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Uyghur (China) style guide

References

  • Language reference:: Alim Ahat, Yasin Ahat, "Computer English", Xinjiang University press, 1997.7; "Modern Uighur Dictionary", Xinjiang Peoples publishing house, 1999.10; Hamit A. Zakir, "Introduction to Modern Uighur", Xinjiang University press, 2007.12.
  • Where a normative source allows more than one solution, follow this guide.
  • Informative: ئۇيغۇرسوفش شىركىتىۇ «ئۇيغۇرسوفش لۇغىتى 2112»ۇ شىنجاڭ ئۈن-سىئ نەشر ياتىۇ 2005-يىە ئاپرېە 4, مىرسۇلتان ئوساانوفۇ تاھىر ئا ەمۋ لى قاتارلى مرۇ «ھاز رقى زامان ئۇيغۇر تىلىنىڭ ئىام ۋ تەلەپ ۇز قائىە اى»ۇ شىنجاڭ خەلق نەشر ياتىۇ 4777-يىە ئۈكتە ىر.

Characters

  • Country/region: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.
  • Lower-case characters: ئاۇ ئەۇ بۇ پۇ تۇ جۇ چۇ خۇ .ۇ رۇ زۇ ژۇ سۇ اۇ غۇ فۇ قۇ كۇ گۇ ڭۇ ۇ مۇ نۇ ھۇ ئوۇ ئۇۇ ئۈۇ ئۈۇ ۋۇ ئېۇ ئىۇ ي
  • Upper-case characters: none.
  • Extended Latin characters: none.
  • Total number of characters: 23.
  • Alphabetical order is not the sorting order.
  • Unicode codes: ئا (0626+0627), ئە (0626+06D5), ب (0628), پ (067E), ت (062A), ج (062C), چ (0686), خ (062E), د (062F), ر (0631), ز (0632), ژ (0698), س (0633), ش (0634), غ (063A), ف (0641), ق (0642), ك (0643), گ (06AF), ڭ (06AD), ل (0644), م (0645), ن (0646), ھ (06BE), ئو (0626+0648), ئۇ (0626+06C7), ئۆ (0626+06C6), ئۈ (0626+06C8), ۋ (06CB), ئې (0626+06D0), ئى (0626+0649), ي (064A)
  • 8 vowels in Uyghur.
  • Hamza ئ (U+0626) joins before the vowel at the start of a syllable: ئالىش, ئەھەت, تەلئەت, ئوساان
  • Ligature ال (U+0644 and U+0627) is mandatory in Uyghur.

Date

  • Calendar/Era: Gregorian.
  • First day of the week: . شەنبە (Monday).
  • First week of the year: the week that contains 1 January.
  • Separator: - or .
  • Default short date formats: yyyy-M-d, yyyy.M.d, yyyy-MM-dd, yyyy.MM.dd
  • Examples: 2011-8-17, 2011.8.17, 2011-08-17, 2011.08.17
  • Default long date formats: d-MMMM-'يىل', d-MMMM dddd-'يىل' yyyy, '-كۈنى' d'نىڭ' MMM-'يىلى' yyyy, dddd'-كۈنى' d'نىڭ' MMM-'يىلى' yyyy, yyyy-M-d dddd
  • Examples: 3122-يىل 8-21-ئاي, 3122-يىل 8-21-ئاي چارشەنبە, 3122-يىلى 8-ئاينىڭ 21-كۈنى, 3122-يىلى 8-ئاينىڭ 21-كۈنى چارشەنبە, 21-8-3122 چارشەنبە
  • Additional short date format 1: yyyy-MM-d, example 2011-03-17
  • Additional short date format 2: yyyy.M.d, example 2011.3.17
  • Additional long date format 1: dddd 'كۈنى'-d 'نىڭ' MMM 'يىلى'-yyyy, example 3122-يىلى 3-ئاينىڭ 21-كۈنى پەينەنبە
  • No leading zero in the day field, short date format.
  • No leading zero in the month field, short date format.
  • 4 digits for year, short date format.
  • No leading zero in the day field, long date format.
  • No leading zero in the month field, long date format.
  • 4 digits for year, long date format.
  • Date format for correspondence: dd mmmm yyyy, example 3122-يىە 21-مارت
  • Format codes: d is day (d = digits without leading zero, dd = digits with leading zero, ddd = abbreviated day name, dddd = full day name). M is month (M = digits without leading zero, MM = digits with leading zero, MMM = abbreviated name, MMMM = full name). y is year (yy = two digits, yyyy = four digits).

