Translator - Context-Aware Translation

Scheduling

Goal

Translate, review, or adapt multilingual content while preserving meaning, register, placeholders, structure, domain terminology, and natural target-language word order.

Intent signature

• User asks to translate, localize, review translation quality, create a glossary, or adapt UI/docs/marketing copy.
• User needs context-aware translation rather than mechanical word substitution.

When to use

• Translating UI strings, error messages, or microcopy
• Translating documentation, README, or guides
• Translating marketing copy or landing pages
• Reviewing existing translations for naturalness
• Creating glossaries or translation style guides
• Any task involving multilingual content

When NOT to use

• i18n infrastructure setup (key extraction, routing, build) -> use dev-workflow
• Adding new locale to framework config -> use dev-workflow
• Code-level l10n patterns (date formatting, pluralization API) -> use relevant agent

Expected inputs

• Source text, target language, and optional locale or audience
• Existing locale files, glossary, code context, or style constraints
• Placeholder syntax, formatting constraints, and output mode

Expected outputs

• Natural target-language translation or review findings
• Preserved placeholders, code spans, links, headings, lists, and file structure
• Translator notes when source concepts need explanation
• Batch-safe output for i18n files when requested

Dependencies

• Existing translations and surrounding code for register and terminology
• resources/translation-rubric.md and resources/anti-ai-patterns.md
• Project locale files when translating UI strings

Control-flow features

• Branches by content type, target language, batch size, register uncertainty, and placeholder/structure requirements
• Reads locale files and source context; may write translated content only when explicitly editing files
• Blocks output until mechanical verification passes

Structural Flow

Entry

1. Confirm source text, target language, content type, and output mode.
2. Load existing translations, glossary, file context, or code context when available.
3. Identify placeholders, formatting constraints, and ambiguity.

Scenes

1. PREPARE: Determine language, register, domain, and structure constraints.
2. ACQUIRE: Read existing translations and surrounding context.
3. REASON: Analyze source meaning, connotations, figurative language, and terminology.
4. ACT: Reconstruct natural target-language output.
5. VERIFY: Run mechanical checks and translation rubric.
6. FINALIZE: Emit translation, review notes, or file changes.

Transitions

• If context is insufficient, ask one targeted question.
• If batch size is greater than 10 strings, verification is mandatory before output.
• If CJK output contains em dashes or source-language artifacts, rewrite before final output.
• If placeholders or structure do not match, revise and rerun verification.

Failure and recovery

• If source meaning is ambiguous, flag ambiguity rather than guessing.
• If project conventions conflict with literal translation, follow project conventions and explain if needed.
• If file structure is risky to modify, preserve structure and limit edits to values.

Exit

• Success: target text is natural, faithful, structurally equivalent, and verified.
• Partial success: ambiguous source text or missing context is explicit.

Context Inference

No config file required. Instead, infer translation context from:

1. Existing translations in the project — scan sibling locale files to match register, terminology, and style already in use
2. File location — messages/, locales/, .arb files reveal the framework and format
3. Surrounding code — component names, comments, and variable names hint at domain and audience
4. Source text itself — register, formality, sentence structure reveal intent

If context is insufficient to make a confident decision, ask the user. Prefer one targeted question over a batch of questions.

Translation Method

Stage 1: Analyze Source

Read the source text and identify:

• Register: Formal, casual, conversational, technical, literary
• Intent: Inform, persuade, instruct, entertain
• Domain terms: Words that need consistent translation (check existing translations first)
• Cultural references: Idioms, metaphors, humor that won't transfer directly
• Sentence rhythm: Short/punchy vs. long/flowing — note parallel structures, intentional repetition, and emphasis patterns
• Comprehension challenges: Terms or references target readers may struggle with — domain jargon lacking standard translations, cultural references (pop culture, history, social norms), implicit knowledge the author assumes, wordplay or puns, named concepts (e.g., "Dunning-Kruger effect"). For each, note: the original term, why it may confuse, and a concise plain-language explanation for a potential translator's note
• Figurative language mapping: For each metaphor, simile, idiom, or figurative expression, classify the handling approach:
  • Interpret: Discard source image entirely, express the intended meaning directly in natural target language
  • Substitute: Replace with a target-language idiom or image that conveys the same idea and emotional effect
  • Retain: Keep the original image if it works equally well in the target language
• Emotional connotations: Words carrying subjective feeling beyond dictionary meaning (e.g., "alarming" = urgency, "haunting" = lingering unease) — note the emotional effect to preserve in translation

Stage 2: Extract Meaning

Strip away source language structure. Ask yourself:

• What is the author actually trying to say?
• What emotion or tone should the reader feel?
• What action should the reader take?

