Project:Grammar: Difference between revisions

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==American English==
==American English==
While this Wiki is written in English, the standard choice is American English.  Here, all rules pertaining to grammar and vocabulary pertaining to American English applies.
Articles should be written in American English (excluding Japanese terms, such as [[riichi]]). This includes American grammar and vocabulary.


==Article naming==
==Article naming==
All articles begins with an uppercase letter. Other words in the title are to begin in lowercase.  In other words, article names are to follow the pattern using all lower case besides the first letter, unless the article specifically uses a proper noun.
All articles should begin with an uppercase letter. Other words in the title should begin in lowercase, unless the title is a proper noun.


For example: Kokushi musou.  Not ''Kokushi Musou''.
For example: Kokushi musou, not ''Kokushi Musou''.


==Japanese romanization==
==Japanese romanization==
* Japanese should be transliterated following the Hepburn system<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepburn_romanization</ref>. E.g., jan, not jyan; tsuchi, not tuti.
* Japanese should be transliterated following the Hepburn system<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepburn_romanization</ref>. E.g., jan, not jyan; tsuchi, not tuti.
* Vowels in katakana should be replaced as if they were standard hiragana vowels. E.g., aa; ei; ii; ou; uu. Exceptions apply for words requiring the use of "oo" in standard language.
* Vowels in katakana should be replaced as if they were standard hiragana vowels.  
:: '''Example:''' aa; ei; ii; ou; uu.  
:: '''Exception:''' Words requiring the use of "oo" in standard language.
* Compounds of 3 characters should remain together when possible, compounds of 4 or more should generally be split.   
* Compounds of 3 characters should remain together when possible, compounds of 4 or more should generally be split.   
:: Tsuuiisou {{kana|字一色}} and daisangen {{kana|大三元}} versus nagashi mangan {{kana|流し満貫}}.
:: '''Example:''' ''Tsuuiisou'' {{kana|字一色}} and ''daisangen'' {{kana|大三元}} versus ''nagashi mangan'' {{kana|流し満貫}}.
:: '''Exception:''' ''Ikkitsuukan''. The reason for this exception is that it is usually abbreviated as ''ittsuu''.
* The use of hyphens to link elements of a compound is discouraged. E.g., "nagashi mangan"; not "nagashi-mangan".
* The use of hyphens to link elements of a compound is discouraged. E.g., "nagashi mangan"; not "nagashi-mangan".
:: '''Exceptions:''' ari, nashi as either prefix or suffix; abbreviated tile names (7-pin).
* All Japanese text within the articles must use the [[Template:kana|kana template]].
* All Japanese text within the articles must use the [[Template:kana|kana template]].


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{{main|Naki}}
{{main|Naki}}


Tile calls may be expressed both as nouns and verbs. The terms of "to pon", "to kan", "to chii" have been accepted into the mahjong vocabulary. The past tenses of these verbs are respectively "ponned", "kanned", and "chiied".
Tile calls may be expressed both as nouns and verbs. The terms of "to pon", "to kan", "to chii" have been accepted into the mahjong vocabulary. The past tenses of these verbs are respectively '''"ponned"''', '''"kanned"''', and '''"chiied"'''.  Declarations, wins and other actions also follow the same rule, that is '''noun form + (double final n / drop final e) + "ed"'''. This would give '''"riichied"''', '''"tsumoed"''', '''"chomboed"'''.
* Riichied can be pronounced "REE-cheed" or "REE-chd" (reached), but is always written the same.
* Most words cannot be adapted in this way. Faulty example: ''ryuukyokued'' (use "drew the hand" or a similar expression).
* The use of apostrophes in past tenses of neologisms is not recommended in sustained and formal writing (such as this wiki).


==Japanese terminology vs English==
==Japanese terminology vs English==
A number of [[Terminology|Japanese terms]] are apply to this game. However, neither readers nor even editors are required to know them all.  New players are especially not required to know any of the terminology, even the [[yaku]] and [[naki|tile calls]].  Though, the yaku and tile calls hold a special place within terminology, such that they're required knowledge in order to get started in this game.
Many [[Terminology|Japanese terms]] are used in the game. However, neither readers or editors are required to know them all - new players especially should not stress about learning terminology right away.