Time

  • 24 hour format: yes.
  • Standard time format: HH:mm:ss
  • Examples: 09:25:43, 15:10:31, 23:45:19
  • Time separator: colon :, example 03:24:12
  • Hours leading zero: not always. Example 03:24:12
  • AM designator: ۈشتىئ ۇرمن
  • PM designator: ۈشتىئ كتيىئ

Days

  • Do not capitalize the first letter.
  • Monday: . شەنبە, abbreviation .
  • Tuesday: سەينەنبە, abbreviation سە
  • Wednesday: ارشەنبە, abbreviation ا
  • Thursday: پەينەنبە, abbreviation پە
  • Friday: جۈمە, abbreviation جۈ
  • Saturday: شەنبە, abbreviation شە
  • Sunday: يەكنەنبە, abbreviation يە

Months

  • Do not capitalize the first letter.
  • January: full يانۋار, abbreviated 4-ئاي, long date يانۋار
  • February: full فتۋرا, abbreviated 2-ئاي, long date فتۋرا
  • March: full مارت, abbreviated 3-ئاي, long date مارت
  • April: full ئاپرېە, abbreviated 1-ئاي, long date ئاپرېە
  • May: full ماي, abbreviated 2-ئاي, long date ماي
  • June: full ئىيۇن, abbreviated 6-ئاي, long date ئىيۇن
  • July: full ئىيۇ, abbreviated 9-ئاي, long date ئىيۇ
  • August: full ئاۋغۇسش, abbreviated 9-ئاي, long date ئاۋغۇسش
  • September: full ستنتە ىر, abbreviated 7-ئاي, long date ستنتە ىر
  • October: full ئۈكتە ىر, abbreviated 41-ئاي, long date ئۈكتە ىر
  • November: full نويا ىر, abbreviated 44-ئاي, long date نويا ىر
  • December: full .ېاا ىر, abbreviated 42-ئاي, long date .ېاا ىر

Numbers

  • Digits: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Phone numbers

  • International dialing code: 86
  • Area codes used: yes, 3 digits.
  • Separator: space or hyphen.
  • Domestic: 10 digits, groupings (###) ###-#### or (###) ###-##-## or (###) ### ## ##
  • Local: 5, 6 or 7 digits, groupings ###-##-##, ##-##-##, #-##-##
  • Mobile: 11 digits, groupings (###) ###-##-###
  • International: 12 digits, groupings +86 (###) ###-##-##

Addresses

  • Do not use this entry's data as fictitious information in examples.
  • Address order: postal index (always 6 digits), country, name of the region (county, district, republic), name of the city (village), name of the street, number of the house, number of the apartment, name of the addressee (name, patronymic if an individual, surname; use Dative case).
  • Example: پو تا نومۇرى: 912211, جۇڭىۇا خەلق جۇمھۇر يىتى, شىنجاڭ ئۇيغۇر ئاپتونوم رايونى ئاقاۇ ۋ ميىتى شايار ناھىيە از رى 412-ئۈي تلى چىلىق ئولتۇراق رايونى 2- ىنا 4-ئىنى ئەھەت قا. ر
  • Local postal code format: xххххх
  • Write the sender address in the same format. Put the sender name in Genitive case.
  • Write the address in the upper right corner. Write the return address in the lower left corner.

Currency

  • Currency name: PRC Renminbi. ISO code: CNY
  • Currency symbol: ¥, before the amount.
  • Positive currency format: 1 256 347
  • Negative sign symbol: -. Negative currency format: -1 256 347
  • Decimal symbol: ., 2 digits after the decimal.
  • Digit grouping symbol: ,, 3 digits in a group.
  • Positive currency example: ¥124,567.89
  • Negative currency example: ¥-124,567.89
  • Currency subunit name: پۇڭ. No subunit symbol. Example 12 پۇڭ

Digit groups

  • Decimal separator: . (point), example 123.45
  • Thousand separator: , (comma), example 123,456,789

Measurement units

  • Metric system commonly used: yes. Temperature: Celsius.
  • Kilometer: كىلومتتىر, Km
  • Meter: متتىر, M
  • Decimeter: .ېاتىاتتىر, dm
  • Centimeter: سانتىاتتىر, cm
  • Millimeter: مىللىاتتىر, mm
  • Hectoliter: گتاتىلتتىر, Gl
  • Liter: لتتىر, L
  • Deciliter: .ېاتىلتتىر, dl
  • Centiliter: سانتىلتتىر, sl
  • Milliliter: مىللىلتتىر, ml
  • Ton: توننا, T
  • Kilogram: كىلوگىرام, Kg
  • Pound: قا.اق, no abbreviation.
  • Gram: گىرام, g
  • Decigram: .ېتاى ىرام, no abbreviation.
  • Centigram: سانتى ىرام, no abbreviation.
  • Milligram: مىللى ىرام, mg
  • Inch: . يۇم, no abbreviation.
  • Feet: فۇت, no abbreviation.
  • Mile: مىە, no abbreviation.
  • Gallon: گالون, no abbreviation.

Percentages

  • No space between the number and the percent symbol.
  • Example: ۇ يىە .ۆلىتىاىزنىڭ ئومۇمىك ئىنلەپچى ىر ش قىااىتى %9 ئاشتى.