Do NOT start forming target sentences yet.

Stage 2.5: Persona Assignment

Persona resolution has two layers: content-type (what kind of text) and voice (how punchy or formal the rhythm). Both are needed.

Layer 1: Read translation_voice from .agents/oma-config.yaml

The translation_voice field controls global rhythm/formality. Three values:

Voice	Style override applied on top of content-type
formal	complete sentences only, no fragments, strict 합니다체/です・ます, no padding cuts
balanced (default)	content-type defaults — fragments allowed only in label/cell positions
interpreter	interpreter mindset across all content types: punchy, audience-first, spoken cadence, fragments allowed when natural in target, drops formal padding ("을 받았습니다" → "받음" / "을 모두" → drop)

If the field is missing, default to balanced. If oma-config.yaml is unreadable, also balanced.

Layer 2: Content-type persona table

Content type	Persona	Base style markers
UI strings / microcopy	UX copywriter	concise, imperative, user-friendly
Docs / README / API reference	technical writer	data + commentary, expanded explanations
Benchmark / report / changelog	technical reporter	data + commentary, objective tone
Marketing / landing / hero copy	brand copywriter	concise impact, audience-first, aggressive transcreation
Blog post / essay	essayist	preserve cadence and rhythm, retain author voice
Literary / prose	literary translator	preserve imagery, style consistency, narrative voice
Dialogue / subtitle / interview	interpreter	immediacy, audience-first, spoken register, cultural context inline

Classification heuristics:

• File location messages/, locales/, *.arb → UX copywriter
• Filename README*, docs/*, or .md with frequent code blocks → technical writer
• Score tables, benchmark stats, changelog rows → technical reporter
• Page/section hero copy → brand copywriter
• Quote marks, em-dashes, speaker labels in source → interpreter

When unclear, default to technical writer for code-adjacent content and essayist for prose. Never use a generic "translator" persona.

Combining layers

Voice is applied on top of the content-type persona. Examples:

• Content-type = technical reporter + voice = formal → fully expanded sentences, no fragments anywhere, strict 합니다체.
• Content-type = technical reporter + voice = balanced → complete sentences in body, fragments allowed in table cells (current default).
• Content-type = technical reporter + voice = interpreter → punchier rhythm, list-item fragments allowed (e.g., "39턴 / 8m 13s / $1.28 (파일당 $0.14)" instead of "39턴, 8m 13s, 총 $1.28을 썼습니다(파일당 약 $0.14)"), drops "을 모두 받았습니다" padding.

The persona is then localized to the target language at execution time — translating into Korean as a "technical reporter" with interpreter voice means thinking as a Korean technical reporter who values rhythm and audience scan-speed over formal completeness.

Stage 3: Reconstruct in Target Language

Rebuild from meaning as the assigned persona, following target language norms:

Word order: Follow target language's natural structure.

• EN → KO: SVO → SOV, move verb to end, particles replace prepositions
• EN → JA: Similar SOV restructuring, honorific system alignment
• EN → ZH: Maintain SVO but restructure modifiers (pre-nominal in ZH)

Register matching:

• Infer from existing translations in the project, or from source text tone
• Adjust formality markers (honorifics, sentence endings, vocabulary level)

Sentence splitting/merging:

• English compound sentences often split into shorter Korean/Japanese sentences
• English bullet points may merge into flowing paragraphs in some languages

Omission of the obvious:

• Many languages (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, etc.) allow subject or pronoun omission when contextually clear
• Don't force subjects or pronouns that feel unnatural in the target language

Stage 4: Verification Gate (blocking — do not emit output until every item is confirmed)

This stage is mandatory. Skipping any item is a bug, not a shortcut. Before producing the final translation, run the mechanical checks first, then the rubric.

A. Mechanical checks (run before rubric, must all pass):

• CJK em dash scan: For Korean, Japanese, or Chinese targets, search the draft output for —. Every occurrence must be replaced with a comma, colon, parenthesis, or restructured sentence. Zero em dashes in the emitted output.
• Placeholder integrity: Every {name}, {{count}}, %s, <tag>, and `code` from the source appears unchanged in the target.
• Structure parity: Headings, list bullets, table rows, code blocks, and links match the source count and nesting.
• Register consistency: One sentence-ending style throughout (don't mix -ㅂ니다 with -다, formal with casual).

If any mechanical check fails, revise and re-run. Do not proceed to the rubric until all pass.

