What should and shouldn't I translate?

While in the past some foreign media outlets have traditionally referred to Catalans by the Spanish-language versions of their names, that practice is increasingly rare. In texts for the UOC, neither Catalan nor Spanish names should be translated; rather, people should be referred to by whatever name they use themselves. Examples:

Please note that, to prevent confusion, in English texts it can be helpful to write out the Catalan and Spanish abbreviations M. and Mª in full as Maria.

Translate the names of only those historical or fictional figures with traditional English translations. Thus:

Translate the names of continents and countries. Examples:

Likewise, translate the names of major geographical features (mountains, rivers, gulfs, islands, straits, etc.) with traditional English translations. Examples:

Leave the names of major geographical features without standard translations in the source language. However, translate any generic words used in their names (e.g. river, mount), capitalizing them in accordance with English conventions. Examples:

Similarly, unless a traditional English translation exists, do not translate the names of minor or local geographical features. Instead, translate only the generic words used in their names (e.g. stream, pond, ravine), capitalizing them accordingly, and leave the name itself in the source language. Examples:

Exceptions are made for generic words that have come to form a part of the proper name itself, which should be left in the source language. Examples:

Translate the names of geographical, political and geopolitical regions with traditional English translations. Examples:

Leave all other names in the original. Examples:

Do not translate the names of specific monuments and buildings that are widely known by their original-language names in English or for which there is no clear English equivalent. Examples:

In contrast, such names should be translated when traditional or well-established English translations exist. Examples:

Do not translate the names of neighbourhoods, districts, boroughs, etc., unless a well-established English translation exists. Example:

Translate the names of seas and oceans. Examples:

Remember, the Spanish mar Cantàbrica is generally referred to as the Bay of Biscay in English. Translate it as the Cantabrian Sea only if you are specifically referring to the southern part of the bay.

As a general rule, street names should not be translated. This is especially true of street names (and other items) in postal addresses. Nevertheless, particularly in running text, you may consider writing all words in an address in full to facilitate comprehension by non-native speakers. Example:

For international addresses, the country should be written in both English and the language of the destination country. Examples:

Unlike in Catalan, it is unusual to translate the generic part of a foreign street name in English, even when it appears in running text. Thus, write:

Translate the names of towns and cities with traditional English translations. Examples:

Leave all other such names in the source language. Examples:

For references to towns and cities in Catalonia that do not have traditional English translations, use the Catalan (rather than Spanish) version of the name. Examples:

Remember, because they are often spelled differently in different languages, it is important to double-check all place names in the source text, particularly transliterated ones, in case they need to be translated or otherwise changed to conform to English-language conventions.

Do not translate acronyms or initialisms unless an alternative version is commonly used in English. Thus, OCDE (Organització per a la Cooperació i el Desenvolupament Econòmics) should be rendered as OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) in English, but PSC (Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya) should not be rendered as SPC (Socialist Party of Catalonia).

As a general rule, when conserving a foreign acronym or initialism, translate the full name from which it is derived on first mention, followed by the acronym to be used thereafter in brackets. Example:

Translate the names of artistic and cultural movements with clear and/or well-established translations in English. Examples:

Leave all others in the original language, followed by a parenthetical translation or description, where necessary. Examples:

Translate the generic words in the names of awards (e.g. prize, award, medal). Add modifiers where necessary to prevent confusion with similarly named English-language awards. Example:

Do not translate the names of rock bands. Examples:

In contrast, do translate the names of city and national orchestras. Examples:

Similarly, do not translate the names of songs. Examples:

However, do translate the generic words in the titles of classical musical pieces. Examples:

Do not translate the titles of books, periodicals, and other publications that do not have official translations. Instead, where necessary to ensure comprehension of a text, include a translation of the title in brackets on first mention. Examples:

Where an official English-language version does exist, use the English title; however, be sure to specify which version and/or edition was being referred to in the original text when that information is germane. Examples:

Translate the names of departments and other management units within a company. Examples:

Translate the names of courses and programmes. Examples:

Please note that UOC policy is to use the formula bachelor's or master's degree (rather than bachelor degree, bachelors degree, etc.). For information on the official translations of programme names, see nomenclatura.uoc.edu.