Sorting

  • No capital letter in Uyghur.
  • Digits sort before the letters of the alphabet and after all non-alphabetical characters.
  • Hamza (U+0626) joins before the vowel at the start of a syllable: ئالىش, ئەھەت
  • Hamza sorts by its seat. Ignore it when seated first in a word or before different vowels. For the same vowel, sort the vowel with hamza before the vowel without hamza, right-to-left: ئا. م ئەم ەك تەلئەت تەلەت ساياان سۈرئەت سۈر ت
  • Character sorting order: ا (1575), ە (1749), ب (1576), پ (1662), ت (1578), ج (1580), چ (1670), خ (1582), د (1583), ر (1585), ز (1586), ژ (1688), س (1587), ش (1588), غ (1594), ف (1601), ق (1602), ك (1603), ل (1604), م (1605), ن (1606), ھ (1726), و (1608), ۇ (1735), ۆ (1734), گ (1711), ڭ (1709), ۈ (1736), ۋ (1739), ې (1744), ى (1609), ي (1610)
  • Examples of sorted words: !, #, 2998, 3122, ئالىش, ئەم ەك, ئەم ەكچى, اتۇر, تەلئەت, تەلئەتجان, تەلەت, تەلەتى, جاۋا اار, سۈرئەت, سۈرئەتلى, سۈر ت, سۈر تلى, غاز, ھارۋا, ئوساان, ئۇيغۇر, ئۇيغۇر ە, ئۈ. ك, ئۈر مچى, ۋ تەن, ئتيىق, ئىناان, ياسىئ

Geopolitical concerns

  • Check maps, flags, country/region, city and language names, art and graphics, and cultural content for the target market.
  • Check maps and other graphic representations of countries/regions for accuracy and existing political restrictions.
  • Recheck country/region, city and language names for every release, even if previously approved.
  • Check religious symbols, body and hand gestures, clip art for appropriateness.
  • Use the most up-to-date Uyghur list of country/region and city names for every release.

Adjectives

  • Put adjectives before the noun.
  • Translate possessive adjectives as pronouns: en Please open My computer -> uig متنىڭ كوم يۇتتر انى ئتچىڭ
  • Omit the possessive adjective when the possessive affix on the noun carries it: en Do you want to close your application? -> uig تاىنەماىز؟ قولمناىڭىز. ئ

Articles

  • Does not apply to Uyghur.

Capitalization

  • Does not apply to Uyghur.

Compounds

  • Keep compounds understandable and clear. Avoid overly long or complex compounds.
  • Unintuitive compounds harm intelligibility and usability.
  • en CD-ROM drive -> uig CD-ROM قوزغات ۇچ
  • en Internet Accounts -> uig ئىنتترنتش ھتاا اتى
  • en Workgroup Administrator -> uig خىزمەت گۇرمپ ا اش ۇرغۇ ىاى
  • en Website -> uig تور تاەت

Gender

  • Does not apply to Uyghur.

Genitive

  • Product names and non-translated feature names are proper nouns. Use them without definite or indefinite articles.
  • Never attach a genitive s to a trademarked product name. Add to a product or component name with a hyphen, or use a periphrastic construction: Microsoft's products -> Microsoft products, Products by Microsoft
  • Treat product names and non-translated feature names as proper nouns in Uyghur too.
  • en Windows Mail shares your Internet Connection settings with Internet Explorer -> uig Windows Mail ئىنتترنتش ئۇلىنىش سەپلىاىڭىزنى Internet Explorer ىلەن ئورتاق ئىنلىتىەم
  • en Website addresses will be sent to Microsoft -> uig تور تاەت ئا.رېالىرى Microsoft قا يولمنەى
  • Use translated feature names with a definite or indefinite article. They are not proper names.
  • en Hide the Task Manager when it is minimized -> uig كىچىالىتىل ەنە ۋ ز ە اش ۇرغۇ ىنى يوشۇرما
  • en Please click the Start Menu. -> uig تاىڭ اشما تىز الىاىنى

Modifiers

  • Does not apply to Uyghur.

Nouns

  • Integrate English loan words into the noun class system. Check motivation (formal features that allow straightforward integration), analogy (an equivalent Uyghur term), and frequency (the class used most often in other technical documentation).
  • Keep noun class assignment consistent across the product. Consult the translation team lead.
  • Keep English loan words as they are. Add Uyghur case endings.
  • en Delete it from server. -> uig ئۇنى مۇالز اىتتر. ئ ئۈ ۈر پ تاشمڭ
  • en Enter a password to log into the server. -> uig مۇالز اىتترگە كىر ش ئۈ ۈن پارولنى كىرگۈز ڭ
  • en DNS cannot resolve the server IP address. -> uig قىملاىەى DNSۇ مۇالز اىتترنىڭ IP ئا.رېاىنى ھە
  • en Verify the name of the server's certificate. -> uig مۇالز اىتتر . لىللەا نامىنى تەكنۈر ڭ
  • Six cases: Nominative, Genitive (possessive), Dative, Accusative, Ablative, Directional.
  • Nominative case: اا كتلىش, no ending. The subject of the sentence keeps the initial form.
  • Possessive pronouns case: كتلىش ئى ىلى, ending -نىڭ. Shows that something belongs to someone.
  • Dative case: تر ش كتلىش, endings -غاۇ -قاۇ -گەۇ -كە. Answers "(to) whom".
  • Accusative case: ۈشۈم كتلىش, ending -نى. Answers "whom".
  • Ablative case: ى ىش كتلىش, endings -. ئۇ -تىئ. Shows the starting point of the action in space and time.
  • Directional case: ئورمن كتلىش, endings -.اۇ -. ۇ -تاۇ -تە. Shows the place where or the time when the action happens.
  • Plural of loan words: en Websites -> uig تور تاەتلەر, en users -> uig ئىنلەتاۈ ىلەر

