕的學徒，挑戰正等著你。"，那麼在第二個任務也應該以同樣的方式開始，才不會混淆玩家。
翻譯記憶不只優化客戶的花費，也協助文句的一致性。這讓玩家在遊玩的時候被可信度高的文字良好地引導。
The third devil
惡魔蛇爾得
There are 20 translators and 20 editors working on a translation into 20 languages. That makes 40 people, not counting the manager. These talented people live in various time zones. But this factor needs to have no negative impact on the release date.
要翻譯為二十個語言需要二十個翻譯與二十個編輯人員，也就是不算管理人員有四十個人。這些優秀的工作者還分布在世界各地。但是這個困難不能影響專案的釋出日期。
Ideally, the moment the developers enter new phrases into the text files these phrases should immediately be submitted to each of the 20 translators, so that the latter can commence localization without delay. The developers have the same expectations: ideally, the translated lines should immediately appear in the project the moment the editor has finished checking them. “Immediately" means that very instant, not some time tomorrow.
理想地，遊戲開發商把新的詞句放到文檔中的時候，這些詞句應該立即被派送到二十個翻譯人員手上，才能沒有延遲地進行。開發商的期望通常是相同的：就是希望翻譯的結果在編輯校正之後能立即出現在專案中。立即的意思就是馬上，不是明天的某個時間。
If delays occur at any of these stages – whether it be the “incoming" lines for translation or “outgoing" delivery of localized texts – we go hurtling headlong into a cauldron of boiling pitch.
假如延遲發生，不管是在輸入，或是在交付的時候。專案的情形就會像壓力鍋一樣。
Exorcising the third devil: We used the cloud platform’s file API to automate text delivery from and submission of completed texts to the client. This meant we could toss 20 task assignment emails to translators into the burn pile, and as many emails to editors. Task assignment occurs automatically: the completed translation is immediately sent for editing, and the localized texts are instantly incorporated into the project. Of course, there is the risk that a translator or editor may ignore an assigned
task, but our fellows have never been caught slacking, God love ‘em. In any case, the manager is always on the lookout, keeping an eye on how work progresses to make sure the translations into all the languages proceed with equal speed.
驅逐惡魔蛇爾得：我們使用的雲端平台函式庫會自動交付輸入與交付的文本內容。也就是說我們可以投擲二十個工作郵件到翻譯人員跟編輯的火堆中。工作分派是自動地：完成的翻譯自動交付編輯，區域化的文本會立即進入專案。當然翻譯人員與編輯可能會忽略掉工作項目，但是我們的員工從未被抓包，感謝上蒼。不管是甚麼情況，管理人員總是會注意例外，與工作進度，確保所有語言的翻譯者都以同樣的速度推進。
Benefit for the client: The client saves time, and the risk of a delayed release due to non-readiness of the localized versions is minimized.
幫助客戶：客戶節省時間，不會因為本地化還沒準備好而延遲發布。
The fourth devil
惡魔佛爾史
What’s to be done with a phrase if the context of its usage is unclear? Should a humorous phrase – a meme, for example – be translated literally, or creatively localized? The client sends three phrases in all caps, and three in all lower-case letters. Should this be preserved in the localized version?
假如一個段落的時機不明，如何翻譯這樣情形的短語？一個幽默的短語－美眉，該被翻譯的秀氣點還是有創意點？如果客戶交付全部大寫的三個短語，以及全部小寫的三個短語。這種表徵應該要保留在地區化的結果內嗎？
These and 100 other questions are a living hell for the manager, with every translator sending his own list of comments. To ask the client all these questions would mean to inundate him with dozens of e-mails and bring work to a grinding halt. Yet to not ask them is out of the question.
這些問題對管理者來講都是困難抉擇，要嘛每個翻譯人員要提出這樣意見，要客戶在滿滿的郵件中停下來回答這些問題，然後才回去工作。若不問，出了問題怎麼辦？
Exorcising the fourth devil: The cloud platform we employ provides a place for discussion of each phrase. The translator and the client discuss ambiguous questions directly, avoiding the manager middleman, which helps to keep up the pace of the work. The manager is spared from drowning in a muddle of questions, mixing up questions from the Japanese translator with comments from the French localizer. What’s not to like?
驅除惡魔佛爾史：我們使用的雲端平台提供了一個各項短語的討論區，翻譯者與客戶會針對這些模糊的問題直接進行討論，避免中間透過管理者，這樣可以讓工作的節奏不至於中斷。管理者則可以免去因為傳話導致的錯誤。日語翻譯者提出問題，法語翻譯者加上意見。有甚麼比這更棒的？
Benefit for the client: The work process is completely transparent for the client. By being directly in contact with the translators regarding ambiguities, the client can effectively influence the end result and immediately select the versions he likes best. This translates to fewer editing cycles, as all corrections are made in the course of the work.
幫助客戶：工作的流程是完全對客戶透明的。直接接觸翻譯人員可以避免混淆，客戶也能直接影響結果，立即挑選想要的版本。翻譯人員可以減少編輯的次數，不用完成之後才回頭過來修正。
Read more about these and other devils in my presentation, “How We Made Localization Agile".
It is my hope that our experience will help you conduct localization without the headache. If you don’t have time to spend looking for translators and management, look us up. We’ve got it all.
想要知道更多的內容，請來參加我的演講："讓你的本地化敏捷起來吧"。我希望我的經驗可以幫助你們的本地化減少痛苦。假如你沒有太多時間找翻譯人員跟管理人員，試試看我們。我們已經有完整的經驗。