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Arabic AR-SA

1.  Technical information

  • Font: Arial, White
  • Minimum duration: 20 frames
  • Maximum duration: 7 seconds
    • 29.97fps – 210 frames
    • 23.98fps – 168 frames
    • 25fps – 175 frames
  • Reading speed for:
    • Adult programs – 20 cps
    • Children’s programs - 17 cps
  • Frame Gap: 2 frames minimum
  • Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) should be used for translation. No dialectical words are allowed.
  • If an event can fit on one line, please keep it to one line. Do not split it for grammatical reasons.
  • Always position either top or bottom center.
  • If there is a supplied English Template, the timing for that should be followed. Events may be merged or split if the in-cues and out-cues are maintained. Reading speeds may be violated. This rule supersedes all the below rules.
  • Subtitles should be timed to audio (within 3 frames).
    • If extra time is needed for reading speeds, the out-time can be extended by 12 frames past end of audio.
  • If dialogue starts within 3 frames of a shot change pull the in-time to the shot change.
  • If dialogue ends within 3 frames after a shot change pull the out-time back to the shot change.
  • While the reading speed is 250 wpm this is not always possible, the following priority should be followed:
    • Let the reading speed go up to 300 wpm.
    • Time to audio and extend by 12 frames past end of audio (if it doesn’t cause the event to cross a shot change and look awkward).
    • Truncate without losing the meaning of the audio.
    • Merge or split events to help with reading speeds.

Note: Frame gap should be 2 frames or at least 5 frames.

All frame gaps of 3-4 frames should be reduced to 2 frames.

  • Character limit: 42 characters per line
  • Maximum number of lines: 2 lines

2.  Arabic Language Style

3.  Line Treatment

4.  Positioning

Never have subtitles in any other position.

5.  Timing

If, after you have tried all of the above, the reading speed is still exceeding 300 wpm then the file can be submitted as is, but all the above must have been tried.

6.  Dual Speakers

  • Use a hyphen with a space to indicate two speakers in one subtitle, with a maximum of one speaker per line.

- كيف الحال؟

- بخير يا صاح.

7.  Character Names

  • Do not translate proper names (e.g. John, Mary) unless requested by client.
  • Spell character names, organizations and places as they are commonly written in Arabic unless otherwise requested by client. (e.g. برشلونة, الأم تيريزا)
  • Only translate nicknames if they have a specific meaning. (e.g. Stinky Pete)
  • Use local language translations for historical/mythical characters (e.g. Genghis Khan, Santa Claus).

8.  Punctuation

  • Limit the use of Harakat to: Tanween Al Fateh, Damma, and Shadda. No other Harakat is allowed.
  • Tanween Al Fateh positions: سماءً – فكرةً – أفعالاً – فتًى – هدوءًا   
  • Limit the use of Damma to المبني للمجهول.
  • Limit the use of Shadda to words that would otherwise be mistaken for different words. (e.g. إلى – إليّ)  
  • Always use the Arabic comma (،), not the English (,).
  • Use الغين not الجيم المصرية for the hard “g” sound. (e.g. غوغل)
  • No space before commas, periods or full-stops, or interrogation and exclamation marks.

9.  Italics

  • Do not use italics.

10.      Continuity

  • Do not use ellipses (3 dots) or dashes when an ongoing sentence is split between subtitle events.
  • Use an ellipsis to indicate a significant pause or dialogue trailing off. For a pause, there should be a space after the ellipses.
  • In the case of a pause, if the sentence continues in the next event, do not use an ellipsis at the beginning of the next event.
  • Use an ellipsis without a space for an event starting mid-sentence.
  • Use an ellipsis for abrupt interruptions.
  • In the case of a sentence that is interrupted by a second speaker and then continues afterwards should have an ellipses before and after the interruption.
  • Only include plot-pertinent Forced Narratives.
  • Delete redundant Forced Narratives (e.g. identical to onscreen text/covered in dialogue/appears repeatedly in the video).
  • Forced Narrative should be enclosed in double quotes (" "), except for foreign dialogue.
  • Ensure that Forced Narratives do not cover onscreen text. In the event, there is onscreen text at the top and bottom, place the Forced Narrative in the location easiest to read. If both locations are identically difficult, then place the event at the bottom.
  • Never combine a Forced Narrative with dialogue in the same event.
  • If a Forced Narrative interrupts dialogue, do not use an ellipsis at the end of the preceding event and at the beginning of the following event.

لم أتركه حتى اعترف1:

::2: بكل ما فعل.

1:  قلت له أن... لا يهم الآن.

1: الرجل الذي يفعل كل هذا...

 لا يمكننا الوثوق به.

1:  ...وهذا هو سر قوتي!

1: الرجل الذي يفعل كل هذا...

2: لا يمكننا الوثوق به.

 

11.      Forced Narratives / Narrative Subtitles

1: إلى أين

2(FN): "خطر"

3: نحن ذاهبون؟

  • Only translate a speaker’s title once, the first time the speaker appears in the documentary.

