The Echo and languages

[CyrilLucifer]

I've been curious about that dragon line for a while as well. It really came off like Alphinaud was experiencing something Echo-like from the dragon communication, but he's not sure how to describe it, having never really experienced it before.

But at the same time, even you with your Echo hears the Dragonspeak as its own language, rather than the words being Echo-translated for you into "common" like with the Ascian language. What I mean by this is that we can understand Lahabrea, his voice acting is in our common language when he's speaking in his language (source: CS after killing Igeyorhm) and the dragons speak, even to you, in a language that's definitely not "common."

So basically the dragons seem really odd, again, like the Echo can be turned off in some situations.

[SuperFlorinjin]

Pretty sure the Echo doesn't translate text, as there are a few side quests where you have to get things translated. Off the top of my head, The Rising (I know, I know) and the treasure hunt quest in between Horizon and Vesper Bay.

[Enkidoh]

It's hard to say, as like the Echo itself the xenoglossic ability of the Echo was covered in far greater detail in 1.0, only to be mostly handwaved away in ARR other than a brief mention by Minfilia (it should be noted that not even all Echo users even have access to it - some Echo users cannot understand other languages, Minfilia herself being one who got the 'short' straw when it came to Echo potency).

One thing that was clear in 1.0 about this however, was that it actually worked both ways, in that the Echo not only allowed the user (read: the player's character) to understand an unknown language in their native tongue when it was spoken to them, it allowed them to then communicate back in kind.

This was demonstrated in 1.0 for instance when the player finds they understand mooglespeak, a language generally regarded as unintelligible by the spoken races and exceptionally difficult to master (in fact, it was this that was the first hint for players that something very strange was going on), they actually speak back to the moogle who understands them perfectly, suggesting that to the moogle at least, they were speaking in mooglespeak in kind, where to the player they were speaking in their own tongue (*cough* English *cough cough*). Krhimm also later tells the player to tell a moogle in no uncertain terms what he felt of them:

Khrimm: "You understand what it's saying? Then tell that little runt something for me! Tell it I'm going to prove that the elementals aren't real!"

Then there is the humorous scene later on where Minfilia asks the player to translate Common Sylvaan after a group of crazed sylphs break into the Waking Sands and hold her hostage (they were actually desperate for help as the Garleans were storming Moonspore Grove at that point), which showed clearly that she doesn't possess xenoglossia (nor, does it seem, anyone else who was in the Waking Sands at that time, given she was desperately shouting for anyone to translate what they were saying!), and that the sylphs understand what the player tells them back:

(Minfilia is standing helpless in her office at the Waking Sands as sylphs fly around her)
Almxio: "Must listen, listen! Terrible tidings! Terrible tidings!"
Minfilia: "I..I apologize, my friends. I do not understand your words."
Minfilia: "Brothers! Sisters! Is there anyone here who can speak the language of the sylphs?!"
(The player then walks in)
Mifnilia: "<Insert player name here>! Would you be so kind as to use your gift and interpret for us what the sylphs are saying?"
Almxio: "This one seeks help! Seeks help from the woken ones!"
Zoxio: "This one's home! This one's podlings! All in danger! Danger!"
Diluxio: "Metal ones! Metal ones approach the Grove!"
Minfilia: "...Metal ones? But that would mean-are you quite certain <insert player name here>? Gods, the Empire is attacking their home!"

But that still leaves us back at the start: does the Echo translate text? Well, there is no conclusive proof to that effect, but remember back to the numerous times in ARR where the player is asked to 'recite arcane symbols and phrases' to activate or disable things like barriers or bridges? That seems like a lot like the Echo doing it's work on text to me...

[TinyRedLeaf]

I'd echo SuperFlorinjin (pun intended), and confirm that the Echo does not translate texts. If I recall correctly, back in Limsa Lominsa version 1.0, Y'shtola had to translate the ancient script on a tablet recovered from Seal Rock, as the arcanist guildmaster at the time could not read it. The player character was with them, and he/she also could not read it. And in Limsa Lominsa version 2.0, the player-character would retrieve a coded message from a group of pirates who had attempted to sabotage the Moraby Drydocks. He/she couldn't read the text either, and had to have it deciphered by Baderon Tenfingers.

[CyrilLucifer]

Interesting.

If Echo-translate lets us speak the languages, then that brings us back to why is Moenbryda unable to understand Nabriales?

Can verbal Echo-translate be turned off? Or, perhaps he simply, as mentioned, was not gifted with that particular part of it (which seems doubtful, considering Ascians seem to have much greater knowledge and proficiency in the Echo)?

[Cilia]

It's probably an unconscious function, auto-translating our spoken word into whatever language the listener speaks, or perhaps it doesn't do that and only impresses our meaning into their mind similarly to how Hraesvelgr is able to speak draconic but still be understood by Alphinaud and Estinien. If there is a way to turn off the auto-translate function, doubtless the Ascians know of it, and use their Black Speech more often than not since they're so overwhelmingly arrogant (Elidibus excepted).

You're probably thinking about this too hard.

[Enkidoh]

Interesting.

If Echo-translate lets us speak the languages, then that brings us back to why is Moenbryda unable to understand Nabriales?

Simple, Moenbryda doesn't have the Echo - none of the Archons do (Ferne confirmed this a while ago). Only Minfilia, the player and a couple of background npcs at the Waking Sands have the Echo (and most of this later group were killed when Livia stormed the place), but it's specific that the Sharalyans do not possess this gift (this is why none of them directly help you fight Primals, as the danger of them being tempered is far too great - I mean,

look what happened to Louisoix )

.

[CyrilLucifer]

snip

No, no that's not why I ask.

Assumption: Since you've given examples of the Echo translating your speech, if Nabriales has the Echo, his language should undergo Echo-translation.
Conclusion: Moenbryda should be able to understand him, because he directly speaks to her (therefore, resonating with her soul) on at least two occasions. I really do think Cilia has the right of it and in his arrogance he simply does not care for her to understand; perhaps, given his personality, he was actually hoping she would do exactly what she did and attack him.

[Eloah]

The echo isnt really used for the beast tribes as it may appear. While I cant speak for the majority of the "bad" beastmen, it has been shown on numerous occasions that most of the beast tribes understand the Eorzean language. This is shown when duringnthe beast tribe quests, barring Sahagin maybe, where each tribe communicates with several other NPC. Additionally the Black Mage quests has you communicating with several beastmen as well, though the dialogue indicates that the other NPCs involved have all communicated together. So the beastmen can speak the "common" tongue.

[Frederick22]

No, no that's not why I ask.

Assumption: Since you've given examples of the Echo translating your speech, if Nabriales has the Echo, his language should undergo Echo-translation.
Conclusion: Moenbryda should be able to understand him, because he directly speaks to her (therefore, resonating with her soul) on at least two occasions. I really do think Cilia has the right of it and in his arrogance he simply does not care for her to understand; perhaps, given his personality, he was actually hoping she would do exactly what she did and attack him.

The echo let us understand another language, but that doesnt mean we can talk that foreing language.

Another thing I would like to add is that about the echo, is that is kind hard for me to know when is your echo translating another language and when doesnt. A pefect example is the beast tribe quests, well simple by nocing and beacuse we are with some spoen races I would assume they were really talking the spoken lamguage and not their own. My quiention is, if we dont include the ascians, the black text is obious, when are we understanding a foreing language and when the beast tribe is actally speaking our language?