Prepositions

  • Uyghur has no prepositions. Use affixes instead.
  • Do not omit them or change the word order under English influence.
  • en migrate to a city -> uig شەھەرگە كۈ اەك
  • en migrate from a city -> uig شەھەر. ئ كۈ اەك
  • en import to overseas -> uig ەتئەل ە ئىا ورت قىلااق
  • en import from overseas -> uig ەتئەلە ئ ئىا ورت قىلااق
  • en export to overseas -> uig ەتئەل ە ئتاا ورت قىلااق
  • en export from overseas -> uig ەتئەلە ئ ئتاا ورت قىلااق
  • en update to a newer version -> uig يتڭى نەشىر ە يتڭىلىااق
  • en upgrade to a newer version -> uig ە كۈتەرمەك يتڭى نەشىر
  • en change to text -> uig تتاىاتنى ئۈزگەرتاەك
  • en click on button -> uig كۇنۇپاىغا اسااق
  • en connect to Internet -> uig ئىنتىرنتتاە ئۇلىااق
  • en welcome to wizard -> uig يتتەكلى ۈ اە خۇا كتلى اىز

Pronouns

  • A pronoun replaces a noun phrase already mentioned or about to be mentioned.
  • Subjective personal pronoun as the subject: en Are you sure? -> uig سىز جەز الەشتۈر ماىز؟
  • Demonstrative pronoun as the subject of a compound verb: en This must not continue. -> uig ۇنى .اۋاممشتۇرماڭ

Punctuation

  • Put a space after commas and periods.
  • Comma: use a comma as the decimal separator. Never use a space for this. A space separates the numeral from the abbreviation.
  • In paper sizes keep the decimal separator and the abbreviation in for inches. The sizes are US norms.
  • en 5.25 cm -> uig 5.25 سانتىاتتىر
  • en 5 x 7.2 inches -> uig 5 x 7.2 . يۇم
  • Colon: replace a colon after alerting words like Attention, Warning, Caution with an exclamation mark. en Warning: -> uig ئاگاھمنەمرما!
  • Never capitalize regular text after a colon. It is a language error. Does not apply to lists and direct speech.
  • Introduce single in-text notes and examples with ئەساەرتىش or مىاا followed by a period: en Note: For more information, see Chapter 1. -> uig ئەساەرتىشۇ تتىىاۇ كۈپ ئۇ ۇرالرنى 4- ا تىئ كۈر ڭ
  • Introduce lists of notes and examples with ئەساەرتىش or مىاا followed by a colon: ئەساەرتىش: ئەساەرتاە تتاىاش 4 ئەساەرتاە تتاىاش 2
  • Hyphen: divides words between syllables, links parts of a compound word, connects the parts of an inverted or imperative verb form. Example پەن-تتىنىااۇ ئىلىش-پەنۇ ياخنى-يامان
  • En dash: use as a minus sign in a double word, and in number ranges such as page numbers. No spaces around the en dash. Examples .وسش-. شاەن, 4- اشمنغۇچ مەكتەپ, 23- ەت
  • Em dash: use to emphasize an isolated element or to introduce a non-essential element. Write the em dash longer than the en dash. No spaces around the em dash.
  • Examples: ئۈر مچى–شىنجاڭ ئۇيغۇر ئاپتونۇم رايونىنىڭ مەركىزى., سىلەر–ياشمر ۋ تەننىڭ كەل ۈسى
  • In dialogue start each new line with an em dash: –ئىااىڭىز نتاە؟ نە. ئىنلەياىز؟, –ئالىش ئەھەتۇ شىنجاڭ ئۇنىۋېرسىتتتىەا ئىنلەياەن
  • Ellipses: use to show an incomplete sentence. No space before the ellipsis. Example سىاتتاا يتڭىلىنىۋاتىەم
  • Period: end each sentence with a period.
  • No period in an abbreviation of a measurement unit. Examples sm, kg
  • Bulleted items that are complete sentences: end each with a period.
  • Bulleted items that continue an introductory clause: no period.
  • Items in a list (chapters, sections, products, system requirements) that are neither sentences nor continuations: no period.
  • If the translation is longer than the source, or splits into several independent sentences, insert a period where it improves the style.
  • Never put a period after just one word.
  • The same rules apply to instruction lists, captions, and callouts. Example ىزنىڭ اغەا ئالااۇ ئۈر كۇ ئانار ۋ نەش ۈتلەر پىنتى
  • Quotation marks: in documentation use chevrons, and curly quotation marks inside chevrons. Example «مىاروسوفش» شىركىتىۇ «ئۇيغۇرسوفش ئەلااتىپ» يۇمناق .ېتالى
  • The period stands outside the chevrons.
  • In software and on web pages use straight quotation marks, same as English.
  • Never use single quotation marks, including in software strings.
  • Parentheses: no space between the parentheses and the text inside them. Example (ھۈججەت تۇر ۋات ان) قىا ۇ نى ئتچىپۇ (ئىچىە ئ) ھۈججەتلەرنى تالمڭ

Singular and plural

  • A plural noun after a number becomes singular in Uyghur. A plural noun without a number stays plural.
  • en Computers -> uig كوم يۇتترالر. The last syllable of the stem is a back vowel, so join الر.
  • en Files -> uig ھۈججەتلەر. The last syllable of the stem is a front vowel, so join لەر.

