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

Translator

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