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Lao (Laos) style guide

Voice and register

  • Be warm and relaxed. Natural, less formal, grounded in honest conversation.
  • Be crisp and clear. Get to the point. Write for scanning first, reading second. Keep it simple.
  • Be ready to lend a hand. Anticipate real needs and give good information at the right time.
  • Keep the audience in mind. Technical terms for technical audiences, common words and phrases for consumers.
  • Write short, easy-to-read sentences.
  • Avoid passive voice. It is hard to read and understand quickly.
  • Be pleasant. Make explanations feel individualized.
  • Avoid slang. Be careful with colloquialisms. A conversational tone is acceptable, but stay professional.
  • Keep the style clear, friendly and concise. Use everyday conversational language, not formal technical language.
  • Match the style and grammatical structures of the source text. Consider the audience and the intent of the text.
  • Choose words that are not standard translations when that best keeps the intent of the source.
  • Do not translate literally. Literal translation of a conversational source produces text that is not relevant to customers.

Word choice

  • Use approved terminology for key terms, technical terms, and product names.
  • Prefer short, simple, everyday words. They are friendlier, save space on screen, and read faster.
  • App: use instead of application or program.
  • Pick, choose: use pick in fun, less formal or lightweight situations (pick a color, not choose a color). Use choose in formal situations. Do not use select unless the UI needs it.
  • Drive: use for any drive type (hard drive, CD drive, external hard drive). Use the specific drive type if necessary.
  • Get: fine as a synonym for obtain or come into possession of. Avoid for other general meanings.
  • Info: use in most situations unless information fits better. Use info when you point the reader elsewhere (for more info, see <link>).
  • PC: use for personal computing devices. Use computer for situations covering PCs and Macs. Do not switch between PC and computer.
  • You: address the user as you, directly or indirectly, with first- and second-person pronouns. Avoid third-person references such as user. They sound formal and impersonal.
  • Lao uses short words in everyday speech to shorten spelling. Make sure readers know them. Some short words are technical and used in the workplace only where everybody knows them.
  • App -> ແອັ ບ. Common IT word in Lao. People understand what ແອັ ບ is and need no original word.
  • PC -> ພີ ີຊ. Spoken use only. Many people who never learned IT do not know it and need more explanation. Very rare in general content.

Words and phrases to avoid

  • Achieve -> Do
  • As well as -> Also, too
  • Attempt -> Try
  • Configure -> Set up
  • Encounter -> Meet
  • Execute -> Run
  • Halt -> Stop
  • Have an opportunity -> Can
  • However -> But
  • Give/provide guidance, give/provide information -> Help
  • In addition -> Also
  • In conjunction with -> With
  • Locate -> Find
  • Make a recommendation -> Recommend
  • Modify -> Change
  • Navigate -> Go
  • Obtain -> Get
  • Perform -> Do
  • Purchase -> Buy
  • Refer to -> See
  • Resolve -> Fix
  • Subsequent -> Next
  • Suitable -> Works well
  • Terminate -> End
  • Toggle -> Switch
  • Utilize -> Use
  • <technic>: not <ເຕັ ກນິ ກ>, use <ເທັ ກນິ ກ>
  • Refer to: not ອ້ າງອີ ງໃສ່, use ່ ່ ເິບງີທ
  • norway: not ນອກແວ, use ໍນເວ
  • <technology>: not <ເຕັ ກໂນໂລີຊ>, use <ເທັ ກໂນໂລີຢ>
  • consider: not ພິ ຈາລະນາ, use ິຄດ
  • <encounter>: not <ປະສົ ບ>, use <ພົ ບ>