So, this becomes a matter of how much terminology is used vs using direct English translation. Using Japanese terminology holds the advantage of conciseness. However, usage may become confusing, when such terms are "unfamiliar". On the other hand, English translation may lack an equivalent term or end up as "wordy". For now, discretion is required when utilizing terminology or translation.
So, this becomes a matter of how much Japanese terminology (''romaji'') is used vs using their direct English translation.  
*Using romaji is more concise. In addition, it is more universal. For example, both "hand" and "round" are common terms for "[[kyoku]]". Using "hand" = "kyoku" may confuse players who are used to "round" = "kyoku" (and vice versa), so saying kyoku directly gets rid of that issue. However, romaji terms can be confusing to those who are unfamiliar.
*English terms are naturally easier to understand, but some romaji terms may lack an equivalent term, or the English translation may end up as wordy. For example, "[[ryanmen]]" has no clear translation - the closest thing, "open wait", is not intuitively understood like "triplet" is for [[koutsu]]. In addition, "ryanmen" is (possibly?) used more often than "open wait".
 
For now, discretion is required on whether to use terminology or translation. At this point, it becomes a balance between layman's terms and jargon.
 
===Interchangeability===
A number of terms can be used interchangeably between the Japanese term and its English equivalent, such as [[koutsu]] and triplet. English equivalents to Japanese terms are best consulted in either the [[List of terminology by alphabetical order|primary terminology list]] or the [[List of terminology translations|translation list]]. Once again, discretion is advised here.
 
More "advanced" content may lean towards Japanese terminology, without concern for more "novice" readers.
 
===Guidelines===
The following list is a guideline of what terms are currently used in the wiki. These should not be treated as strict rules, but as rules of thumb:
*[[Yaku]]: Use romaji, like [[pinfu]] or [[chiitoitsu]], for all yaku. (For many yaku, such as pinfu, the romaji term is more common than the translated term. Other yaku, like [[sanshoku doujun]], have many different translations.)
*Scoring: Use romaji for [[han]], [[fu]], [[oka]]/[[uma]], [[honba]], named scores like [[mangan]], and [[dora]].
*Tile types: Use "manzu", "pinzu", "souzu" for the numbered suits, and use "winds" and "dragons" for [[jihai]]. Use East/South/West/North for kazepai, but haku/hatsu/chun for the sangenpai. Jihai itself should be translated to "honors". "Terminals" refer to 1's and 9's; "middle" tiles refer to 4-6.
*[[Mentsu]]: Usually prefer translated terms. Use "tile groups" over [[mentsu]]. Prefer "sequences" and "triplets" over [[shuntsu]] and [[koutsu]], respectively. [[Kantsu]] can be translated to "quad" or (less formally) "kan". [[Toitsu]] are "pairs". [[Taatsu]] has no direct translation; "joints" is currently used.
*[[Machi]]: The term machi should be translated to "wait". However, each individual wait pattern should be in romaji, e.g. use "ryanmen" instead of "open wait".
*[[Naki]]: Use romaji, e.g. leave riichi, chii, and ron as-is.
*Game rounds: [[Kyoku]] is tranlated to "hands"; [[Ba]] are "wind rounds". [[Ryuukyoku]] is "exhaustive draw" and [[Tochuu ryuukyoku]] is "abortive draw". But [[hanchan]] and [[tonpuusen]] are used over their translations.
*Rules: Outside of [[rule variation]] pages, ari is "enabled"/"allowed", nashi is "disabled"/"not allowed", though "[[ari-ari]]" is untranslated. Most rule names do not have easy English translations, so use romaji for them (e.g. atozuke, kuikae left in romaji). Rules that can be translated, such as [[kuitan]] = "open tanyao", should be translated.


==Proper nouns==
==Proper nouns==
Article titles of proper nouns follow capitalization, similar to that of "book titles". The first letter to each word is capitalized, with exception to "a", "an", or "the". Plus, prepositions and conjunctions are also not capitalized, such as "on", "for", or "but".
Article titles of proper nouns follow capitalization, similar to book titles. The first letter to each word is capitalized, with exception to "a", "an", or "the". Prepositions and conjunctions are also not capitalized, such as "on", "for", or "but".


===Tournaments===
Names of [[tournament]]s are proper nouns.
Names of tournaments are classified as proper nouns.  So, capitalization to these article names are applied as such.


