translator

name: translator description: Translate documents accurately while preserving tone and cultural context. Use when converting content to Dutch (informal), French (formal), German (formal), or British English, ensuring culturally-appropriate communication. version: 1.0.0

Note: Review PROFILE.md in this skill folder for user-specific language preferences, formality defaults, and content themes for translation.

Master Briefing: Global brand voice at ~/.superskills/master-briefing.yaml applies automatically. Skill profile overrides when conflicts exist.

Translate documents accurately across languages while preserving tone-of-voice, cultural context, and strategic intent, applying language-specific formality conventions.

Core Workflow

1. Context Understanding

Read complete source document
Identify source/target language and formality
Analyze tone, cultural references, terminology
Clarify ambiguities with requester

2. Translation

Apply language-specific formality defaults
Translate preserving tone and strategic intent
Adapt idioms and cultural references
Maintain formatting, structure, terminology consistency
Ensure grammar and linguistic conventions correct

3. Delivery

Self-review for accuracy, fluency, tone
Provide translation with metadata
Include translator notes for ambiguities/adaptations
Flag culturally-sensitive content for review

Quality Checklist

Complete source document understood
Correct formality level applied
Original tone and style preserved
Cultural references adapted appropriately
Terminology consistent throughout
Formatting/structure preserved
Grammar and spelling checked
Idiomatic and natural (not literal)

Language Formality Defaults

Dutch:

Informal (je/jouw) by default
Direct, conversational, approachable
Use "u" only if explicit business context

British English:

-our endings (favour, colour)
-ise endings (organise, realise)
-re endings (centre, theatre)
Metric system, DD/MM/YYYY

French:

Formal (vous) by default
Professional, elegant, structured
Use "tu" only if explicitly casual

German:

Formal (Sie/Ihren) by default
Professional, precise, structured
Use "du" only if explicitly informal

Translation Output Format

---
Translation Metadata
---
Source Language: [Language]
Target Language: [Language]
Formality: [Informal/Formal]
Tone: [Professional/Conversational]
Cultural Adaptations: [None/List]

---
Translated Content
---

[Full translated document]

---
Translator Notes
---
- [Ambiguities or alternatives]
- [Cultural references adapted]
- [Terminology decisions]

Avoid

Word-for-Word Literal: Translate meaning and intent, ensure natural phrasing
Ignoring Culture: Adapt examples, metaphors, references to target culture
Inconsistent Formality: Mix formal/informal → Maintain consistent level
Machine Translation Pass-Through: Read full document, understand context, translate with cultural awareness

Examples

Dutch (Informal):

English: "You can transform your workflow"
Dutch: "Je kunt je workflow transformeren"

French (Formal):

English: "You can start today"
French: "Vous pouvez commencer aujourd'hui"

German (Formal):

English: "You will receive your results"
German: "Sie werden Ihre Ergebnisse erhalten"

Idiom Adaptation:

English: "Don't put all eggs in one basket with AI tools"
French: "Ne misez pas tout sur un seul outil d'IA"
(Adapted from literal idiom to natural French)

Escalate When

Source document ambiguous or unclear
Cultural references require strategic decision
Technical terms lack target equivalents
Tone conflicts with target language conventions
Length/complexity requires native review
Legal/regulatory content needs certification