Translate the names of congresses, exhibitions and other events when they consist of common, translatable words. Where applicable, use the official English translation. Example:

Do not translate the names of such events when they consist of an untranslatable proper noun. Examples:

Notwithstanding the above, when an untranslatable name is derived from a series of translatable words or used as shorthand for a longer, translatable version of the event's name, consider providing a translation of the words on which it is based or the longer version of the name on first mention for added clarity. Example:

Translate the most common forms of address. Examples:

In contrast, except where otherwise specified by the client, more elaborate forms of address used for high-ranking officials (e.g. Il·lustre, Magnífic) can usually be safely omitted.

Translate the names of higher and/or international bodies and organizations with clear equivalents or official translations in English. Examples:

Note, however, that the names of local and regional bodies with no traditional translation or clear equivalent in English should not be translated. In such cases, provide a brief literal or descriptive translation, as appropriate, in brackets on first mention and use the original term or a generic reference thereafter. Examples:

Translate the names of holidays and historical events with traditional translations or clear equivalents in English. Examples:

Leave all others in the original, followed by a brief parenthetical description where necessary to ensure comprehension of the text. Examples:

Do not translate the names of institutions commonly known by their original names. Examples:

However, for clarity's sake, you may refer to them with common-noun equivalents instead either from the first mention on or, if you have defined the foreign term on first mention, for all subsequent mentions. Examples:

With regard to the translation of Generalitat, the UOC recommends using Government of Catalonia.

As a general rule, avoid using Latin terms where an acceptable English equivalent exists, particularly in texts intended for a general audience. For instance, unless you are working with a text about logical reasoning, rather than retaining a posteriori, consider using in retrospect, in hindsight or subsequently, as appropriate; rather than retaining a priori, consider in theory or beforehand; rather than retaining inter alia, consider using among others; etc. Notwithstanding this rule, it is not necessary to avoid Latin terms that are in common use in English, such as e.g., sic or vice versa, or that are conventionally used in a particular discipline or field.

Translate the names of official and government documents (e.g. constitutions, laws, gazettes, reports). Examples:

Translate the names of museums on first mention. Be sure to check the museum's website first to see whether an official translation already exists. Where available, the applicable source-language acronym should be used thereafter. Examples:

Translate the names of political parties and unions, except when they are commonly known by their original-language name (e.g. Sinn Féin) or when a bare translation might cause confusion (e.g. Worker Committees for Comissions Obreres). Where helpful, follow names left in the source language with a brief literal or descriptive translation in brackets and, where applicable, the source-language acronym to be used thereafter. Example:

Do not translate the names of private companies. Examples:

However, the names of public corporations may occasionally be translated for added clarity. This is particularly true of those corporations with common counterparts in other cities or that use a standard-English translation themselves in their own English-language literature. Examples:

Leave the titles of talks, lectures, conferences, etc., that do not have official translations in the source language. Where necessary to ensure comprehension of the text, follow the original-language title with a translation in brackets on first mention.

Do not translate the names of television channels and radio stations. Examples:

Translate the names of universities, unless otherwise specified by the university itself. Where available and reasonably idiomatic, use the university's own preferred translation. Examples:

When referring specifically to the UOC, use the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) on first mention, and the UOC thereafter. Example:

Use the definite article the only with the names of universities beginning with the word university or a non-proper adjective (e.g. open, technical). The word the can usually be safely omitted with universities whose names begin with a proper noun. Examples:

Remember that many (but not all) universities in English-speaking countries omit the definite article before their initialism, even when it is used when the name is written in full. Examples:

When in doubt, check the university's own website.

Translate the titles of works of art unless there is no clear equivalent in English or they are traditionally known by their titles in another language. Examples:

When a text includes both types of titles, try to be as consistent as possible.