The Translation Standard Of Padmakumara Translation Team
Last Modified on 12/15/02 by Mimosa
1. Use standard spellings for predefined and well-known terms
For example.
-Living Buddha Lian-sheng
-Sheng-yen Lu
-Grand Master (not Grand Master Lu), there is only one Grand Master
-Rainbow Villa
-Earth God
- Golden Mother of Jade Pond
- Maha Twin Lotus Ponds
Refer to Mimosa's True Buddha Translation Terms for an updated and comprehensive list of terms.
http://alumni.eecs.berkeley.edu/~mimosa/dict.htm
2. Names of people, places, and specific mantras or mudras should be capitalized.
for example
I recite the Padmakumara Mantra. (a specific mantra)
Don't capitalize "mantra" or "mudra" when used as a general term
for example
I recite a mantra. (general)
3. The standard header should be inserted at the beginning of every article.
For example
Book: 142 When The Night Is Quiet
Chapter 4: Looking For A Killer
Written by Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Xiao
Edited by Brenda
Proofread by Mimosa
Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
4.Profanity should be translated without abbreviation or omission. For culturally specific cursing words, use similar profanity in English. The translators' job is to translate articles faithfully, and we should keep the original feeling as much as possible
For example
if GM's article mentions a "son of a bitch", translate it, don't cover it with "**";
5. Han Yu pin yin is our standard pin yin transliteration method
6. When referring to GM, use he, not He;
7. Do not translate mantras, transcribe them as close to the Sanskrit pronunciation as possible
8. When translating a poem, there is no need to follow the original style or arrangement strictly. Sentences can be rearranged to express the original beauty and flow. Poetry is an art - different people will have different feelings after reading the same poem. Therefore, don't explain the poem, leave that to the readers' imaginations.
9. Don't translate Sanskrit epithets or placenames; leave them in their original spellings. An explanation may be placed next to an intricate term for clarification. Use the Sanskit eitphet or placename thereafter.
For example
Vajrayaksa (Vajra Teeth Bodhisattva) is a wrathful deity. Vajrayakaksa is mentioned in GM's book.
10. If a temple has its own English name, then we should stay with it, i.e. Pootee Tang Temple or Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple. If a temple does not have an English name and its Chinese name is Lei Zang Temple, then we use Lei Zang [Thunder Store] Temple.
11. footnote should be added to elaborate a long explaination, whereas "[]" is for the short one. Use footnote and "[]" with discretion to avoid adding personal view. "[]" is used to insert information not in the original text.
12. American spelling is our standard English spelling.
For example use "practice" (American English) instead of "practise" (British English)
13. When translate a Chinese name, use Han Yu pin yin. Last name(family name) first and then first name. Except for Grand Master’s name, it always stays as “Sheng-yen Lu” because it is a well-known name
14. Don’t use abbreviation unless the original text uses it. For example, always use “True Buddha School”, don’t ever use “TBS”.
Last Modified on 12/15/02 by Mimosa
1. Use standard spellings for predefined and well-known terms
For example.
-Living Buddha Lian-sheng
-Sheng-yen Lu
-Grand Master (not Grand Master Lu), there is only one Grand Master
-Rainbow Villa
-Earth God
- Golden Mother of Jade Pond
- Maha Twin Lotus Ponds
Refer to Mimosa's True Buddha Translation Terms for an updated and comprehensive list of terms.
http://alumni.eecs.berkeley.edu/~mimosa/dict.htm
2. Names of people, places, and specific mantras or mudras should be capitalized.
for example
I recite the Padmakumara Mantra. (a specific mantra)
Don't capitalize "mantra" or "mudra" when used as a general term
for example
I recite a mantra. (general)
3. The standard header should be inserted at the beginning of every article.
For example
Book: 142 When The Night Is Quiet
Chapter 4: Looking For A Killer
Written by Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Xiao
Edited by Brenda
Proofread by Mimosa
Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
4.Profanity should be translated without abbreviation or omission. For culturally specific cursing words, use similar profanity in English. The translators' job is to translate articles faithfully, and we should keep the original feeling as much as possible
For example
if GM's article mentions a "son of a bitch", translate it, don't cover it with "**";
5. Han Yu pin yin is our standard pin yin transliteration method
6. When referring to GM, use he, not He;
7. Do not translate mantras, transcribe them as close to the Sanskrit pronunciation as possible
8. When translating a poem, there is no need to follow the original style or arrangement strictly. Sentences can be rearranged to express the original beauty and flow. Poetry is an art - different people will have different feelings after reading the same poem. Therefore, don't explain the poem, leave that to the readers' imaginations.
9. Don't translate Sanskrit epithets or placenames; leave them in their original spellings. An explanation may be placed next to an intricate term for clarification. Use the Sanskit eitphet or placename thereafter.
For example
Vajrayaksa (Vajra Teeth Bodhisattva) is a wrathful deity. Vajrayakaksa is mentioned in GM's book.
10. If a temple has its own English name, then we should stay with it, i.e. Pootee Tang Temple or Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple. If a temple does not have an English name and its Chinese name is Lei Zang Temple, then we use Lei Zang [Thunder Store] Temple.
11. footnote should be added to elaborate a long explaination, whereas "[]" is for the short one. Use footnote and "[]" with discretion to avoid adding personal view. "[]" is used to insert information not in the original text.
12. American spelling is our standard English spelling.
For example use "practice" (American English) instead of "practise" (British English)
13. When translate a Chinese name, use Han Yu pin yin. Last name(family name) first and then first name. Except for Grand Master’s name, it always stays as “Sheng-yen Lu” because it is a well-known name
14. Don’t use abbreviation unless the original text uses it. For example, always use “True Buddha School”, don’t ever use “TBS”.
Last edited 12/15/02 at 19:11:00 by mimosa