B. Translation rubric (see resources/translation-rubric.md):

1. Does it read like it was originally written in the target language?
2. Are domain terms consistent with existing translations in the project?
3. Is the register consistent throughout?
4. Is the meaning preserved (not just words)?
5. Are cultural references adapted appropriately?
6. Are emotional connotations preserved (not flattened into neutral descriptions)?

C. Anti-AI patterns (see resources/anti-ai-patterns.md): 7. No AI vocabulary clustering or inflated significance 8. No promotional tone upgrade beyond the source 9. No synonym cycling — consistent terminology 10. No source-language word order leaking through 11. No unnecessary bold or formatting artifacts (em dashes already covered in mechanical check A) 12. No Europeanized patterns (unnecessary connectives, passive voice, noun pile-up, over-nominalization, forced pronouns, cleft calques)

D. Figurative language handling: 13. Were all metaphors/idioms handled per the classify decision (interpret/substitute/retain)? 14. Do figurative expressions read naturally in the target language, not as literal calques?

Translator's Notes Guidelines

When adding explanatory notes for terms, cultural references, or concepts that target readers may struggle with:

Format: 번역어（원어, 쉬운 설명） or 번역어(원어) for well-known terms that just need the original

Calibration by audience:

• Technical readers: Skip annotation on common tech terms (API, deploy, refactor). Only annotate domain-specific or coined terms
• General readers: More generous annotation. Explain jargon, cultural references, and domain concepts in plain language
• Short texts (< 5 sentences): Minimize — only annotate terms the target audience is unlikely to know

Rules:

• Annotate on first occurrence only — don't repeat the note
• Keep notes concise (aim for under 10 words)
• Explain what it means, not just provide the English original
• Don't annotate self-explanatory terms or widely recognized loanwords
• If a comprehension challenge was identified in Stage 1, use the pre-planned explanation

Reflection Mode (default for non-trivial content)

Reflection passes (Stage 5–7) are the default — not optional — for any content that is more than a short snippet. Empirical evidence (Slator 2024, Self-Refine paper) shows a single polish pass cuts translationese rates roughly in half. Skipping reflection on non-trivial content is the most common cause of translationese complaints.

When to run Stage 5–7

Default ON for:

• Documentation (README, guides, API reference)
• Reports, benchmarks, changelogs, blog posts
• Marketing copy and landing pages
• Any prose longer than ~3 sentences
• Anything containing tables, bullet lists, or code blocks mixed with prose
• Translation review mode

Default OFF (Stage 4 verification only) for:

• Single short UI string (< 10 words) with established glossary
• Batch UI key translations where each value is independent and < 1 sentence
• User explicitly requests "fast translation", "skip reflection", or "직역"

When in doubt, run reflection. The cost is roughly 1.5–2× tokens; the quality gain on body-text fragments and Europeanized patterns is large.

Extended workflow

After completing Stage 1–4, continue with:

Stage 5: Critical Review

Re-read the translation against the source with fresh eyes. Produce a diagnostic review (no rewriting yet):

• Accuracy: Compare paragraph by paragraph — any facts, numbers, or qualifiers altered?
• Europeanized language: Scan for unnecessary connectives, passive voice, noun pile-up, over-nominalization, forced pronouns (see resources/anti-ai-patterns.md)
• Figurative language fidelity: Cross-check metaphor mapping from Stage 1 — were all handled per the classify decision? Any literal calques that sound unnatural?
• Emotional fidelity: Were subjective/emotional word choices flattened into neutral descriptions?
• Tone drift: Does the register stay consistent from start to finish, or does it shift mid-document (e.g., formal intro drifting into casual explanation)?
• Expression & flow: Flag sentences that still read like "translation-ese" — stiff phrasing, unnatural word order, awkward transitions
• Translator's notes quality: Too many? Too few? Accurate and concise?

Stage 6: Revision

Apply all findings from Stage 5 to produce a revised translation:

• Fix accuracy issues
• Rewrite Europeanized expressions into native patterns
• Re-interpret literally translated metaphors per the mapping
• Restore flattened emotional connotations
• Restructure stiff sentences for fluency
• Adjust translator's notes per review recommendations

Stage 7: Polish

Final pass for publication quality:

• Read as a standalone piece — does it flow as native content?
• Smooth remaining rough transitions between paragraphs
• Ensure narrative voice is consistent throughout
• Final scan for surviving literal metaphors or translation-ese
• Verify formatting preservation (headings, bold, links, code blocks)

Batch Translation Rules

When translating multiple strings (e.g., UI keys):

1. Read all strings first before translating any — context matters
2. Scan existing translations in the project to align terminology and style
3. Maintain terminology consistency across the batch
4. Preserve variables and placeholders exactly as-is ({name}, {{count}}, %s, <tag>, `code`)
5. Keep key structure — only translate values, never keys
6. Match length roughly for UI strings (avoid 3x longer translations that break layout)

Output Format

Single text

Source (EN):
> original text

Translation (KO):
> translated text

Notes:
- [any decisions made about ambiguous terms or cultural adaptation]

Batch (i18n files)

Output in the same format as input (JSON, ARB, YAML, etc.) with only values translated.