===Yaku===
===Yaku===
It is established that the yaku are not to be treated as proper nouns. Therefore, proper noun capitalization does not apply to them.
It is established that the yaku are not to be treated as proper nouns. Therefore, proper noun capitalization does not apply to them.


==Viewpoints==
==Viewpoints==
It is important to note for any Wiki.  Multiple users each have their own viewpoints. With regards to editing, users do their best to supplement as many readers and editors as possible.  While agreement is ideal, dispute may be unavoidable.  Individuals or groups of individuals should do their best arrive at some sort of compromise, in order to proceed with the editing process and ultimately produce a good referential product.
It is important to note for any Wiki that multiple users each have their own viewpoints. With regards to editing, users do their best to supplement as many readers and editors as possible.  While agreement is ideal, dispute may be unavoidable.  Individuals or groups of individuals should do their best arrive at some sort of compromise, in order to proceed with the editing process and ultimately produce a good referential product.
 
===Gender neutral===
It is important to note that players are a mix of both genders. Articles are best written to address both, by using gender neutrality.
 
===Generalization===
Articles and sections should be best written with generalizations in mind, though specific articles and sections may require specificity. This is particularly applicable pertaining to [[rule variations]], where a multitude of different organizations have their own rules and approaches to the game.


===Third person perspective===
===Third person perspective===
Line 43: Line 75:
* The use of the word "I" may be viewed as arrogance in relation to article writing.
* The use of the word "I" may be viewed as arrogance in relation to article writing.
* The use of the word "you" may be viewed as condescending in relation to article writing.
* The use of the word "you" may be viewed as condescending in relation to article writing.
===Gender neutral===
It is important to note that players are a mix of both genders.  So, articles are best written to address both, by using gender neutrality.
===Generalization===
Articles and sections should be best written with generalizations in mind.  Though, specific articles and sections may require specificity.  This is particularly applicable pertaining to [[rule variations]], where a multitude of different organizations have their own rules and approaches to the game.


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 15:37, 16 August 2024

The following contains guidelines pertaining to grammar. For information regarding general edits, see General Guidelines.

American English

Articles should be written in American English (excluding Japanese terms, such as riichi). This includes American grammar and vocabulary.

Article naming

All articles should begin with an uppercase letter. Other words in the title should begin in lowercase, unless the title is a proper noun.

For example: Kokushi musou, not Kokushi Musou.

Japanese romanization

  • Japanese should be transliterated following the Hepburn system[1]. E.g., jan, not jyan; tsuchi, not tuti.
  • Vowels in katakana should be replaced as if they were standard hiragana vowels.
Example: aa; ei; ii; ou; uu.
Exception: Words requiring the use of "oo" in standard language.
  • Compounds of 3 characters should remain together when possible, compounds of 4 or more should generally be split.
Example: Tsuuiisou 「字一色」 and daisangen 「大三元」 versus nagashi mangan 「流し満貫」.
Exception: Ikkitsuukan. The reason for this exception is that it is usually abbreviated as ittsuu.
  • The use of hyphens to link elements of a compound is discouraged. E.g., "nagashi mangan"; not "nagashi-mangan".
Exceptions: ari, nashi as either prefix or suffix; abbreviated tile names (7-pin).
  • All Japanese text within the articles must use the kana template.

Japanese nouns as verbs

Tile calls may be expressed both as nouns and verbs. The terms of "to pon", "to kan", "to chii" have been accepted into the mahjong vocabulary. The past tenses of these verbs are respectively "ponned", "kanned", and "chiied". Declarations, wins and other actions also follow the same rule, that is noun form + (double final n / drop final e) + "ed". This would give "riichied", "tsumoed", "chomboed".

  • Riichied can be pronounced "REE-cheed" or "REE-chd" (reached), but is always written the same.
  • Most words cannot be adapted in this way. Faulty example: ryuukyokued (use "drew the hand" or a similar expression).
  • The use of apostrophes in past tenses of neologisms is not recommended in sustained and formal writing (such as this wiki).

Japanese terminology vs English

Many Japanese terms are used in the game. However, neither readers or editors are required to know them all - new players especially should not stress about learning terminology right away.