Sample voice text: address the user to take action

  • The password isn’t correct, so please try again. Passwords are case-sensitive. -> ່ ລະຫ ືຖກຕ້ ອງ, ັ ດຜ່ ານບໍ ່ ່ ງ. ກະລຸ ນາລອງໃໝ່ ີອກເືທອໜຶ ່ ່ ລະຫັ ດຜ່ ານເປັ ນເືລອງີທລະອ ຽດອ່ ອນ. Give a short, friendly message with the action to try again.
  • This product key didn’t work. Please check it and try again. -> ລະຫັ ດິສນຄ້ າໃຊ່້ ໍບໄດ້ , ກະລຸ ນາກວດືຄນ ແລະ ່ ່ ງ. ລອງໃໝ່ ີອກເືທອໜຶ Ask casually and politely to check it and try again.
  • All ready to go -> ່ ່ ທຸ ກຢ່ າງພ້ ອມີທຈະເີລມ Casual, short message that setup has completed.
  • Would you like to continue? -> ້ ເົຈາຕ້ ອງການເຮັ ດຕ່ໍ ໍບ? Use the second person pronoun you to ask politely.
  • Give your PC a name—any name you want. If you want to change the background color, turn high contrast off in PC settings. -> ່ ້ ້ ຕັ ງືຊໃຫ້ ຄອມພິ ວເຕີ ຂອງເົຈາ ່ , ືຊໃດກໍ ໄດ້ . ້ ້ ຖ້ າເົຈາຕ້ ອງການປ່ ຽນສີ ພື ນ ຫຼັ ງ, ໃຫ້ ິປດຄວາມຄົ ມຊັ ດຂອງຄອ ່ ້ ລົ ງຢູ່ ີທການຕັ ງຄ່ າຂ ມພິ ວເຕີ ອງຄອມພິ ວເຕີ . Address the user directly with the second person pronoun to take the necessary action.

Sample voice text: promote a feature

  • Picture password is a new way to help you protect your touchscreen PC. You choose the picture—and the gestures you use with it—to create a password that’s uniquely yours. -> ລະຫັ ດຮູ ບພາບເປັ ນວິ ີທໃໝ່ ີທ ່ ຊ່ ວຍເົຈາຮັ ກສາຄວາມປອດໄພ ້ ຂອງຄອມພິ ວເຕີ ໃນລະບົ ບໍສາ ພັ ດໜ້ າໍຈ. ໃຫ້ ເຈົ າເລື ້ ອກຮູ ບ, ແລ້ ວທ່ າທາງີທທ່ ານຈະໃຊ້ ່ ເພື ່ ອສ້ າງລະຫັ ດສະເພາະຂອງເ ້ ົຈາເອງ. Promote a specific feature. The em dash emphasizes the specific requirements that enable the feature.
  • Let apps give you personalized content based on your PC’s location, name, account picture, and other domain info. -> ໃຫ້ ແອັ ບຂອງເົຈາຕັ ງເືນອໃນສ ້ ້ ້ ະເພາະີອງໃສ່ ີທຕັ ງຂອງຄອມພິ ່ ້ ວເຕີ , ືຊ, ຮູ ບບັ ນຊີ ່ ແລະ ູ ນສະເພາະຂອງເົຈາ. ້ ໍຂ ້ ມ Add familiarity with everyday words, for example PC, depending on the context of the string.

Sample voice text: provide how-to guidelines

  • To go back and save your work, click Cancel and finish what you need to. -> ່ ອກັ ບໄປຈັ ດເກັ ບວຽກຂອງເ ເພື ້ ົຈາ, ໃຫ້ ຄິລກ “ຍົ ກເີລກ” ແລະ ້ ເຮັ ດວຽກຂອງເົຈາໃຫ້ ແລ້ ວ. Short and clear action with the second person pronoun.
  • To confirm your current picture password, just watch the replay and trace the example gestures shown on your picture. -> ້ ່ ເືພອຢັ ງືຢນລະຫັ ດຮູ ບພາບຂອ ່ ້ ງເົຈາ, ພຽງແຕ່ ເິບງຍ້ ອນກັ ບ ແລະ ່ ເຮັ ດຕາມທ່ າທາງຕົ ວຢ່ າງີທຢູ່ ໃ ນຮູ ບ. Keep the voice simple and natural. Do not overload the user. Tell them only what they need to make a decision.

