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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Contribution Discussion Page: 1 2  Previous   Next
Capitalization for non-English titles
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorhevanw
Registered: March 18, 2007
Belgium Posts: 426
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The Guidelines are very obscure when it comes to the capitalization of non-English titles. I quote : "For non-English titles, use capitalization rules common to the language of the title “Tout va bien” is correctly capitalized. “Tout Va Bien” is not."
Well, I don't know about you guys, but I don't even know what is common in my own mother tongue (Dutch) let alone in other languages. The example in the rules also doesn't explain why it's "Tout va bien"...
So, I think the rules should be more explicit here.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMithi
Sushi Annihilator
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Superior Rating
Germany Posts: 2,217
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Quoting Repter:
Quote:
So, I think the rules should be more explicit here.

eh? How could thay be more explicit than "For non-English titles, use capitalization rules common to the language of the title."?
If you don't know the exact rules, give it your best shot and wait for the votes.

cya, Mithi
Mithi's little XSLT tinkering - the power of XML --- DVD-Profiler Mini-Wiki
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorVoltaire53
Missed again!
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 2,294
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Quoting Repter:
Quote:

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I don't even know what is common in my own mother tongue (Dutch) let alone in other languages.


I weep for the state of education in your country as well as my own then...
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantgarmonbozia
Registered: March 20, 2007
United States Posts: 38
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The problem with capitalization of Romance Language Titles is that there are several different accepted sets of rules used, and different people use different methods.  For example, see here: 

http://french.about.com/library/writing/bl-capitalizationoftitles.htm

method I (capitalize the first word, and also basically up to the first noun) is the one I learned when I studied French, but some people here only capitalize the first word no matter what.  Personally I think a consensus needs to be reached and decided upon for the rules.
 Last edited: by garmonbozia
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorhevanw
Registered: March 18, 2007
Belgium Posts: 426
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Quoting Voltaire53:
Quote:

I weep for the state of education in your country as well as my own then...


As if capitalization of titles is something that everyone should know, let alone being taught at school 
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorNexus the Sixth
Contributor since 2002
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Sweden Posts: 3,197
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No, that would be education, we can't have that in school! 
First registered: February 15, 2002
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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There is actually a very useful rule that covers this, but unfortunately people do not read it. It's on the "Before You Contribute" page:

Quote:
Make sure your contributions add significant value to the database


Personally I consider adding missing information or correcting wrong information to "add significant" value. Changing one valid entry to anohter equally valid entry does not add significent value, and hence it is a no vote.

I did receive a PM from someone who got upset over the No vote, but it turned out he was not aware of the Danish capitalization rules, nor was he aware that the French example in the rules obviously can't be used for guidance for other languages - except in the sense that it shows we should not use English rules for all languages.
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantKrikarian
cool that never fades...
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 291
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Quoting Repter:
Quote:
Quoting Voltaire53:
Quote:

I weep for the state of education in your country as well as my own then...


As if capitalization of titles is something that everyone should know, let alone being taught at school 



actually, i was taught that in school. there are also style manuals--real published ones--with rules about such things for formal writing.

but i'm not slamming anyone who wasn't, just saying.

krik
"Vampirism is still not a disease, Julia. Vampires are the living dead...dead...dead..."
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDaddy DVD
Lost in Translation
Registered: March 14, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 2,366
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From two forum posts I made in an other forum exactly a year ago:

"For non-English titles, use capitalization rules common to the language of the title. "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not"

I would like to change this rule into:

"When entering translated non-English titles, use the capitalization used on the Cover. For example: "De Prins van Egypte". If however this is an original non-English title or it is fully written in upper or lower case characters, use the capitalization rules common to the language of the title. For example: "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not."

I mean there are quite a few Movies out here (The Netherlands), mainly Animations and other movies suitable for Kids, of which the Distributors have translated the Title into Dutch not following the Dutch spelling rules, but merely copying the capitalization of the English Title. A lot of users (the majority) want them the way they are printed on the cover and not the way they become after using the Dutch spelling rules, because it's a kind of standard in our movie-business to do so.
Martin Zuidervliet

DVD Profiler Nederlands
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorCyrille
User since: 12/15/2003
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Belgium Posts: 467
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Quoting Martin_Zuidervliet:
Quote:
From two forum posts I made in an other forum exactly a year ago:

"For non-English titles, use capitalization rules common to the language of the title. "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not"

I would like to change this rule into:

"When entering translated non-English titles, use the capitalization used on the Cover. For example: "De Prins van Egypte". If however this is an original non-English title or it is fully written in upper or lower case characters, use the capitalization rules common to the language of the title. For example: "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not."

I mean there are quite a few Movies out here (The Netherlands), mainly Animations and other movies suitable for Kids, of which the Distributors have translated the Title into Dutch not following the Dutch spelling rules, but merely copying the capitalization of the English Title. A lot of users (the majority) want them the way they are printed on the cover and not the way they become after using the Dutch spelling rules, because it's a kind of standard in our movie-business to do so.


