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Guidelines / Non-Latin Characters

How to create an Artist

We will use the artists Yumi Arai and The Peanuts as reference.

Person

  • Real name: Transliterate (R)
    • Respect the field descriptions order: First name; middle name; last name; suffix (R)
      • Example: Yumi Arai
  • Common name: Transliterate (R)
    • Preferred order: First name; family name. (G)
      • Example: Yumi Arai
    • Some artists are usually referred to with their family name first. In such cases, you may want to choose the "inverted order" (by Western standards) and explain your choice in the editor notes. This situation should be fairly common for Korean and Chinese artists.
  • Artist alias
    • If the artist is most commonly known by an alias in non-Latin characters, it's a good idea to create this alias, even if it's not used for performances or releases in the SHS database.
      • Example: Unused alias 홍서범편 was added for Seobum Hong , otherwise Korean users would not find him in the SHS database.

Group

  • Common name: Transliterate (R)
    • Example: The Peanuts

Person & Group

  • Enter the common name, written in non-Latin characters, as an alias.
  • Select “Always mention the artist name(s) next to the performer name as clarification” on the artist page (R)

Choosing the artist aliases:

Person & Group:

  • Enter the names as written on the release. (R)
  • If the names are written using different alphabets/characters (e.g. Roman alphabet on the front cover, Japanese writing on the spine, both on the label...) choose the one that, in your opinion, stands out more. (G)
  • If the artist name in non-Latin characters ≠ common name in Latin characters, then
    • Either insert the translated name between square brackets [] (R)
    • Or insert the transliterated name between braces. {} (R)
  • 松任谷由実 is Yumi Matsutoya, not Yumi Arai; this alias should be entered as 松任谷由実 {Yumi Matsutoya}
  • If the Peanuts also performed as "The Butter", a release credited to ザ・バター should be entered as ザ・バター [The Butter].

Choosing titles (release, performance, work):

  • Enter the titles as written on the release. (R)
    • Titles not written in Roman alphabet should be transliterated*. (R)
    • If the titles are written using different alphabets/characters (e.g. Roman alphabet on the front cover, Japanese writing on the spine, both on the label...) choose the one that, in your opinion, stands out more. (G)
  • *Transliterations, alternative titles and names.
    • Transliterations should be enclosed between braces {} (R)
    • Exception: Some works/performances/releases are known to have an alternative title (written in Roman alphabet)
    • If possible, do prefer alternative titles over transliterations and enclose them between square brackets (G)
  • Examples of accepted alternative titles
    • Titles found on the original release, or on the “International version” of the same release, or on another release containing the same song... anything that is presumably approved by the artist(s).
  • Examples of non-accepted alternative titles
    • Titles found on fan sites, fansubs, unofficial translations, unofficial releases... anything that is presumably not authorized by the artist(s).
  • Examples:
    • A Japanese album is titled Song of Love; in Japan, it is sometimes referred to as 愛のうた => The title of the album can be safely entered as "Song of Love".
    • A Japanese album is titled 愛のうた; in the U.S.A. it is released as "Song of Love" => The title of the album (Japanese edition) should be entered as "愛のうた [Song of Love]".
    • A Japanese album is titled 愛のうた; there are no "alternative titles" => The title of the album should be entered as 愛のうた {Ai no uta}.

Labels:

Names in Latin alphabet (e.g. Sony, not ソニー nor ソニー {Sonī}). (R) @}

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