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!

어떤 부분을 번역해도 되나요?

메인 사이트나 게임에서 사용되는 모든 글들은 '다국어 지원' 기능을 갖고 있어서 모두 번역할 수 있습니다. 하지만 포럼의 글이나 웹사이트의 게시물은 현재로선 번역문을 추가할 수 없습니다. 언젠가는 가능할지도 모르겠습니다.

누가 번역할 수 있나요?

이것이 중요합니다: 오로지 대상 언어를 모국어로 사용하는 사람만이 번역에 참여할 수 있습니다. 게임을 번역할 때, 번역자는 해당 게임을 숙지하고 있어야 하고 가능하다면 실물 게임과 비교할 수 있는 실제 게임과 대상 언어로 된 메뉴얼을 가지고 있어야 합니다. 또한 각 국의 보드게임 이용자들이 쓰고 있는 공식적이거나 자주 쓰는 게임 규칙과 표현을 고려해서 번역하여야 합니다.

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.