Split infinitive

  • Does not apply to Uyghur.

Subjunctive

  • Does not apply to Uyghur.

Symbols and non-breaking spaces

  • Use a non-breaking space (CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR) in any abbreviation. Example ا ئۇ ئا ر نىڭ يەر مەيەانىۇ ب . ت نىڭ قارارىۇ ج خ ئىەار اى
  • Where non-breaking spaces cannot be used, for example in Help files, write these abbreviations without a space so one letter does not move to the next line.

Syntax

  • Four sentence types: declarative, imperative, exclamatory, interrogative. Use the pattern that fits the situation.
  • Declarative sentence states an idea or a fact. It gives no command or request and asks no question. It usually ends in a period. Examples مەن ۈگۈن مەكتەپاە ارمىە ش, ئۇ ئاخىرى ئۈي ە كەتتى
  • Imperative sentence gives advice, instructions, a request or a command. It usually ends with a period. Examples ۇ يەرگە كتلىڭ, ئۇخمڭ
  • Exclamatory sentence expresses sudden strong feeling. It always ends with an exclamation point. Examples ئاھۇ ۋ تەن!, نتاە .ې ەن ىچار ۇ!
  • Interrogative sentence asks a direct question. It ends with a question mark. Examples سىز قانچە ياش ا كىر. ڭىز؟, سىز نە. ئىنلەياىز؟

Verbs

  • Translate verbs used as names for buttons, check boxes, commands, menus and options as gerunds. Elsewhere translate verbs as verbs.
  • An English verb can be used as a loan word. Loan words follow Uyghur syntactic and morphological rules.
  • en Open -> uig ئتچىش, not ئاچ. Verbs in menus become gerunds.
  • en Please open the file. -> uig ھۈججەتنى ئتچىڭ. Verbs elsewhere stay verbs.
  • en Formatting -> uig فورماتمۋاتىەم. Loan word follows Uyghur rules.
  • Translate a continuous operation expressed with an English gerund as a gerund.
  • en Sending a file… -> uig ھۈججەت يوللىنىۋاتىەم
  • en Downloading an application… -> uig قولمناا ۈشۈۋاتىەم

Word order

  • In error messages describe the action before the purpose. To skip creating your startup disk, click Cancel -> Click Cancel to skip creating your startup disk
  • Avoid personified inanimate subjects. Replace active constructions with passive ones where possible.
  • en Setup encountered an error while creating your startup disk. -> uig قوزغىتىش . ااىاىنى ياساۋات انەاۇ ا .مچ قا ىما پىروگراماىاى خاتالى كەلەى
  • en Setup cannot find the remote computer. -> uig قا ىما پىروگراماىاى يىراقتىاى كوم يۇتترنى تاپالاىەى
  • en Setup cannot get disk information. -> uig قا ىما پىروگراماىاى . ااا ئۇ ۇر غا ئتر نەلاىەى
  • Omit a personified subject when the context allows. Rephrase and change the word order. A passive construction is often possible.
  • en Remove any existing settings to free space. -> uig ھەرقانەاق مەۋجۈت تەڭنەكلەرنى اش ا جايغا يۈتاەڭ. Describe the action before the purpose.
  • en Attempt to remove current directory -> uig نۈۋ تتىاى مۇنە ر جىنى يۈتاەشاە ئۇرمنۇا. Use a passive construction instead of Attempt to ...

Audience

  • Match the target audience. Make learning material for new users direct and friendly. Make IT Pro material more formal.
  • IT professional: en The Remote Desktop Connection uses the RDP -> uig يىراق ئۈستەليۈزى ئۇلىنىنى RDP نوى ئىنلىتىەم
  • New users: en The Remote Desktop Connection uses the Remote Desktop Protocol -> uig يىووراق ئۈسووتەليۈزى ئۇلىنىنووى يىووراق ئۈستەليۈزى كتلىنىاىنى ئىنلىتىەم

Style

  • Make the product read as if originally written in Uyghur. Use idiomatic syntax and terminology.
  • Keep terminology consistent.
  • Use Uyghur word order instead of word-by-word translation when it is more idiomatic, as long as the key message stays.
  • en Welcome to Windows -> uig Windows قا خۇا كتلى اىز. Native, friendly.
  • Not Windows نوووووووى ئىنلىتىنوووووووىڭىزنى قارشى ئالىاىز. Word by word, machine tone.

