Urdu Style Guide for Community
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Urdu Style Guide for Community
Urdu Style Guide for Community
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 4
Approach ........................................................................................................................ 4
Content Principles ......................................................................................................................................... 4
The Facebook Voice ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Basics .............................................................................................................................. 5
Be Brief ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Consider Your Audience .............................................................................................................................. 5
Make it Readable ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Use Active Voice .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Style................................................................................................................................. 6
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
Capitalization................................................................................................................................................... 7
Consistency....................................................................................................................................................... 7
Contractions ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Gender ................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Numbers (includes currency, dates and times) ................................................................................. 8
Pronouns ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Punctuation .................................................................................................................................................... 10
Spacing ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Titles and Subtitles ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Tone .................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Localization Guidelines............................................................................................11
General Information ................................................................................................................................... 11
Product Names .................................................................................................................................................. 11
User Interface ................................................................................................................................................ 12
Buttons ................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Mobile ................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Third Party UI ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Tokens ................................................................................................................................................................... 13
2Urdu Style Guide for Community
References ...................................................................................................................14
Facebook References .................................................................................................................................. 14
Public References ......................................................................................................................................... 14
3Urdu Style Guide for Community
Introduction
Created: May 2014
The purpose of this document is to provide the stylistic guidelines for community
translators who contribute to Facebook Urdu localization. The scope of this style
guide includes general Facebook content standards, Urdu language conventions
and localization specific guidelines.
Approach
Content Principles
All Facebook content should follow these 3 simple rules. This keeps people's
experience consistent, builds trust and strengthens our brand.
1. Keep It Simple Use short words and sentences, and keep the number of words
to a minimum.
2. Get to the Point Clearly explain how things work and give people enough
information to make good decisions.
3. Talk Like a Person Keep things friendly, conversational and respectful, like
you’re talking to a neighbor.
The Facebook Voice
The Facebook voice is our personality. Our tone may change in different contexts,
but we always sound like Facebook: simple, straightforward and human.
Simple:
• Stick to common words that people use in everyday speech.
• Be concise. Write short sentences that are easy to understand.
4Urdu Style Guide for Community
Straightforward:
• Keep terms and messaging consistent across all channels, on and off
Facebook.
• Don't bury information or gloss over it.
• Don't use language that’s vague or possibly misleading.
Human:
• Translate like you’re talking to someone one-on-one. (Read your content
out loud if you’re not sure it sounds natural.)
• Stay neutral. Avoid language that’s opinionated, cutesy, irreverent or
otherwise over the top.
• Don't sound like a robot. Even the smallest bits of interface content should
be approachable.
Basics
Be Brief
Use as few words as possible while still being clear.
• Make sure every word has a job to do
• Replace jargon with everyday terms
Consider Your Audience
Facebook reaches people of all ages and backgrounds in nearly every country
around the world. While most websites have a target demographic, we want to
help people around the world connect each other on Facebook. This means our
audience is truly everyone.
Exceptions: When translating for specific audiences (ex: advertisers, developers,
people in security checkpoints, and so on), you may need to incorporate special
terminology or adjust your tone. However, the basic standards above still apply.
5Urdu Style Guide for Community
Make it Readable
Readability is a measure of how easy it is to both read words and understand
them. With an audience of diverse ages, cultures and literacy levels, readability
helps make Facebook usable and accessible.
Use Active Voice
In an active sentence, the subject of the sentence is doing something. In a passive
sentence, something is being done to the subject (making the subject passive).
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
Ali is uploading his photos ﻋﻠﯽ اﭘﻨﮯ ﻓﻮﮢﻮز اﭘﻠﻮڈ ﮐﺮے ﮔﺎ ﻋﻠﯽ اﭘﻨﮯ ﻓﻮﮢﻮز اﭘﻠﻮڈ ﮐﺮ رﮨﺎ ﮨﮯ
Ahmed is chatting on ﭘﺮ ﭼﯿٽ ﮐﺮﺗﮯ ﮨﮯFacebook اﺣﻤﺪ ﭘﺮ ﭼﯿٽ ﮐﺮ رﮨﺎ ﮨﮯFacebook اﺣﻤﺪ
Facebook
Style
Abbreviations
It doesn't not seem to be a productive abbreviation and acronym forming trend
within Urdu language background. Unlike English, Urdu is not a short-form type of
language. If there is any abbreviation or acronym, then they are just transliterated
[i.e. borrowed] form English.