12.      Foreign Dialogue

  • Foreign dialogue should only be subtitled if the viewer was meant to understand it per creative intent in the original version. Please check to see if you are using a Subtitled or Subtitle-less version of the video.
  • Always verify spelling and grammar when using foreign words.
  • Foreign words should be italicized, unless they have become part of normal usage (e.g. In English, the following do not need italicization: bon voyage, bona fide, alfresco, kaput).
  • Do not italicize proper names or company names.

13.      Numbers

  • Numbers must always be written numerically: 1,5, 10, 15, etc. including reference to clock time.
  • Exceptions to the above are “one” and “two” when they come as adjectives.[AA1] 
  • Months of the year should follow the Georgian calendar.
  • Percentage (%) should be spelled out (e.g. بالمئة 50)

سأخرج في الـ8 مساءً.

اصطحبت مريضين إلى المستشفى.

  • Convert to metric system: kilometers (km), Celsius (°C), Kilograms (kg).
  • Use double quotation marks (“ ”) without spaces for regular quotations.
  • Use parenthesis ( ) for quotes within quotes.
  • Quotes should be used at the start and end of a quote, not at the start of every subtitle.
  • Use double quotes for proper names of people and places.
  • Put song titles and song lyrics in quotes.
  • Only use double quotes at the start and end of the song, or if portion of the song is interrupted.
  • Direct speech is introduced by a colon/comma. Both are accepted, but should be used consistently throughout.
  • If the whole sentence is in quotes, the period comes before the quotation mark.
  • If only portion of a sentence is in quotes, the period comes after the quotation mark.
  • Commas go outside the quotes.
  • Put song titles and song lyrics in quotes.
  • Only use double quotes at the start and end of the song, or if portion of the song is interrupted.

14.      Quotes

1: قال لي وهو يضحك:

2: "كنت أعرف أن كل هذا سيحدث."

1: قال لي وهو يضحك

    إنه لم يذهب إلى "ذاك الحقير".

15.      Abbreviations

  • Do not abbreviate titles such as (د.) and (م.).
  • Units of measurement should not be abbreviated (e.g. كيلوغراماً، سنتمتراً). Exceptions can be made for space limitations while keeping consistency.

16.      Acronyms

  • Translate names that are acronyms in all instances if not well-known. (e.g. صندوق النقد الدولي)
  • Well-known acronyms can be transliterated with double quotes. (e.g. "أف بي آي")
  • Do not translate words or phrases repeated more than once.
  • If the word or phrase is said twice in a row, time to audio but do not repeat the translation.
  • If a word has been censored in the audio use four asterisks to indicate the censored word.

17.      Repetitions

18.      Censored words

يا ابن الـ****

19.      Songs

  • Only subtitle plot-pertinent songs if rights have been granted.
  • Use an ellipsis if the song continues in the background but is interrupted by dialogue.
  • Only question marks, exclamation marks and ellipses can be used at the end of a line.
  • Song titles and song lyrics are in double quotes.
  • Only use double quotes at the start and end of the song, or if portion of the song is interrupted.

20.      Titles

  • Main Titles: Check with client for provided translations.
  • Episode Titles: Do not subtitle if they do not appear onscreen, otherwise check with client.
  • Titles of movies, TV shows or published works: Use official / accepted translations. If none are available, transliterate.
  • Do not include a translator credit.

21.      Translator Credit

22.      SDH Instructions – Speaker IDs / Sound Effects

  • Use [ ] brackets for speaker IDs or sound effects.
  • Only use speaker IDs or sound effects when they cannot be visually identified.
  • Include single events of sounds (e.g. Oh, Um..., Wow!)
  • Song lyrics should be enclosed with a music note (♪)
  • Use a generic ID to indicate and describe ambient music (e.g. [موسيقى كلاسيكية على الراديو[AA2] ]).
  • Only include plot-pertinent sound effects.
  • For censored words:
    • Audio is dropped – Use four asterisks ****
    • Audio is bleeped out – Use [كذا[AA3] ]
  • For foreign dialogue:
    • If translated – Use [in language] (e.g. [بالروسية] )
    • If not meant to be understood – Use [speaking language] (e.g. [يتحدث الروسية])
    • Always research the language. Do not use [يتحدث لغة أجنبية[AA4] ] or [بلغة أجنبية[AA5] ].

سنرى ما أفعل بك أيها المـ****.

ابن الـ]كذا[ ذاك هو من أوقع بي.

23.           Reference

Please reference the following for any language-related issues not covered in this document:

·         جزم الفعل المضارع: https://almaaref.org/books/contentsimages/books/almaaref_alislameya/bouhouth_fe_qawaeed_allogha_alarabeya-1/page/lesson8.htm

·         Hamza and Alef: http://www.arabic-teacher.com/ArabicSkills/html/READING/imlaa/wasl%20wa%20kati.htm


24. Supplied Style Guide

     AR-SA - OC Guidelines 2017.pdf - August 29, 2017

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