These guidelines will be amended as we go, but please have a look to see what’s essentially expected. Please read through all of these guidelines before starting your test or your actual files.
<aside> 💡 Fully proofread example files Are you new to this project, or would you like to see what fully proofread files should look like? See the 2 files below. They were done by some of the first linguists to join.
Submit your weekly availability here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/111XHQq9mCMcaMg-U8s6pfrDqqcve0YTa_eux_q0CRu8/edit#gid=0. Ensure that you’re specifying your availability for the current batch. This batch will be specified on the channel.
Tick the box that says “Not still working on previous batch” if you’re not currently working on anything. This helps us allocate larger/shorter files and minimize delays.
As mentioned before, we will assign files every batch. One batch features about 5-10 files and these files are allocated among the linguists that have indicated their availability in the sheet for that batch. You will receive the file name as well as its duration right next to your name in the sheet once assigned. Please make sure you’re checking the right batch ✅
Once assigned, the file is waiting for you on the platform. You can start whenever you want! Or if you’re working on another previous batch first: as soon as you’ve finished your past file.
Once assigned a file, which usually happens on Fridays, you can start working on it. Please specify what day you could deliver it by as soon as you know this. This helps us anticipate the pace. If, for whatever reason, the files take more time: you MUST let us know immediately and never on the original deliery date itself.
We strongly encourage you to update the Glossary with any knowledge you find worthy of sharing (terms, names, etc.). See this section.
⚠️ Remember to prepare a short summary of every file (keep a log of things as you translate, not afterwards as you’ll need the timecodes). See more information here. If you don’t submit this, your file cannot be marked as complete.
Ask all your questions about translation, labelling and delivery times on the the #rafa-documentary channel, or privately (see the PoCs here).
If you’re a new translator, you have access to a second channel called #new-translators. You can use that channel to ask any questions that have to do with onboarding or things you don’t want to ask everybody.
All instances of Mallorquí / Catalan and Spanish must be translated into English (US).
The English translation needs to sound natural. By that we mean that anybody should be able to put their hands on the source transcript and can read a perfectly flowing, English target transcript that sounds correct and natural as if there was never a translation to begin with.
All instances of English must be captioned in English (US).
This means that the final output should never contain any language other than English.
You can use contractions and informal language for your translations, as well as slang and swear words. Don’t censor anything. You don’t need to translate filler words like “eh, like, well, etc.” → feel free to leave them out.
Use American spelling and vocabulary 🇺🇸.
It goes without saying that punctuation must be proper and naturally flowing, and sentences can never miss punctuation that may hinder the reading experience.
For example:
| ❌ | PABLO: I have called him but no answer |
|---|---|
| ❌ | james, i called him and warned him |
| ✅ | PABLO: I have called him, but no answer. |
|---|---|
| ✅ | James, I called him and warned him. |
In the case of unfinished or unintelligible starts, middles or endings of sentences, use ellipses. You can also end sentences with (inaudible) if said sentence is finished but unintelligible. If your sentence starts with an ellipsis (…), you do not need to capitalize the first letter.
| ❌ | that was most |
|---|---|
| ❌ | …That was most |
| ✅ | …that was most… |
| ✅ | …that was most (inaudible) |
When a line is interrupted by another person, end their sentence with two hyphens (--) or an ellipsis (…), as you deem fit.
| 001A | then how about-- |
|---|---|
| 001B | then how about… |
| 002 | Can you pass me the racket? |