Crowdin

Crowdin is a cloud-based localization platform used to make projects, such as websites, apps and games, universally accessible through translation. Minecraft: Java Edition and the Minecraft Launcher use Crowdin to enable community volunteers to translate the game into its over 100 available languages.

All other products by Mojang, such as Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, are instead translated by professional firms rather than Crowdin volunteers.

Projects
Minecraft has two projects on Crowdin: the translation of Minecraft: Java Edition and the translation of the Minecraft Launcher. Both Crowdin projects, which are open to the public, consist of over 100 different languages. Users can contribute to any of the languages listed on the project and require a Crowdin account to do so.

Translators
A user first joining the project is automatically a translator. Translators can contribute by selecting their language of choice, where they can start translating individual strings. Translators can upvote strings by clicking the "+" button after a listed string or downvote them by clicking the "-" button. The number after the buttons shows the net vote count of each string.

Each project on Crowdin has a dedicated discussions forum, visible to everyone, in which all project members can participate for formal communication. Likewise, every single string has its own comment section, shared between languages, for discussion on that particular string. However, for informal and direct communication, it is highly advised to use the public Minecraft Translators community Discord server, run by some proofreaders. In this server, anyone may discuss with translators and proofreaders about topics not limited to just Crowdin. It also contains links to useful and important translation resources, as well channels with updates related to the Crowdin project and the game.

Proofreaders
Proofreaders are experienced users who have shown high engagement with the project. Having been translators in the past, they have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of their language along with the willingness to cooperate so as to ensure the project is kept to the highest standards. They have additional permissions, such as being able to approve, disapprove or delete any translation, as well as resolve issue comments submitted by translators. . When approving a translation into the game, they need to ensure consistency throughout the project, which requires familiarity with the game's strings. In addition, they need to account for the game's technical requirements, such as UI and variable limitations, where testing is often needed as well as adjustments depending on the language. Moreover, proofreaders are responsible for enforcing Mojang's glossary. They also need to address questions and reports from translators in a timely manner as well as take appropriate measures against bad actors. Finally, proofreaders coordinate with each other and, occasionally, with Mojang employees to resolve issues.

Mojang recruits new proofreaders for a language when deemed necessary. The minimum requirements to be considered are high and long-term project involvement as well as experience with the Crowdin interface, functions and tools. Furthermore, all proofreaders must be over the age of 18. Typically, each language has 1-2 active proofreaders. Once a translator is promoted, their permisions are updated in both projects and they are invited into a private Discord server for proofreaders and Mojang employees only.

Languages
It is possible to request for a new language to be made available for translation if there is a good reason for its addition and contributors are available to work on it. However, new additions may take many months to be considered by Mojang, and very few applications end up being successful.

A language only appears in Minecraft: Java Edition and the Minecraft Launcher provided that it meets a high enough approval percentage on Crowdin. Especially in languages ​​with little activity, some strings may not have been properly translated or proofread and can therefore contain mistakes, problems, or even vandalism. Mojang is not responsible for such content and, if an error is found in a language, it should not be reported in the bug tracker but instead addressed directly to the respective proofreaders on Crowdin.

New versions
Available languages, along with their current translations, are updated in the game and launcher, occasionally, following minor or major updates and, hence, it may take a long time for changes on Crowdin to be reflected elsewhere. As of September 2022, language versions in the Minecraft project are no longer linked to individual game versions. As such, each language version on Crowdin is now of the format "Version n", where n is the version number, starting from 1.

Minecraft glossary
In January 2016, Mojang created a glossary of Minecraft terms that must be kept untranslated in all languages, including joke ones, as they are standard game terminology. Some of these include the names "Creeper", "Enderman" and "Nether". The glossary is available here.

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