Sample voice text: explanatory text and support

  • The updates are installed, but Windows 10 Setup needs to restart for them to work. After it restarts, we’ll keep going from where we left off. -> ້ ຕິ ດຕັ ງການປັ ບປຸ ງແລ້ ວ, ້ ແຕ່ ການຕິ ດຕັ ງ Windows 10 ່ ່ ຕ້ ອງເີປດືຄນໃໝ່ ເພື ອໃຫ້ ລະບົ ບເີລ ມເຮັ ດວຽກ. ຫຼ ນໃໝ່ ແລ້ ວ, ັ ງຈາກເີປດຄື ່ ່ ພວກເົຮາຈະ ບ່ ອນທີ ພວກເົຮາ ືສບຕໍ ້ ່ ໆມາີນ. ຢຸ ດວັ ງມ່ ໍ The language is natural, the way people talk. The voice is reassuring, letting the user know we are doing the work. we gives a more personal feel.
  • If you restart now, you and any other people using this PC could lose unsaved work. -> ້ ້ ້ ຖ້ າເົຈາເີປດືຄນໃໝ່ ດຽວີນ, ເຈົ າ ແລະ ່ ່ ້ ຄົ ນອື ນທີ ໃຊ້ ຄອມພິ ວເຕີ ໜ່ ວຍນີ ຈ ່ ່ ະສ ູ ນເສຍວຽກີທໍບໄດ້ ຈ ັ ດເກັ ບ. Clear and natural. Tell the user what will happen if the action is taken.
  • This document will be automatically moved to the right library and folder after you correct invalid or missing properties. -> ້ ຈະຍ້ າຍເອກະສານສະບັ ບີນໄປທາງຂ ວາຂອງ library ແລະ ສ້ າງໂຟເີດຢ່ າງອັ ດຕະໂນມັ ດຫຼັ ງຈາ ່ ້ ່ ກເ ົຈາແປງຄຸ ນລັ ກສະນະີທໍບືຖກຕ້ ອ ງ ຫືຼ ຂາດຫາຍໄປແລ້ ວ. Talk to the user informatively and directly about the action that will be taken.
  • Something bad happened! Unable to locate downloaded files to create your bootable USB flash drive. -> ້ ່ ດຂຶ ນ! ໍ ີດເກີ ີມອັ ນໃດບ ່ ່ ່ ອ ໍບສາມາດວາງໄຟ໌ລີທດາວໂຫຼ ດເພື ສ້ າງດາຍ USB ໄດ້ . Use short sentences without complexity to tell the user what happened.

Abbreviations

  • Do not abbreviate a Lao word until the word or phrase is stated in full first. Then abbreviate it.
  • United Nations -> ສະຫະປະຊາຊາດ (whole word), UN -> ສປຊ (abbreviated)
  • Lao PDR -> ສາທາລະນະລັ ດ ປະຊາິທປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົ ນລາວ (whole word) -> ສປປ ລາວ (abbreviated)
  • Television -> ໂທລະທັ ດ (whole word), TV -> ໂທລະທັ ດ (no Lao abbreviation)

Acronyms

  • Acronyms are words made from the initial letters of major parts of a compound term: WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), DNS (Domain Name Server), HTML (Hypertext Markup Language).
  • Localize an English acronym into a Lao acronym or abbreviation.
  • Leave the original acronym untranslated where readers widely recognize it. Add a description where Lao has no equal term.
  • UN -> ສປຊ
  • USA -> ສະຫະລັ ດອາເມລິ ກາ
  • AD -> ຄ.ສ
  • BC -> ພ.ສ
  • ASEAN -> ອາຊຽນ
  • LASER -> ເລເຊີ
  • a.m. -> ້ ໂມງເົຊາ
  • p.m. -> ໂມງແລງ
  • i.e. -> ຕົ ວຢ່ າງ
  • e.g. -> ຕົ ວຢ່ າງ
  • Where an acronym must stay in English throughout a text, write it in English in normal style at its first occurrence, followed in parentheses by the full form and its Lao equivalent.
  • AP -> ້ AP (Access Poinຸt/ຈ ດ ເົຂ າ )
  • POS -> POS (Point of Sale/ຈຸ ດຮູ ດບັ ດ)
  • UI -> UI (User Interface/ໜ້ າຕ່ າງຜູ້ ໃຊ້ )