So, this becomes a matter of how much Japanese terminology (romaji) is used vs using their direct English translation.

  • Using romaji is more concise. In addition, it is more universal. For example, both "hand" and "round" are common terms for "kyoku". Using "hand" = "kyoku" may confuse players who are used to "round" = "kyoku" (and vice versa), so saying kyoku directly gets rid of that issue. However, romaji terms can be confusing to those who are unfamiliar.
  • English terms are naturally easier to understand, but some romaji terms may lack an equivalent term, or the English translation may end up as wordy. For example, "ryanmen" has no clear translation - the closest thing, "open wait", is not intuitively understood like "triplet" is for koutsu. In addition, "ryanmen" is (possibly?) used more often than "open wait".

For now, discretion is required on whether to use terminology or translation. At this point, it becomes a balance between layman's terms and jargon.

Interchangeability

A number of terms can be used interchangeably between the Japanese term and its English equivalent, such as koutsu and triplet. English equivalents to Japanese terms are best consulted in either the primary terminology list or the translation list. Once again, discretion is advised here.

More "advanced" content may lean towards Japanese terminology, without concern for more "novice" readers.

Guidelines

The following list is a guideline of what terms are currently used in the wiki. These should not be treated as strict rules, but as rules of thumb:

  • Yaku: Use romaji, like pinfu or chiitoitsu, for all yaku. (For many yaku, such as pinfu, the romaji term is more common than the translated term. Other yaku, like sanshoku doujun, have many different translations.)
  • Scoring: Use romaji for han, fu, oka/uma, honba, named scores like mangan, and dora.
  • Tile types: Use "manzu", "pinzu", "souzu" for the numbered suits, and use "winds" and "dragons" for jihai. Use East/South/West/North for kazepai, but haku/hatsu/chun for the sangenpai. Jihai itself should be translated to "honors". "Terminals" refer to 1's and 9's; "middle" tiles refer to 4-6.
  • Mentsu: Usually prefer translated terms. Use "tile groups" over mentsu. Prefer "sequences" and "triplets" over shuntsu and koutsu, respectively. Kantsu can be translated to "quad" or (less formally) "kan". Toitsu are "pairs". Taatsu has no direct translation; "joints" is currently used.
  • Machi: The term machi should be translated to "wait". However, each individual wait pattern should be in romaji, e.g. use "ryanmen" instead of "open wait".
  • Naki: Use romaji, e.g. leave riichi, chii, and ron as-is.
  • Game rounds: Kyoku is tranlated to "hands"; Ba are "wind rounds". Ryuukyoku is "exhaustive draw" and Tochuu ryuukyoku is "abortive draw". But hanchan and tonpuusen are used over their translations.
  • Rules: Outside of rule variation pages, ari is "enabled"/"allowed", nashi is "disabled"/"not allowed", though "ari-ari" is untranslated. Most rule names do not have easy English translations, so use romaji for them (e.g. atozuke, kuikae left in romaji). Rules that can be translated, such as kuitan = "open tanyao", should be translated.

Proper nouns

Article titles of proper nouns follow capitalization, similar to book titles. The first letter to each word is capitalized, with exception to "a", "an", or "the". Prepositions and conjunctions are also not capitalized, such as "on", "for", or "but".

Names of tournaments are proper nouns.

Yaku

It is established that the yaku are not to be treated as proper nouns. Therefore, proper noun capitalization does not apply to them.

Viewpoints

It is important to note for any Wiki that multiple users each have their own viewpoints. With regards to editing, users do their best to supplement as many readers and editors as possible. While agreement is ideal, dispute may be unavoidable. Individuals or groups of individuals should do their best arrive at some sort of compromise, in order to proceed with the editing process and ultimately produce a good referential product.

Gender neutral

It is important to note that players are a mix of both genders. Articles are best written to address both, by using gender neutrality.

Generalization

Articles and sections should be best written with generalizations in mind, though specific articles and sections may require specificity. This is particularly applicable pertaining to rule variations, where a multitude of different organizations have their own rules and approaches to the game.

Third person perspective

Articles are best written in third person. Third person applies game concepts with a more generalized viewpoint for everyone.

  • The use of the word "I" may be viewed as arrogance in relation to article writing.
  • The use of the word "you" may be viewed as condescending in relation to article writing.

References

External links