Tone

  • Mirror the tone of the source. Stay respectful.
  • Avoid dialect-specific word forms.
  • Avoid wordiness and word-by-word translation.
  • Keep the tone accurate, encouraging, insightful, objective and user-focused.
  • Use everyday words. Avoid words you would not say to someone in person.
  • Acceptable: پارولىڭىزنى ئۈزگەرتىش ئۈ ۈن ۇ ئۇسۇلە ئ پايە لىنىڭ. Better: ۇ ئۇسۇلە ئ پايە لىنىپ پارولىڭىزنى ئۈزگەرتىڭ
  • Use short, plain words. Short words are conversational, save screen space, and scan faster.
  • Acceptable: مىاا كەلتۈر ا مۇماىئ: كۇنۇپاىنى اس اچ. Better: مىاا : كۇنۇپاىنى اس اچ or مەسىلەن، كۇنۇپكىنى بېسىپ
  • Do not invent words or give new meanings to standard words.
  • When an industry term is required, give an in-context definition.
  • Avoid jargon. Some computer expressions are already everyday speech: خاكاتر (hacker), غا ئويۇا (burn a CD). Follow the glossary.
  • Wrong: ۇ يۇمتالنى كوم يۇتترغا قا ىمڭ. Correct: ۇ يۇمناق .ېتالنى كوم يۇتترغا قا ىمڭ

Voice

  • Address the user as سىز.
  • Omit سىز when the personal affix of the verb carries it: سىز كۇنۇپاىنى تاىڭ -> كۇنۇپاىنى تاىڭ
  • Never use swear, religious or racist words.
  • سىز addresses one person or a group, with no reference to gender or number.
  • Use the passive voice or rephrase where it suits the context.
  • en You are now connected to the Internet. -> uig ئىنتترنتت ا ئۇالنە ڭىز, also سىز ئىنتىرنتت ا ئۇالنە ڭىز

Abbreviations

  • The most common abbreviations are long names of international organizations, local government, and famous people.
  • Form an abbreviation in one of three ways: the first character of each word with a space, the first syllable of the two words joined, or the first character of the first name with a dot before the full last name.
  • en United Nations -> uig ب . ت (ىرلەشاەن .ۆلەتلەر تەشاىمتى)
  • en Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region -> uig ا ئۇ ئا ر (شىنجاڭ ئۇيغۇر ئاپتونۇم رايونى)
  • en Party Committee -> uig پارتاوم (پارتىيە كومىتتتى)
  • en Karl Marx -> uig ك ماركس (كار ە ماركس)
  • Use a non-breaking space (CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR) in any abbreviation.
  • Where non-breaking spaces cannot be used, for example in Help files, write the abbreviation without a space.
  • Never abbreviate ۋ, ياكى, ەزى, مەلۇم or any other word the user might not recognize. In doubt, spell the word out.
  • Wrong: ئىنتترنتش تورى, ب . ت تەشاىمتى, CD . ااىاى, DVD . ااىاى

Acronyms

  • An acronym is made of the initial letters of the major parts of a compound term. Examples WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), OLE (Object Linking and Embedding), RAM (Random Access Memory).
  • en IP-address -> uig IP ئا.رېاى, full ئىنتترنتش كتلىنىاى ئا.رېاى
  • en OLE -> uig OLE, full ئو تاتى مرنى اغما ۋ جايما تتىنولوگىيەسى
  • en VPN -> uig VPN, full مەۋھۇم خۇسۇسىك تارماق
  • en RAM -> uig RAM, full ئىىتىيار ك ساقلىغۇچ
  • en ROM -> uig ROM, full ئوقۇش ىم ولىە غان ساقلىغۇچ
  • en DMBS -> uig س ب س, full سانەان اش ۇرما سىاتتاىاى
  • In online help or documentation spell out an acronym the first time it appears. Give the language-specific translation, the US term, and the acronym: مەلۇماتتىئ ئەركىئ پايە لىنىش ئو تاتى لىرى (Data Access Objects, DAO), ActiveX مەلۇمات ئو تاتى لىرى (ActiveX Data Objects, ADO)
  • Leave standardized acronyms untranslated. Add the full English spelling only when the acronym needs explaining. For a common acronym the spelled-out form only confuses users.
  • Never localize or spell out: ANSI (American National Standards Institute), ISO (International Standards Organization), ISDN, DOS, DSL, CD, DVD
  • If unsure what an acronym stands for, contact the Moderator for this style guide.

Applications, products, and features

  • Application and product names are often trademarked and rarely translated. Feature names are sometimes trademarked too, for example IntelliSense™.
  • Verify that a name is translatable and not protected before translating it.
  • en Microsoft Products -> uig Microsoft مەھاۇالتلىرى
  • en Microsoft Office -> uig Microsoft Office
  • en Microsoft Excel 2010 -> uig Microsoft Excel 2010
  • Frequent errors, never write: مىارو يۇمناق .ېتا شىركىتى, مىاروسوفش ئوففىس, مىاروسوفش ئتااتە 3121

Glossaries

  • Take translations of terms and UI elements from approved terminology.

Standardized translations

  • Standardized translations are in Standard Phrases in Error Messages and in Style and Tone Considerations.