Adjectives

  • Use adjectives to describe nouns, as in English. In localization the noun comes in front of the adjective.
  • A black phone -> ໂທລະສັ ບີສໍດາ
  • English uses possessives frequently. Handle possessive adjectives as below.
  • My Picture -> ຮູ ບພາບຂອງຂ້ ອຍ
  • My Recent Documents -> ເອກະສານລ່ າສຸ ດຂອງຂ້ ອຍ

Conjunctions

  • Conjunctions convey a conversational tone. Starting a sentence with a conjunction conveys an informal tone and style.
  • Use conjunctions to link two or more sentences together, as Lao has always done.
  • The file is not saved, but the system has automatically saved the recovery file. -> ້ ້ ເົຈາບ່ໍ ໄດ້ ຈັ ດເກັ ບໄຟ໌ລຂອງເົຈາ, ແຕ່ ລະບົ ບໄດ້ ຈັ ດເກັ ບໄຟ໌ລສະບັ ບກູ ້ ືຄນໄວ້ ຢ່ າງອັ ດຕະໂນມັ ດແລ້ ວ.
  • The file is saved and renamed. -> ່ ທ່ ານໄດ້ ຈັ ດເກັ ບ ແລະ ປ່ ຽນືຊໄຟ໌ລໃໝ່ ແລ້ ວ.

Localizing colloquialism, idioms, and metaphors

  • Do not replace a source colloquialism with a Lao colloquialism unless it is a perfect and natural fit for that context.
  • Translate the intended meaning, not the literal wording, but only where the meaning is an integral part of the text that cannot be omitted.
  • Omit the colloquialism where that does not affect the meaning of the text.

Modifiers

  • Localized Lao text often needs adjectives or adjective phrases.
  • My phone is very beautiful. -> ໂທລະສັ ບືມືຖຂອງຂ້ ອຍງາມຫຼ າຍ.

Nouns

  • Nouns name people, animals and things.
  • Phone -> ໂທລະສັ ບ
  • Inflection does not apply to Lao.
  • Plural formation does not apply to Lao. Lao does not distinguish singular and plural.

Prepositions

  • Prepositions mark the place where the noun is located. They always come with the word ຢູ່ .
  • The file is in the download folder. -> ໄຟລ໌ ຢູ່ ໃນໂຟເີດດາວໂຫຼ ດ.

Pronouns

  • Avoid ມັ ນ for English it. Repeating the same word instead is fine.
  • ມັ ນ hardly occurs in non-fictional Lao text. It is normally used for animals, and sometimes for something or someone we dislike.
  • it can be left out of the text without changing the meaning. Use ມັ ນ only where it makes the sentence more complete.
  • or let it float -> ຫື ຼ ໃຫ້ ລອຍຢູ່ -> avoid ຫື ຼ ໃຫ້ ມັ ນລອຍຢູ່
  • Translate I as ຂ້ ອຍ, which portrays men and women as equals.
  • Translate You as ເຈົ າ ້ in most cases.
  • You’re now connected to the Internet. -> ່ ້ ້ ່ ດຽວີນເຈົ າກໍ າລັ ງເຊ ອມຕໍ ເນັ ດຢູ່ . ື ິອນເຕີ

