This section addresses guidelines
to be used when translating software strings for
Microsoft Windows software. Since field length
is limited, every effort should be made to keep
the translation concise.
Types of Software Strings
Since software strings can be difficult to translate
as they do not appear in context. For example,
"Select All" can be translated as a
menu item,"¸ðµÎ ¼±ÅÃ" or as a command, "¸ðµÎ
¼±ÅÃÇϽʽÿÀ".
Here is an easy
way to determine if strings are menu items,
commands, or other. |
Menu
Names: As a general
rule, they are made up of two or three words each
starting with an upper case letter. They may also
have associated hot keys.
Status Bar Messages: As a general rule,
they are made up of a sentence with no subject
and use the third person singular. For
example, the status message for the menu item
"&New" is "Creates a new blank
image". Status bar
messages do not normally end with a period.
Options:
As a general rule, they contain more words than
menu or command names. They also contain a hot
key with the ampersand (&).
Error Messages: As a general rule, they explain
why user actions could not be completed.
Hot Keys
A hot key is a keyboard shortcut key. In
Windows, it is customary to have the character
underlined. Proceed as follows for Korean:
&Open ...--->¿±â(&O)
... should look like ¿±â(O) ...
When you do this, change the character to uppercase
even if it was lowercase in English. For example:
O&pen As ...--->¿±â(&P) ...
If the command has a short cut key (ex: Ctrl +C),
put the short cut key after the hot key. For example:
&Save ... Ctrl +S --->ÀúÀå(&S) ... Ctrl +S
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