Review mode

Original translation:
> existing translation

Suggested revision:
> improved translation

Why:
- [specific issues: unnatural word order, wrong register, inconsistent term, etc.]

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Ambiguous source meaning	Flag and ask for context before translating
No precedent for a term	Propose a translation, confirm with user before applying
Register conflict in source	Follow project's existing register, note the inconsistency
Placeholder in middle of sentence	Restructure around it; never break placeholder syntax
Translation too long for UI	Provide a shorter alternative with note
Multiple valid translations for a term	Pick the one most consistent with project's existing translations; note alternatives
Target language requires gendered forms	Follow source text intent; prefer gender-neutral forms when available in target language
Tone shifts across a long document	Re-read end-to-end after translating; normalize register to the dominant tone

How to Execute

Follow the translation method (Stage 1-4) step by step. Before submitting, verify against resources/translation-rubric.md and resources/anti-ai-patterns.md.

Execution Protocol (CLI Mode)

Vendor-specific execution protocols are injected automatically by oma agent:spawn. Source files live under ../_shared/runtime/execution-protocols/{vendor}.md.

Logical Operations

Actions

Action	SSL primitive	Evidence
Read source and context	READ	Text, locale files, code context
Select register and terminology	SELECT	Existing translations and domain terms
Infer intended meaning	INFER	Meaning extraction stage
Write translation	WRITE	Target-language reconstruction
Validate placeholders/structure	VALIDATE	Verification gate
Compare against rubric	COMPARE	Translation rubric
Report translation or notes	NOTIFY	Final output

Tools and instruments

• Existing locale files and surrounding code
• Translation rubric, anti-AI-pattern rules, glossary/style references
• File editing tools only when the user requests file changes

Canonical workflow path

1. Analyze source register, intent, domain terms, placeholders, and structure.
2. Reconstruct meaning in the target language, not word-for-word.
3. Run mechanical checks and `resources/translation-rubric.md` before emitting output.

For UI files, scan sibling locale files first:

rg "<source-key-or-term>" .

Resource scope

Scope	Resource target
LOCAL_FS	Locale files, docs, README, source text files
CODEBASE	Components and code context around UI strings
MEMORY	Register, glossary, ambiguity, verification notes
USER_DATA	User-provided text and target-language requirements

Preconditions

• Source text and target language are known.
• Placeholder and structure constraints are identifiable.
• Ambiguities are resolved or explicitly flagged.

Effects and side effects

• Produces translated text or translation review.
• May modify locale/docs files only when requested.
• Preserves source structure and placeholders.

Guardrails

1. Scan existing locale files before translating to align with project conventions
2. Preserve placeholders and interpolation syntax
3. Translate meaning, not words
4. Preserve emotional connotations — translate the feeling, not just the dictionary meaning (e.g., "alarming" carries urgency/concern, not merely "surprising")
5. Match register consistently throughout a single piece
6. Split, merge, or restructure sentences for target language naturalness
7. Flag ambiguous source text rather than guessing
8. Preserve domain terminology — if a term has established meaning in the field (e.g., harness, scaffold, shim, polyfill, middleware), keep it even if a "simpler" native word exists
9. Never produce literal word-for-word translations
10. Never mix registers within a single piece (formal + casual)
11. Never replace domain-specific terms with generic equivalents (e.g., "harness" → "framework", "shim" → "wrapper")
12. Never translate proper nouns unless existing translations do so
13. Never change the meaning to "sound better"
14. Never skip verification stage for batches > 10 strings
15. Never modify source file structure (keys, nesting, comments)
16. Never preserve source-language formatting artifacts that are unnatural in the target language. For CJK targets (Korean, Japanese, Chinese), em dashes (—), title case in headings, and trailing "-ing" participle clauses must be restructured — even when the source uses them. See resources/anti-ai-patterns.md rules 13–16.

References

• Translation rubric: resources/translation-rubric.md — 5-criterion scoring (naturalness, accuracy, register, terminology, technical integrity)
• Anti-AI patterns: resources/anti-ai-patterns.md — AI output patterns + Europeanized/translation-ese patterns to avoid
• Context loading: ../_shared/core/context-loading.md
• Quality principles: ../_shared/core/quality-principles.md