Unlocalized items

  • Never localize trademarked names. Product names are usually not translated, in particular trademarked ones.
  • en Microsoft Products: error مىاروسوفش مەھاۇالتلىرى, correct Microsoft مەھاۇالتلىرى
  • en Microsoft Office: error مىاروسوفش ئوففىس, correct Microsoft Office
  • en Microsoft Excel 2010: error مىاروسوفش ئتااتە 3121, correct Microsoft Excel 2010
  • en More Games from Microsoft -> uig Microsoft نىڭ اش ا ئويۇنلىرى
  • en For more information, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base online. -> uig تتىىاۇ كۈپ ئۇ ۇرنى تور. اى Microsoft ىلىش ئامبىر ە ئ ئىز. ڭ

User interface

  • Translate all menus, menu items, commands, buttons and check boxes consistently.
  • en Click -> uig تاىش
  • en Click in the window -> uig كۈزنەكنى تاىش
  • en Click the button -> uig كۇنۇپاىنى تاىش
  • en Double-click -> uig قوا تاىش
  • en Move the mouse pointer to -> uig مائۇس ئىاترېلاىاىنى يۈتاەا
  • en Position the mouse pointer on -> uig مائۇس ئىاترېلاىاىنىڭ ئورنى
  • en Press and hold the mouse button -> uig مائۇس كۇنۇپاىاىنى تاىپ تۇرمپ
  • en Drag -> uig سۈر ا
  • en Click and drag -> uig تاىپ سۈر ا
  • en Press and drag -> uig تاىپ سۈر ا
  • en Hove the mouse -> uig مائۇسنى قۇيۇۋېتىش
  • Translate a command name the same way in every product. The same US term keeps one translation everywhere.
  • Translate command names as verbs, always in the infinitive: en Save -> uig ساقما, en New -> uig قۇرما, en Print -> uig تاىپ ى ىر ش

Messages

  • Two types: informative messages and interactive messages.
  • An informative message appears in a message box or in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.
  • An interactive message appears in a message box and requires a response or an action.
  • Do not translate messages literally. Character count is limited.
  • en Windows cannot open this file. -> uig Windows ۇ ھۈججەتنى ئا الاىەى, not Windows ۇ ھۈججەتنى ئا اىەى. The user must understand it is "unable" to open it under these circumstances.
  • en File cannot be saved. -> uig ھۈججەت ساقمناىەى, not ھۈججەت ساقمناايەم. The second implies saving a file is impossible at all.

Status messages

  • A status bar message is informational, about the active document, a selected command, or any active or selected interface item. It shows in the status bar at the bottom of the window.
  • Status bar messages refer to actions being performed or already complete.
  • Follow this format for menu and command status bar messages.
  • Edit (menu) -> uig تەھر رلەا: en Contains editing commands -> uig تەھر رلەا ۇيرمقىنى ئۈز ئىچى ە ئالىەم
  • Copy to Folder... (menu) -> uig ھۈججەت قىا ۇ ا كۈ ۈر ا: en Copies the selected items to a new location -> uig تالمنغان تۈرلەرنى يتڭى ئورمنغا كۈ ۈر ەم
  • New (command) -> uig يتڭى: en Creates a new document -> uig يتڭى ھۈججەت قۇر ەم
  • en Make object visible? -> uig ئو يتاتى نىڭ كۈر شچانلى ىنى ئا اماىز؟
  • en Word is converting the document. Press Esc to stop. -> uig droW ھۈججەتنى ئالااشتۇر ۋاتىەمۇ ESC كۇنۇپاىاىنى تاىپ توختىتىڭ
  • en Datasheet View -> uig مەلۇمات جە.ۋ لى كۈر ناىاى
  • en Done -> uig تامام
  • Use one standard translation where the source phrases the same meaning differently.
  • en Press F1 to get Help -> uig F1 نى تاىپ يار. م ە ئتر نىڭ
  • en If you want Help press F1 -> uig يار. م كتر ك ولاا F1 نى تاىڭ
  • en To get Help press F1 -> uig يار. م ە ئتر ناەكچى ولاىڭىزۇ F1 نى تاىڭ
  • en Not enough memory -> uig ئەمەس ساقلىغۇچ يتتەرلى
  • en Insufficient memory -> uig ساقلىغۇچ يتتىناىەى
  • en There is not enough memory -> uig ساقلىغۇچ يوق يتتەرلى
  • en Save changes to %1? -> uig ئۈزگىر نلەرنى 1% گە ساقمماىز؟
  • en Do you want to save changes to %1? -> uig ئۈزگىر نلەرنى 1% گە ساقمشنى خاالماىز؟