Acronyms
Acronyms are abbreviations formed using the first letters of a compound term.
URL, SMS and PC are common acronyms.
Since acronyms aren't universally recognized, replace them with common words.
Some approved acronyms can be used, acronyms shall all appear in CAPS. Eg. URL, PC.
6Urdu Style Guide for Community
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
URL ﯾﻮ آر اﯾﻞ وﯾﺐ ﭘﺘہ ﯾﺎ ﻟﻨﮏ
PC ﭘﯽ ﺳﯽ ﮐﻤﭙﯿﻮﮢﺮ
Exceptions: Use an acronym only if it helps clarify meaning and there’s no
common word to replace it. Then:
• Define the acronym in parentheses the first time you use it. Ex: API
(Application Program Interface)
• Don’t use periods. Ex: API, not A.P.I.
Capitalization
Not applicable
Consistency
The general rule is to keep consistency in translating the same terminology with
the same concept.
It is important to use same approved terms throughout localization of same
nature platforms and projects.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
Video has been deleted وڈﯾﻮ ڈﻟﯿﭧ ﮨﻮ ﭼﮑﯽ ﮨﮯ وڈﯾﻮ ﺣﺬف ﮨﻮ ﭼﮑﯽ ﮨﮯ
User account is no more اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل ﮐﺮﻧﮯ واﻟﮯ ﮐﺎ اﮐﺎﺋﻮﻧﭧ ﺻﺎرف اﮐﺎﺋﻮﻧﭧ دﺳﺘﯿﺎب ﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﮨﮯ
available دﺳﺘﯿﺎب ﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﮨﮯ
Contractions
Not applicable
7Urdu Style Guide for Community
Gender
Some strings in Facebook have gender variations and they usually refer to
masculine, feminine and gender-neutral users. For the latter, “they/their” is used,
which does not mean it refers to plural, but rather a gender-neutral choice.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
Post has been deleted ﭘﻮﺳﭧ ﺣﺬف ﮨﻮ ﭼﮑﺎ ﮨﮯ ﭘﻮﺳﭧ ﺣﺬف ﮨﻮ ﭼﮑﯽ ﮨﮯ
User Updated his status ﺻﺎرف ﻧﮯ اﻧﮑﺎ ﺣﺎل اﭘﮉﯾﭧ ﮐﯿﺎ ﺻﺎرف ﻧﮯ اﭘﻨﺎ ﺣﺎل اﭘﮉﯾﭧ ﮐﯿﺎ
Numbers (includes currency, dates and times)
We use numbers in text, when referring to currency, and in time stamps and dates.
Numerals in headlines and text Use the numerical form of numbers (ex: 2, 3, 4, and
so on), except for the number one, which is spelled out in most contexts.
• Title Case Headline: آﻓر ٽراﺋﯽ ﮐرﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﭘﺎﻧﭻ اﺳﺑﺎب
• News feed story: دﯾﮕر ﻧﮯ اﺳﮯ ﭘﺳﻧد ﮐﯾﺎ3 دﻟﯾپ ﮐﻣﺎر اور
• Subhead: اﯾﮏ ﻣﻔت ﺣﺎﺻل ﮐرﯾں،اﯾﮏ ﺧرﯾدﯾں
Use a comma to set off groups of 3 digits.
• 10
• 100
• 1,000
• 10,000
• 100,000
• 1,000,000
Currency Use the numerical form:
• Game: 10ڪرﯾڊٽ, a $1 ﻗﯾﻣت
• Ledger/payment flow: $1.00
8Urdu Style Guide for Community
Time stamps and dates Use the numerical form and write the numbers as
compactly as possible with preceding spaces.
Use the numerical form and write the numbers as compactly as possible. Use the
24-hour format with spaces.
