Dialogues

Use reticências (...) to indicate a sizable pause or when a character abruptly changes subject. Avoid using reticências to indicate the continuation of split lines, as the context will typically make this clear. However, you may use them to indicate that the dialogue is being started mid-sentence.

Example:

Fulano: Isso parece… interessante.

Beltrano: …e eu tava explicando pra ele… Peraí, você vai comer isso?

When space is limited, punctuation can serve as emotional shorthand and convey tone in dialogue.

Consider the difference in tone between:

Oi Neutral, texting

Oi. Neutral, possibly terse in texting

Oi… Uncertain, possibly shy or awkward

Oi? Uncertain, possibly confused

Oi! Enthusiastic

Oiii! Overly enthusiastic

Oi…? Very suspicious

Oi?! Possibly very confused

Don’t underestimate the effect punctuation can have in dialogue when it comes to portraying characters. Be sure to first adhere to proper grammar rules, and then feel free to let it become a part of the storytelling. That being said, take care not to use overly complex punctuation for ease of reading or to overuse punctuation. Sometimes, you may just have to reorder the sentence to convey the idea.

To indicate sound effect or a contained action from the speakers themselves, use brackets or parentheses and gerúndio or an adjective (remember to make sure of the character gender for the proper inflection).

Example:

(Rindo) Ah, mas você é uma figura mesmo!

(Brava) Por que tá me chamando de figura?

To indicate stage directions or continuous action for the speaker, use continuous present tense, but first determine whether or not the scene already presents this movement to avoid redundancy.

Example:

(Andando confiante) Vamos! Não quero chegar atrasado.

(Tentando acompanhar) Espera, a gente não quer chegar lá todo suado!

*Try to be descriptive but concise when indicating a sound effect or music, prioritizing the mood it evokes. You may need to reach out for more context, not least of all to see what is already clear from the design itself.

For lines of narration, use presente do indicativo, unless referring to something in the past, since players are experiencing the story as it happens. If possible, avoid using brackets on either side, but confirm with the devs in case it is related to coding.

Example:

Um monstro surge das profundezas obsidianas. Mindy não recua, com as mãos no arpão. Ela se lembra de quando a criatura atacou a vila pela primeira vez, e está determinada a não deixar isso acontece outra vez.

When it comes to rendering filler words or interjections in dialogue, first try to pinpoint the emotion or context to decide what would be the most appropriate. Many Chinese interjections like 嗯 or 哇 are ambiguous and do not work directly translated into Portuguese.

It is important to focus on what the text is trying to convey and find how that would be done in Brazilian Portuguese.

Below is a list of interjections to consider. Please be aware:

• Interjections are usually followed by an exclamation mark.

• Some may inflect to gênero e número.

• Avoid the ones that are too local and ones that evidently religious (Jesus!, Oxalá!) unless the setting requires.

Advertência

Cuidado! Olha! Atenção! Se liga!

Olha lá! Pera lá! Calma! Devagar!

Agradecimento

Obrigado! Obrigada! Valeu! Agradeço!

Chamamento

Opa! Alô! Ei! Hei!

Psiu! Ôu! Olá! Psit!

Celebração

Muito bem! Aêe! Isso! Boa!

Mandou bem! Beleza! Uhul! Viva!

Dor

Ai! Ui! Ah! Uff!

Silêncio

Psss! Shhh! Xiu! Silêncio!

Cale-se! Quieto! Cala a boca! Fecha a matraca!

Surpresa

Nossa! Puxa! Oxe! Caramba!

Uau! Ui! Eita! Opa!