Yes but the problem is that lot of movie's title are completely in uppercase and in this case if we use your suggestion, we must write the title in uppercase and I think it's not very design... personal opinion...
Regards
Cyrille
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDaddy DVD
Lost in Translation
Registered: March 14, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 2,366
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Quoting Cyrille:
Quote:
Quoting Martin_Zuidervliet:
Quote:
From two forum posts I made in an other forum exactly a year ago:

"For non-English titles, use capitalization rules common to the language of the title. "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not"

I would like to change this rule into:

"When entering translated non-English titles, use the capitalization used on the Cover. For example: "De Prins van Egypte". If however this is an original non-English title or it is fully written in upper or lower case characters, use the capitalization rules common to the language of the title. For example: "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not."

I mean there are quite a few Movies out here (The Netherlands), mainly Animations and other movies suitable for Kids, of which the Distributors have translated the Title into Dutch not following the Dutch spelling rules, but merely copying the capitalization of the English Title. A lot of users (the majority) want them the way they are printed on the cover and not the way they become after using the Dutch spelling rules, because it's a kind of standard in our movie-business to do so.


Yes but the problem is that lot of movie's title are completely in uppercase and in this case if we use your suggestion, we must write the title in uppercase and I think it's not very design... personal opinion...

No, read the bolded part.
Martin Zuidervliet

DVD Profiler Nederlands
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorRHo
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 2,759
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Quoting Martin_Zuidervliet:
Quote:
From two forum posts I made in an other forum exactly a year ago:

"For non-English titles, use capitalization rules common to the language of the title. "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not"

I would like to change this rule into:

"When entering translated non-English titles, use the capitalization used on the Cover. For example: "De Prins van Egypte". If however this is an original non-English title or it is fully written in upper or lower case characters, use the capitalization rules common to the language of the title. For example: "Tout va bien" is correctly capitalized. "Tout Va Bien" is not."

I mean there are quite a few Movies out here (The Netherlands), mainly Animations and other movies suitable for Kids, of which the Distributors have translated the Title into Dutch not following the Dutch spelling rules, but merely copying the capitalization of the English Title. A lot of users (the majority) want them the way they are printed on the cover and not the way they become after using the Dutch spelling rules, because it's a kind of standard in our movie-business to do so.

I don't see any reason not to use the correct capitalization rule common to the language for any title. Or should we attempt to also simulate fancy capitalisation à la "muRiel's Wedding", "easy RideR", "chasing AMY", or my favourit "eASt is eASt".
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDaddy DVD
Lost in Translation
Registered: March 14, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 2,366
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Quoting RHo:
Quote:
I don't see any reason not to use the correct capitalization rule common to the language for any title. Or should we attempt to also simulate fancy capitalisation à la "muRiel's Wedding", "easy RideR", "chasing AMY", or my favourit "eASt is eASt".

Those are not translated titles, but to answer the question: Sure, why not? We also enter titles like "eXistenZ". If there's some artistic reason for using strange capitalization, who are we to decide it has to be written differently?
Martin Zuidervliet

DVD Profiler Nederlands
 Last edited: by Daddy DVD
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDarxon
Vescere bracis meis
Registered: March 14, 2007
Germany Posts: 742
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Well, following your suggestion, you'll never again be able to find Layer Cake using the search feature if you don't know the spelling on the cover, which is "L4yer Cake".

Same goes for "Simone",  printed "S1m0ne" on the cover.

We'd be disrupting the search function for these titles...
Lutz
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDaddy DVD
Lost in Translation
Registered: March 14, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 2,366
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Quoting Darxon:
Quote:
Well, following your suggestion, you'll never again be able to find Layer Cake using the search feature if you don't know the spelling on the cover, which is "L4yer Cake".

Same goes for "Simone",  printed "S1m0ne" on the cover.

We'd be disrupting the search function for these titles...

Again, those are English titles, not translated ones. I'm only suggesting to change the rule for translations of original English titles. If a distributor chooses to use the same capitalization for the translated title as the original English title, then why should we apply the standard spelling rules on this?
Martin Zuidervliet

DVD Profiler Nederlands
 Last edited: by Daddy DVD
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantsiboul
baron du samedi
Registered: March 20, 2007
France Posts: 8
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Quoting garmonbozia:
Quote:
The problem with capitalization of Romance Language Titles is that there are several different accepted sets of rules used, and different people use different methods.  For example, see here: 

http://french.about.com/library/writing/bl-capitalizationoftitles.htm

method I (capitalize the first word, and also basically up to the first noun) is the one I learned when I studied French, but some people here only capitalize the first word no matter what.  Personally I think a consensus needs to be reached and decided upon for the rules.

None of the 3 rules presented in that link is entirely right.
Rule #I is the closest. But Un Coeur simple is not correct. It should be Un coeur simple.

The rules to use for capitalization of French titles should be those.
 Last edited: by siboul
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