Punctuation

  • Punctuation rules are the same as in English.
  • Use the comma to separate words or phrases: Sentence1, but sentence2. -> Sentence1, ແຕ່ ວ່ າ sentence 2
  • When sentence1, sentence2. -> ່ ເືມ ອ sentence1, sentence2
  • The transaction was successfully aborted, but the abort was non-retaining. -> ຍົ ກເີລກການຕິ ດຕ່ໍ ໍສາເລັ ດແລ້ ວ, ແຕ່ ເປັ ນການຍົ ກເີລກແບບ Non-Retaining
  • Update, Add, or Remove Data. -> ່ ການປັ ບປຸ ງ, ການເພິ ມ, ຫືຼ ການລຶ ບໍຂ້ ມູ ນ
  • Use colons the same way as in English.
  • Prevent others from playing DVDs that are rated higher than: -> ່ ່ ້ ປ້ ອງກັ ນບ່ໍ ໃຫ້ ຜູ້ ືອນຫິຼ ນວີ ີດີດີທີມການຈັ ດອັ ນດັ ບສູ ງກວ່ າ:
  • To download the message: -> ່ ເືມອຕ້ ອງການດາວໂຫຼ ດ້ໍຂຄວາມ:
  • English uses three different dash characters.
  • Hyphen: Laos-Vietnam Friendship High school -> ໂຮງຮຽນມັ ດທະຍົ ມມິ ດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ຫວຽດນາມ
  • Use ellipses the same way as in English.
  • Downloading %1... -> ກໍ າລັ ງດາວໂຫຼ ດ %1...
  • Connecting to the Internet... -> ່ ອມຕ່ໍ ເນັ ດ... ກໍ າລັ ງເຊື ິອນເຕີ
  • Use the period the same way as in English.
  • Use quotation marks when referring to Lao. US source strings may surround software references with English quotation marks. Use quotation marks the same way as in English.
  • A proverb say: "In the kingdom of the blinds, the one-eyed is king." -> ມີ ສຸ ພາສິ ດກ່ າວໄວ້ ວ່ າ: "ໃນອານາຈັ ກຂອງຄົ ນຕາບອດ, ຜູ້ ຕາບອດຂ້ າງດຽວເປັ ນລາຊາ".
  • Use question marks when referring to Lao, the same way as in English.
  • Do you plan to visit Laos next year? -> ້ ນແຜນຈະໄປຢ້ ຽມຢາມປະເທດລາວີປໜ້ າ່ໍບ? ທ່ ານຂື
  • Put no space between the parentheses and the text inside them.
  • Text Document (*,txt) -> ເອກະສານຂ້ໍ ຄວາມ (*,txt)

Symbols and nonbreaking spaces

  • Keep these special characters in Lao translation the same way as in English.
  • Nonbreaking space (&nbsp;): display nothing visible.
  • Less-than symbol (&lt;) -> <
  • Greater-than symbol (&gt;) -> >
  • Ampersand (&amp;) -> &
  • Quotation mark (&quot;) -> “

Verbs

  • Use simple tenses. Simple present is easiest to understand.
  • Avoid future tense unless the event really happens in the future and simple present does not apply.
  • Use simple past for events that have already happened.
  • Translate an English gerund for a continuous operation with ກໍ າລັ ງ.
  • Printing… -> ກໍ າລັ ງພິ ມ...
  • Downloading file... -> ກໍ າລັ ງດາວໂຫຼ ດແຟ້ ມ...

Localization considerations

  • Adapt the translated text to the local language, customs and standards.
  • The language must have the look and feel of a product originally written in Lao, with idiomatic syntax and terminology, while keeping terminological consistency high.

Accessibility

  • Accessibility options and programs make the computer usable by people with cognitive, hearing, physical, or visual disabilities.
  • Hardware and software components engage a flexible, customizable user interface, alternative input and output methods, and greater exposure of screen elements.

Applications, products, and features

  • Product and application names are often trademarked and are rarely translated. Feature names are sometimes trademarked too, for example IntelliSense™.
  • Verify that an application, product or feature name is translatable and not protected before translating it.
  • Version numbers always contain a period, for example Version 4.2.
  • Version 4.2 -> Version 4.2
  • Version numbers are usually part of version strings, but technically they are not the same.

