While watching shows that are subbed to Arabic on television, I noticed that the subs are very different than the ones on Viki. I’m sure most Arabic translators don’t notice this, since they are flaunt and would prefer to watch using English subs. Even I did not notice that until recently when I started watching should professionally subbed to Arabic on TV with my mom.
The problem is the styling. I would like to suggest 1 point that would improve the Arabic subs tremendously. If you want to argue or give another point please do so, so that we reach a consistent guidelines for Arabic subs.
My suggestion is:
The use of parentheses/round brackets () to include names such as character name, country name, and place name, magazine name, company name, etc. in professional subtitling. Professional subs use those to clearly indicate the names since Arabic doesn’t have capitalized letters to indicate what is a name and what is not. Moreover, when the names are encapsulated in parentheses/round brackets, viewers tend to be fast to read the subs cause they know that it is a name, not a dialogue.
Example:
أنا نان هي وهي سون اوك
Viewers would take a lot of time to differentiate the name from the dialogue. You don’t know if the character’s name is
“هي سون اوك”
or just
“سون اوك”
Therefore, using the parentheses/round brackets, it will make the process of reading an understanding much faster.
أنا (نان هي) وهي (سون اوك)
Example:
Hello! It’s the editorial team from Happy Life.
مرحباً! أنا من فريق التحرير لـ(هابي لايف).
Example:
Seisim Medical Center
مركز (سايشيم) الطبي
Many volunteers have excellent Arabic, sometimes much better than me even. However, the problem that plagues Viki is the use of English styling in Arabic subs. They don’t work since it is a different language. Viewers need the parentheses/round brackets to distinguish names from dialogue. It is one of the rules to translate to Arabic actually: https://lmbah.com/literature/أسس-الترجمة-السليمة-والأخطاء-الشائعة/#i-18
I hope all of would participate and see if we convert to this. I have been using it lately and even my mom and other relatives have told me it is easier to read that way than the other subs at Viki. I really hope we would use it together to make the subs more professional and consistent throughout Viki. This would make it easier for users to read and understand the subs.
If someone wants an example watch MBC MAX or https://www.viki.com/tv/35869c-secret-mother
I have translated it to Arabic and used the ( ).
Update: I don’t recommend " " cause Viki uses it when characters quote each other (Example: to her, it’s just “I’m sure not much happened.”) or there is an emphasis on the word (Example: they call it a “miracle.”). Therefore, using ( ) would be the best.
if there is no talk, but in the presence of words it is clear, I always try to make the name of the character be as clear as possible when translating. But also the brackets are a good thing or something that distinguishes them, but if the site adds a feature that helps it be better as color or darker than the rest of the speech in the section is much better as a personal opinion. Thank you for putting this issue and I hope that Viki respond to it as soon as possible 
