This guide adapts rules and examples from Microsoft’s Top Tips for Translation into Sindhi (Devanagari) — originally written for software/UI localization. The underlying linguistic rules apply universally — to legal contracts, medical documents, marketing copy, and any Sindhi (Devanagari) translation work. Restructured and reformatted as a general Sindhi (Devanagari) translator reference by ChatsControl.

Sindhi (Devanagari) Translation Style Guide — Voice, Word Choice & Common Pitfalls (Legal, Medical, Marketing, IT)¶

TL;DR¶

• Sindhi (Devanagari) uses formal address pronoun तव्हां for consumer-facing content; the script uses standing line (।) instead of period.
• Capitalization does not apply in Devanagari script; acronyms are not pluralized.
• Use Nuqta diacritic correctly in letters borrowed from Urdu/Arabic/Farsi/English.
• Use gender-neutral terms; avoid मदम/महदी or मुज़कर/ज़हल compounds; rewrite to plural where possible.
• Reference Dr Kanhaiyalal Lekhwani’s Sindhi Dictionary and Central Hindi Directorate dictionaries for normative spelling.

Register and tone for modern Sindhi (Devanagari) translation¶

Register is the level of formality, warmth, and conversational ease the target text projects. Three principles define the modern Sindhi (Devanagari) register for consumer-facing content:

• Warm and relaxed. Natural, less formal, more grounded in honest conversations.
• Crisp and clear. Written for scanning first, reading second. Sentences short enough to parse on a phone screen.
• Ready to help. Anticipates what the reader needs and offers it at the right moment.

Write short, easy-to-read sentences. Don’t translate literally. Be pleasant and ensure explanations are appropriate for the target audience. Avoid slang and be careful with colloquialisms — it is acceptable to reassure and connect in conversational tone but stay professional.

Literal translations should be avoided — they often fail to get the intended meaning across and sound unnatural. Split or merge sentences if needed.

Why this matters: Bureaucratic register damages outcomes across spheres. In marketing copy it kills conversion. In patient-facing medical materials it reduces comprehension and compliance. In software UI it creates friction. In consumer-facing legal documents (terms of service, privacy notices) regulators increasingly demand plain language.

Tone of voice and form of address¶

Abbreviations¶

Some words may need to be abbreviated due to space, especially in UI:

• Use a dot after the abbreviated term, similar to English.
• Abbreviations are not used in plural form in Sindhi.

Acronyms¶

Acronyms are words made up of initial letters of major parts of a compound term (DNS, HTML).

• Plural forms of acronyms are not used in Sindhi (Devanagari).
• Loan words are used in the masculine form.
• If an English acronym is used throughout a text, the first occurrence follows: acronym (full form). Subsequent occurrences use acronym only.
• Some English acronyms are kept in English due to wide acceptance: UNESCO, USA.

Example for loan words in masculine form: गैर मुल्कनन लफ़्ज़नन, जह्ड़ोक USB, लहइ इस्तइमहल थथदां ड़ मुजकर जजन्स आ्े।

Capitalization¶

Capitalization does not apply to Sindhi (Devanagari). A single form is used for each letter.

Punctuation¶

English punctuation rules and symbols are followed in Sindhi (Devanagari), except for the full stop, which is a standing line (।) instead of a dot.

Bulleted lists¶

When text following the bullet is a complete sentence, end with full stop (।):

Dashes and hyphens¶

Hyphen¶

The hyphen (-) is the shortest dash. Use for:

• Compound words
• Breaking words at line end
• Page numbers, dates, number intervals
• Establishing relationships between two concepts

En dash¶

The en dash (–) is obtained with Alt+0150 or Ctrl+- (numeric keypad). Used in arithmetic operations and negative numbers.

Em dash¶

The em dash (—) is obtained with Alt+0151 or Ctrl+Alt+- (numeric keypad). Avoid extensive use — replace with commas or parentheses, or start a new sentence. Change the sentence (remove the em dash) so it sounds natural in Sindhi (Devanagari).

Quotation marks¶

Use straight quotation marks in Sindhi (Devanagari):

• Cite exact words spoken by someone.
• Single or double quotation marks for idiomatic or unfamiliar expressions.
• Quotation marks for UI (user interface) items.

Usage of Nuqta¶

The Nuqta is a diacritic used in Devanagari script to describe modern sounds borrowed from languages not native to Devanagari — mainly Urdu (Arabic, Farsi) and English. It is essentially a dot used in some letters: क़, ज़, ग़, फ़, ज़.

Why this matters: Correct Nuqta placement matters across spheres. In legal translation misplaced Nuqta can change a defined term or name. In medical translation drug names borrowed from English/Arabic require accurate Nuqta. In brand and product names Nuqta affects pronunciation and recognition.

Numbers, symbols, and non-breaking spaces¶

Numbers¶

In documentation, numbers from one to ten are spelled out; other numbers use numerals.

Non-breaking space¶

Use a non-breaking space between the numeral and the symbol or unit of measure that goes with it.

Examples: 30 cm, 1 h, 75 %, 20 °C.