Geopolitical concerns

  • Check maps, flags, country/region, city and language names, art and graphics, and cultural content for sensitive or offensive material.
  • Check maps and other graphic representations of countries and regions for accuracy and political restrictions.
  • Recheck country/region, city and language names for every release, even if previously approved. They change regularly.
  • Check religious symbols, body and hand gestures, clip art and other visuals against the target culture.

Software considerations

  • Translate all menus, menu items, commands, buttons and check boxes consistently in the localized product.

Error messages

  • Error messages are sent by the system or a program to inform the user of an error that must be corrected for the program to keep running. They can prompt an action or report an error that requires restarting the computer.
  • Apply the voice principles so the target translation is natural and empathetic, not robot-like.
  • Oops, that can't be blank... -> ່ ້ ່ ອຸ ບສ, ບ່ ອນນັ ນປະເ ົປາໍບໄດ້ .
  • Not enough memory to process this command. -> ່ ພໍ ໄດ້ . ໜ່ ວຍຄວາມໍຈາບ່ໍ ບັ ດງານຕ່ໍ ີທຈະປະຕິ
  • Use consistent terminology and language style in error messages. Do not just translate them as they appear in the US product.
  • Use the target phrases below for the standard phrases. Use another wording where it works better in context.
  • Can’t … / Could not … -> ່ ໍບສາມາດ: You can’t save files on this drive. -> ້ ສາມາດບັ ນຶທກແຟ້ ມໃນໄ ເົຈາບ່ໍ ້ ດຣີນໄດ້ .
  • Failed to … / Failure of … -> ່ ໍບສາມາດ: Failed to open document. -> ່ໍບສາມາດເີປດເອກະສານ
  • Can’t find … / Could not find … / Unable to find … / Unable to locate … -> ຫາ... ່ໍບເຫັ ນ: Unable to fine the user information for the file. -> ້ ່ ້ ມ ຫາ ູ ນຂອງຜູ້ ໃຊ້ ແຟ້ ມີນໍບເຫັ ໍຂ ນ.
  • Not enough memory / Insufficient memory / There is not enough memory / There is not enough memory available -> ໜ່ ວຍຄວາມໍຈາ ່ໍບພຽງພໍ: Indexing is paused because there is not enough memory available. -> ່ ການຈັ ດໍລາດັ ບດັ ດສະີນຢຸ ດຊົ ວຄ າວຍ້ ອນວ່ າໜ່ ວຍຄວາມໍຈາ່ໍບພ ຽງພໍ .
  • ... is not available / ... is unavailable: n/a. Cannot be translated as this type of fragment. The translation varies by context.
  • Find out what will replace a placeholder, so the sentence stays grammatical once it is replaced.
  • %d, %ld, %u, %lu mean <number>. %c means <letter>. %s means <string>.
  • Checking Web %1!d! of %2!d! means Checking Web <number> of <number>.
  • INI file "%1!-.200s!" section means INI file "<string>" section.
  • CD Drive (%c:) -> ີຊີດໄດຣ (%c:)
  • If %username% has forgotten the password, he or she can use the password reset floppy disk. -> ຖ້ າ %username% ືລມລະຫັ ດ, ້ ລາວສາມາດໃຊ້ ຟຼ ອບິປິດດສຕັ ງຄ່ າລະຫັ ດໃໝ່ ໄດ້ .
  • Maximum of %3!s! digit(s) allowed. -> ອະນຸ ຍາດໍຈານວນຕົ ວເລກສູ ງສຸ ດ %3!s! ຫຼັ ກ