Error messages

  • An error message informs the user of an error that must be corrected for the program to keep running. It can prompt an action or report an error that requires rebooting the computer.
  • Keep terminology and language style consistent. Do not translate as the source appears.
  • en Some notification icons can't be displayed. -> uig ەزى ئۇقتۇرما سىئ- ەل ىاى كۈر ناىەى
  • en Cannot connect the phonebook entry. -> uig ە ئۇالناىەى تتلتفون . پتىر
  • en Cannot connect to service. -> uig مۇالز اىتترگە ئۇالناىەى
  • Standardize standard phrases. The source sometimes uses different forms for the same thing.
  • en Cannot …, Could not … -> uig ھۈججەت تت ىلاىەى (File could not be found, File cannot be found). One form only in Uyghur.
  • en Failed to …, Failure of … -> uig ئۇالناىەى (Failed to connect, Failure to connect)
  • en Cannot find …, Could not find …, Unable to find …, Unable to locate … -> uig قوزغات ۇچ يۇمناق .ېتالىنى تاپالاىەى (Cannot find driver software, Could not find driver software, Unable to find driver software, Unable to locate driver software)
  • en Not enough memory, Insufficient memory, There is not enough memory, There is not enough memory available -> uig ساقلىغۇچ يتتىناىەى
  • en ... is not available, ... is unavailable -> uig ۇيرمق مەۋجۇ. ئەمەس (The command is not available, The command is unavailable)
  • Find out what will replace a placeholder so the sentence stays grammatical.
  • %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.
  • en %d minute(s) remaining (user sees 2 minute(s) remaining) -> uig d% مىنۇت قالەى
  • en Dialing %s... (user sees Dialing business phone) -> uig s% غا ئۇالۋاتىەم
  • en The disk in drive %c: cannot be formatted. (user sees The disk in drive C: cannot be formatted.) -> uig قوزغات ۇچ c% فورماتمناىەى

Keys

  • The keyboard is the primary input device for text input. Most actions must also work from the keyboard.
  • Write key names, arrow keys, function keys and numeric keys in normal text, not small caps.

Key names

  • Alt -> Alt
  • Backspace -> Backspace
  • Break -> Break
  • Caps Lock -> Caps Lock
  • Ctrl -> Control
  • Delete -> Delete
  • Down Arrow -> ئاستىغا
  • End -> End
  • Enter -> Enter
  • Esc -> Esc
  • Home -> Home
  • Insert -> Insert
  • Left Arrow -> سولغا
  • Num Lock -> Num Lock
  • Page Down -> Page Down
  • Page Up -> Page Up
  • Pause -> Pause
  • Right Arrow -> ئوڭغا
  • Scroll Lock -> Scroll Lock
  • Shift -> Shift
  • Spacebar -> بوشلۇق كۇنۇپكىسى
  • Tab -> Tab
  • Up Arrow -> ئۈستىگە
  • Windows key -> Windows كۇنۇپكىسى
  • Print Screen -> Print Screen
  • Menu key -> تىزىملىك كۇنۇپكىسى

Access keys and hot keys

  • Access keys are the underlined or highlighted letters in menu options, commands and dialog boxes. They run commands and perform tasks faster.
  • Hot keys are key combinations such as ALT+F or Ctrl+S that move the focus to a menu, command or control without the mouse.
  • Never use a letter of the Uyghur alphabet as a hot key.
  • Slim characters (I, l, t, r, f) as hot key: not applicable.
  • Characters with downstrokes (g, j, y, p, q) as hot key: not applicable.
  • Extended characters as hot key: not applicable.
  • An additional letter in brackets after the item name as hot key: not applicable.
  • A number in brackets after the item name as hot key: not applicable.
  • A punctuation sign in brackets after the item name as hot key: not applicable.
  • Duplicate hot keys when no other character is available: not applicable.
  • No hot key when no characters are left, minor options only: not applicable.
  • Permissible hot key characters, single stroke only, preferred, not case-sensitive: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvxyz
  • Common access keys: Ctrl+A select all, reset all. Ctrl+B send to back. Ctrl+C reset current, copy. Ctrl+D delete, duplicate, dial, select domain. Ctrl+E open image for editing, attributes. Ctrl+F filter, forward, view bitmap, file transfer, find, full screen. Ctrl+G go to, grid, paste to page, date. Ctrl+H replace, space. Ctrl+I invert colors. Ctrl+L rotate left, color box, view log. Ctrl+M new slide. Ctrl+N new call, new message, new snapshot, next code, new, new connection. Ctrl+O options, select code, open. Ctrl+P previous, print. Ctrl+R rotate right, flip/rotate, reply. Ctrl+S sharing, update, save, send, setup. Ctrl+T toolbox, transfer. Ctrl+V paste/insert. Ctrl+W stretch/skew, whiteboard. Ctrl+Y redo, repeat. Ctrl+Z undo.

Titles

  • English chapter titles usually start with How to …, Working with … or Using ….
  • Avoid literal or word-by-word translation. The target must read as an original, simple and understandable.
  • Avoid American idioms and jargon, acronyms or abbreviations not understood in the Uyghur market.
  • Report anything culturally inappropriate for the market.
  • Translate all related titles consistently. Use infinitives only where that improves consistency and understandability.
  • en What's New in <product name> -> uig <product name>. اى يتڭىلى مر
  • en Getting Started with <product name> -> uig <product name>. ئ اشما
  • en Installing and Configuring <product name> -> uig <product name>نى ئورنىتىش ۋ سەپلەا
  • en Copyright -> uig نەشىر ھوقۇقى