• 5 ﻣﻧٹ ﭘﮩﻠﮯ
• ﺟﻧوری9 ﭘر9:16ﺷﺎم
Exceptions: Spell out one in text, except when telling time (ex: 1am), presenting a
series (ex: 1-7) or providing a time stamp (ex: 1 week ago).
If you need to mention currency or time alongside another type of number, spell
out the other number to make the currency or time more prominent (ex: buy two
deals and save $20). This is a rare case.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
Save RS20 روﭘﮯ ﺑﭽﺎﺋﯿﮟ20 روﭘﮯ ﺑﭽﺎﺋﯿﮟ20
Pronouns
Using pronouns is the great way to simplify the language and make it more
understandable. As Facebook is a media to connect and communicate the society,
language should reflect the flavor of culture.
For example, in the translation of second person singular, ‘ آپshould be used
instead of ‘’ﺗم. The pronoun should be used to express the context effectively.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
After the post has been ﮢﺎﺋﻢ ﻻﺋﻦFacebook اﯾﮏ ﭘﻮﺳﭧ ﮐﮯ ﮢﺎﺋﻢ ﻻﺋﻦFacebook اﯾﮏ ﭘﻮﺳﭧ ﮐﮯ
published to Facebook ﺻﺎرف اﺳﮯ،ﭘﺮ ﺷﺎﯾﻊ ﮨﻮﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﺑﻌﺪ آپ اﺳﮯ،ﭘﺮ ﺷﺎﯾﻊ ﮨﻮﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﺑﻌﺪ
Timeline, Users can edit it. ﺗﺮﻣﯿﻢ ﮐﺮ ﺳﮑﺘﮯ ﮨﯿﮟ۔ ﺗﺮﻣﯿﻢ ﮐﺮ ﺳﮑﺘﮯ ﮨﯿﮟ۔
After adding friends you can دوﺳﺘﻮں ﮐﻮ ﺷﺎﻣﻞ ﮐﺮﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺗﻢ دوﺳﺘﻮں ﮐﻮ ﺷﺎﻣﻞ ﮐﺮﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﺑﻌﺪ آپ
unfriend them اﺳﮯ ﻏﯿﺮ دوﺳﺖ ﮐﺮ ﺳﮑﺘﮯ ﮨﻮ اﺳﮯ ﻏﯿﺮ دوﺳﺖ ﮐﺮ ﺳﮑﺘﮯ ﮨﻮ
9Urdu Style Guide for Community
Punctuation
1. Do not use abbreviations. It is okay to use approved acronyms, however.
2. Do not use semicolons. Two shorter sentences are better than a single long
sentence and are easier to read.
3. Do not use exclamation marks. Choose stronger words.
An em dash is used to demarcate an isolated element or to introduce an item that
is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. In Urdu, it is recommended to
replace the em dash by a period, comma, or parentheses.
Spacing
Not Applicable
Titles and Subtitles
Titles and subtitles help you organize information, introduce ideas and highlight
key concepts.
Interface content
Dialogs and pop-ups usually have just one title and subtitle.
10Urdu Style Guide for Community
Tone
The general style should be clear, friendly and concise. However, being friendly
does not mean using overly colloquial language; always maintain a professional
tone.
Try to avoid using words like “ ﺗم، ﺗوand ”ﺗﺟﮭﮯfor “you” and “yours”. Always address
the user with a respectful tone.
Language should not be much informal but friendly and polite. Try to use
commonly spoken words and avoid use of literary words. It should be easy to
understand.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
You cannot send friend ﺗﻢ دوﺳﺘﯽ ﮐﯽ درﺧﻮاﺳﺖ ﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﮐﺮ آپ اﺳﮯ دوﺳﺘﯽ ﮐﯽ درﺧﻮاﺳﺖ ﻧﮩﯿﮟ
request to the person you ﺳﮑﺘﮯ ﺟﺴﮯ ﺗﻢ ﺟﺎﻧﺘﮯ ﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﺑﮭﯿﺞ ﺳﮑﺘﮯ ﺟﺴﮯ آپ ﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﺟﺎﻧﺘﮯ
don’t know.