Ampersand¶

Always translate “&” as “ऐां” when in running text. Don’t keep “&” in target unless it’s part of a tag, placeholder, shortcut, or other code.

Date¶

Date format: DD/MM/YYYY

Example: 26/03/2025

When only month and year are included (e.g., “March 2025”), use the format Month Year:

Inclusive language¶

Microsoft technology reaches every part of the globe — all communications should be inclusive and diverse.

General guidelines:

• Comply with local language laws.
• Use plain language.
• Be mindful when referring to various parts of the world.
• In text and images, represent diverse perspectives and circumstances.
• Don’t generalize or stereotype people by region, culture, age, or gender — not even with positive stereotypes.
• Don’t use profane or derogatory terms.
• Don’t use slang that could be cultural appropriation.
• Don’t use terms with unconscious racial bias or terms tied to military, political, or controversial historical events.

Avoid gender bias¶

Use gender-neutral alternatives. Avoid compounds containing gender-specific terms (मदम, औरत).

For generalizations, use plural noun forms (महण्ूां, शख़्सी, शहथगदम).

Don’t use gendered pronouns (्ुअ, ्ुनजो, ्ू, ्ुनखे) in generic references. Instead:

• Rewrite using second or third person (तव्हां or ह्क).
• Rewrite to use plural noun and pronoun.
• Use articles instead of pronouns (e.g., दस्तहवेज़ instead of ्ुनजो दस्तहवेज़).
• Refer to a person’s role (पढ़ांदड़, बी्हररयल महण्ू, ग्रह्क, क्लहइांट).
• Use महण्ू or शख़्स.

When writing about a real person, use their preferred pronouns (्ू, ्ुअ, they, etc.). It’s OK to use gendered pronouns when writing about real people who use them.

Accessibility¶

Focus on people, not disabilities. Don’t use words that imply pity (जो महररयल, दखु स्ांदड़). Don’t mention a disability unless relevant.

Use generic verbs that apply to all input methods. Keep paragraphs short — aim for one verb per sentence. Spell out words like ऐां, प्लस, बहबत — screen readers can misread &, +, ~.

Applications, products, and features¶

Trademarked application/product names are not translatable. Verify translatability before translating any application, product, or feature name.

Version numbers¶

Version numbers always contain a period.

Trademarks¶

Trademarked names and “Microsoft Corporation” should not be localized unless local laws require translation and an approved translated form exists. Refer to Microsoft Trademarks.

Reference materials: authoritative Sindhi (Devanagari) sources¶

Normative references (adhere to these):

1. Sindhi Dictionary by Dr Kanhaiyalal Lekhwani.
2. ह्दां ी-ससधां ी-वह्वां हरर नांढो कोशु, Central Hindi Directorate, Govt. of India.
3. बि भहषह शब्दकोष ससधां ी, Central Hindi Directorate, Govt. of India.

If multiple spellings are acceptable, opt for the spelling adopted in Microsoft approved terminology and the normative dictionaries above. Use consistent spelling across all translations.

Informative references:

1. Sindhi English Dictionary
2. Share word Sindhi Meaning — Devanagari & Roman translation Sindhi Dictionary

FAQ¶

What’s the modern register for Sindhi (Devanagari) translation?¶

Warm and relaxed, crisp and clear, ready to help. Sindhi for Microsoft privacy and consumer-facing content uses formal address pronoun तव्हां. Don’t translate literally — split or merge sentences as needed to make text natural.

How does punctuation differ from English in Sindhi (Devanagari)?¶

English punctuation rules and symbols are followed, EXCEPT the full stop, which uses a standing line (।) instead of a dot. Use standard hyphens, en dashes, em dashes (avoid em dashes — use commas or split sentences). Use straight quotation marks for cited speech, UI items, and idiomatic expressions.

How should I handle gender-neutrality in Sindhi (Devanagari)?¶

Use gender-neutral nouns where they exist: उस्तहद (teacher), िॉक्टर (doctor), वकील (lawyer) serve both genders without mdm/मुज़कर or महदी/ज़हल prefixes. Prefer plural noun forms (महण्ूां, शख़्सी, शहथगदम) for generalizations. Avoid gendered pronouns (्ुअ, ्ुनजो, ्ू, ्ुनखे) in generic references — rewrite to second person (तव्हां) or plural.

What is the Nuqta and when is it used?¶

The Nuqta is a diacritic dot used in Devanagari to represent sounds borrowed from Urdu (Arabic, Farsi) and English. Used in letters क़, ज़, ग़, फ़, ज़. Critical for accurate spelling of loan words and foreign names.

How should I format numbers, dates, and units in Sindhi (Devanagari)?¶

Numbers 1–10 spelled out in documentation; 11+ as numerals. Date format DD/MM/YYYY (e.g., 26/03/2025); when month and year only, use Month Year. Use non-breaking space between numerals and units/symbols (30 cm, 1 h, 75 %, 20 °C).

Sources¶

• Microsoft Localization Style Guide for Sindhi (Devanagari)
• Microsoft Globalization Style Guides hub
• Sindhi English Dictionary