content-translation

Translation

The following are examples of content which, though it re-uses common words (in this case English, but the idea applies to any language), should not be translated by automatic language conversion software. This might also apply to the pronunciation of content, by screen readers and aural browsers.

Types

Types of content which should not be translated include:

• Proper names of people, organisations, places, bands, etc.
• Honorific titles
• Postal addresses
• The scientific names of living things

Examples without microformats

These examples are not marked up with microformats. If they were, software could be told to refrain from translating them into other languages. They may be used as test cases.

• Major Mark Smith
• Sir Frank Green
• Pink Floyd
• The Great Tit, Parus major, has a song that sounds like "teacher, teacher"

"The Anchor"
4, Green Lane
Abbots Field
South Downs
England
ME4 8UP

Examples with microformats

The same examples, marked up with current or draft microformats.

• Major Mark Smith
• Sir Frank Green
• Pink Floyd
• The Great Tit, Parus major, has a song that sounds like "teacher, teacher" [N.B. 'species' microformat still in development]

"<span class="fn org">The Anchor</span>"
<span class="adr">
<span class="street-address">4, Green Lane</span>
<span class="locality">Abbots Field</span>
<span class="region">South Downs</span>
<span class="country-name">England</span>
<span class="postal-code">ME4 8UP</span>
</span>

Automated translations of this page

At the time of writing, these links illustrate the problems caused by the inappropriate translation of such examples:

• Google (English to Spanish)
• Yahoo BabelFish (English to Dutch)

See also

• content-translation-issues
• internationalization