Your Facebook Status has ﺣﺎل اﭘﮉﯾﭧ ﮐﯿﺎ ﺟﺎFacebook ﺗﻤﮩﺎرا ﮐﯽ ﺣﯿﺜﯿﺖ ﮐﯽFacebook آپ ﮐﯽ
been updated ﭼﮑﺎ ﮨﮯ ﺗﺠﺪﯾﺪ ﮐﯽ ﺟﺎ ﭼﮑﯽ ﮨﮯ
Where have you attended ﺗﻢ ﮐﻮﻧﺴﮯ ﮐﺎﻟﺞ ﮔﺌﮯ ﮨﻮ آپ ﮐﻮﻧﺴﮯ ﮐﺎﻟﺞ ﮔﺌﮯ ﮨﯿﮟ
College
About You ﺗﻤﮩﺎرے ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯿﮟ آپ ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯿﮟ
Localization Guidelines
General Information
Product Names
Product and feature names should be consistently translated. Some product and
feature names are translated and others are used in English based on strategic
decisions. For example, “Messenger” was translated in many languages, but now
changed back to English in all languages.
11Urdu Style Guide for Community
Keep in English.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
Office آﻓﯿﺲ Office
Facebook ﻓﯿﺲ ﺑﮏ Facebook
User Interface
Buttons
Buttons are one of the main ways people take action on Facebook, so they should
be clear, active and specific.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
Post ﭘﻮﺳﭧ ﭘﻮﺳﭧ ﮐﺮﯾﻦ
Friends اﺳﮑﮯ دوﺳﺖ دوﺳﺖ
Mobile
Mobile UI localization has more space constraint than regular UI localization.
Mobile strings sometimes come with specific description about the allowed
number of characters. It is important to keep translation within this limit in order
to avoid any truncation issues, e.g.: in SMS-related translations.
If possible, try to put the most important information at the front of the sentence
so that it won’t be buried with other information. However, translations should
not deviate from the English source unless instructed otherwise, since this may
cause accuracy issues.
Just like English, long phrase scan be shortened and can be presented in a
comprehensive manner. Considering the lack of space on a computer (of mobile
screens), when and where possible, long sentences can be presented short and
concise.
12Urdu Style Guide for Community
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
See all basic information ﺗﻤﺎم ﺑﻨﯿﺎدی ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت دﯾﮑﮭﯿﮟ ﺑﻨﯿﺎدی ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت
Add political views ﺳﯿﺎﺳﯽ ﺧﯿﺎﻻت ﺷﺎﻣﻞ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ ﺳﯿﺎﺳﯽ ﺧﯿﺎﻻت
Add other phones دﯾﮕﺮ ﻓﻮن ﺷﺎﻣﻞ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ دﯾﮕﺮ ﻓﻮن
Third Party UI
If you encounter third party UI terms, please check if they were localized. For
example, please check the existing translations on iPhone if they refer to
iPhone UIs.
Tokens
UIs often include tokens which are a portion of full sentences and represent the
“bricks” of what will be seen by the users. Note that text in { } are placeholders and
replaced by either a variable or another string. For example, {name} is replaced by
a user name and {count} is replaced by a number. If the placeholder contains the =
sign right after the opening bracket, it means that it will be replaced by exactly
the same text that it contains.
Example:
{user} edited his {=changed relationship status} that you followed.
The {user} token will be replaced by the name of the user, while the {=changed
relationship status} token will be replaced exactly by the words “changed
relationship status”, and this will look like “Jane edited her changed relationship
status that you followed”.
Example:
English Error Example Correct Example
{name} shared a {=link}. {=link}.{اﯾﮏ ﺣﺼﯿﺪاری ﮐﯽname} ={ ﺣﺼﯿﺪاری ﮐﯽ۔link} {اﯾﮏname}
13Urdu Style Guide for Community
References
Facebook References
• Glossary in Admin Panel
Public References
These are a few of the generally recommended public references.
• The Standard Dictionary of Urdu Language published by the National
Language Authority Pakistan http://nationalheritage.gov.pk/nla.html
• Other popular dictionaries and glossaries such as Urdu Microsoft Language
Portal
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