Keys

  • English writes key names, such as arrow keys, function keys and numeric keys, in normal text, not small caps.
  • Do not translate names of keys that appear on the keyboard.
  • Alt -> Alt
  • Backspace -> Backspace
  • Break -> Break
  • Caps Lock -> Caps Lock
  • Ctrl -> Control
  • Delete -> Delete
  • Down Arrow -> Down Arrow
  • End -> End
  • Enter -> Enter
  • Esc -> Escape
  • Home -> Home
  • Insert -> Insert
  • Left Arrow -> Left Arrow
  • Num Lock -> Num Lock
  • Page Down -> Page Down
  • Page Up -> Page Up
  • Pause -> Pause
  • Right Arrow -> Right Arrow
  • Scroll Lock -> Scroll Lock
  • Shift -> Shift
  • Spacebar -> Spacebar
  • Tab -> Tab
  • Up Arrow -> Up Arrow
  • Windows key -> Windows key
  • Menu Key -> Menu Key
  • Print Screen -> Print Screen

Keyboard shortcuts and access keys

  • Keyboard shortcuts, also known as access keys, are underlined or highlighted letters in menu options, commands or dialog boxes that run commands and perform tasks more quickly.
  • Slim characters such as I, l, t, r, f as keyboard shortcuts: No. Not Lao script.
  • Characters with downstrokes such as g, j, y, p, q as keyboard shortcuts: No. Not Lao script.
  • Extended characters as keyboard shortcuts: No. Not Lao script.
  • An additional letter in brackets after the item name as a keyboard shortcut: No. Not Lao script.
  • A number in brackets after the item name as a keyboard shortcut: No. Not Lao script.
  • A punctuation sign in brackets after the item name as a keyboard shortcut: No. Not Lao script.
  • Duplicate keyboard shortcuts when no other character is available: No. Not Lao script.
  • No keyboard shortcut assigned when no more characters are available, minor options only: No. Not Lao script.
  • General-audience content says keyboard shortcuts. Localization distinguishes the terms below.
  • access key: a subtype of keyboard shortcut. A letter or number the user types to access UI controls that have text labels. Access keys are assigned to top-level controls so the user can move through the UI quickly with the keyboard. Example: F in Alt+F. In UI localization: H&ome. Most access keys are used with the Alt key.
  • key tip: the letter or number that appears in the ribbon when the Alt key is pressed. In UI localization the key tip is the last character in the string after the ` character. Example: Home`H
  • shortcut key: a subtype of keyboard shortcut. A key the user types to perform a common action without going through the UI. Shortcut keys are not available for every command. Example: Ctrl+N, Ctrl+V. Most shortcut keys are used with the Ctrl key. Ctrl+letter combinations and function keys F1 through F12 are usually the best choices.

English pronunciation

  • Pronounce English terms and product names left unlocalized the English way.
  • Where Lao has an established pronunciation for a common term, such as server, use the local pronunciation.
  • Adapt pronunciation to the Lao phonetic system where the original sounds very awkward in Lao.
  • SecurID -> [sı’kjuər aı di:], same as English.
  • .NET -> [dot net], same as English.
  • Pronounce acronyms like real words, adapted to the local pronunciation.
  • RADIUS -> [ra dus], same as English.
  • RAS -> [ras], same as English.
  • ISA -> [i sa], same as English.
  • LAN -> [lan], same as English.
  • WAN -> [wan], same as English.
  • WAP -> [wap], same as English.
  • MAPI -> [ma pi], same as English.
  • POP -> [pop], same as English.
  • URL -> [u r l], same as English.
  • Pronounce other abbreviations letter by letter: ICMP, IP, TCP/IP, XML, HTML, OWA, SQL, all same as English.
  • In URLs omit http://. Read the rest of the URL entirely.
  • Pronounce www as www.
  • Omit the dot, or read it out. If you read it out, pronounce it the Lao way.
  • http://www.microsoft.com -> http://www dot Microsoft dot com
  • Most punctuation marks are implied by the sound of voice, for example ? ! : ; ,
  • The en dash – emphasizes an isolated element. Pronounce it as a comma, a short pause.
  • Pronounce special characters such as / \ ˘ < > + - using the approved Lao translations.

Local usage

Keep code and substitution tokens unchanged inside Lao sentences. Use agreed local technical words or understandable borrowed forms, and verify the result in the actual interface rather than translating isolated labels.