Whacky terminology

[Alhanelem]

I think SE's been getting carried away with this lately. Why do we have "bivouacs" when we can just have "camps" ? Reives? I had to look this up to find out it's a variant on the word "Reave" and means "to rob or plunder." Is that what we're doing when we're whacking tree roots and hornet's nests?

Not to mention all the weird names for things in the past, like Pankration and Brenner.

[Edyth]

At least something is expanding our vocabulary these days. Text messages and Facebook definitely aren't. Still, Bivouac is a pain to spell and Prankration and Brenner sound stupid.

[Kojo]

I want my Mog House to be referred to as a Hizzie or a Hizzouse. This is very inconvenient for me, as I prefer to use words that don't exist to say things that mean nothing at all.

[Caketime]

Really, there's a problem with the word Bivouac? Of all the things to complain about, this? Wow.

[Merton9999]

I actually like the new terms. In fact, part of the excitement of new areas, systems and jobs for me is seeing the terms they're going to use.

That's the personal enjoyment side. From a practical standpoint, terms need to stand out enough to differentiate from years of similar systems. If someone has played the expansion, the single word bivouac is immediately recognizable. If they used "camp" you might need to constantly clarify that you don't mean an experience party camp.

[Sapphire]

I have to agree, what is so crazy about Bivouac. Yeah I have trouble saying it, but I've known what one is for eons, and I HATE the outdoors. Camping/climbing etc? {No thanks.}

[Alhanelem]

Really, there's a problem with the word Bivouac? Of all the things to complain about, this? Wow.
This is a light hearted criticism, not a rage mode complaint. Take it easy, man.

[Kojo]

Know what word I hate? Ointment.

[Caketime]

This is a light hearted criticism, not a rage mode complaint. Take it easy, man.

Perhaps you misunderstood. I am indeed taking it easy, and did not intend to be abrasive.

Personally, I squealed audibly when I saw Bivouac. Keep it classy, SE.

[Umichi]

Perhaps you misunderstood. I am indeed taking it easy, and did not intend to be abrasive.

Personally, I squealed audibly when I saw Bivouac. Keep it classy, SE.

your previous comment fails to allow him to have the perception you have when you typed it. i mean after all he has to defend himself now.. considering he's been browsing ffxi communiy related forums for a long time now and all you can throw in his face practically anytime he posts is negative...


i would be defensive also

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Know what word I hate? Ointment.

"Emollient" it is!

[Limecat]

I think they should add a cooking synth for nutty gum and fruit spleggins.

[Belmonts]

I find it rather entertaining lol

Just like "Chapuli" that doesn't exist in English but it may come from "Chapulin" that is the nahuatl (Aztecs language) word for grasshopper. Is just a "n" of difference but I laugh every time I see it. I don't think they are trying to avoid any copyrights by just omitting a "n" but who knows lol. Maybe the aztecs will come to have their share if they add it lol. :p

[Alhanelem]

Perhaps you misunderstood. I am indeed taking it easy, and did not intend to be abrasive.

Personally, I squealed audibly when I saw Bivouac. Keep it classy, SE.

I'm used to abrasive responses, so I may have jumped the gun a bit.

I don't hate SE's creative use of language, it, like some of the other weird terms they've used, just provoked a reaction quizzical. More conventional terms would be more convenient, though I understand also that obscure terminology also adds flavor to the world.

[Asymptotic]

I find it rather entertaining lol

Just like "Chapuli" that doesn't exist in English but it may come from "Chapulin" that is the nahuatl (Aztecs language) word for grasshopper. Is just a "n" of difference but I laugh every time I see it. I don't think they are trying to avoid any copyrights by just omitting a "n" but who knows lol. Maybe the aztecs will come to have their share if they add it lol. :p

It's rather likely especially considering the names of the Naakual's weapons are almost all Nahuatl. It's sort of interesting, while Adoulin city seems to draw its influence from Dalmatia (specifically Dubrovnik, see image) the surrounding Region is clearly Central America!

http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//6/6e/800px-Dubrovnik_Croatia.jpg

My only complaint with "Pankration" is that the event is so far removed from the term's meaning.

[Karbuncle]

I'm used to abrasive responses, so I may have jumped the gun a bit.


Up yours buttface.

Just kidding.

On a realish note, I like a lot of the new terms, while Biovauc or WHATEVER is hard to spell right and I likely keep getting it wrong, But it does stick out... Which i think it was it was meant to do.

Plus, I love learning new words and people being shocked as FK when i know what they're talking about trying to sound smart because i learned it from video games.

[Metaking]

well the city itself is obviously colonial Spanish architecture, and if im not mistaken almost all the new super nms are native south American gods

[Kojo]

well the city itself is obviously colonial Spanish architecture, and if im not mistaken almost all the new super nms are native south American gods

So, are we expecting Quetzelcoatl?

[Glamdring]

Know what word I hate? Ointment.

"I need unguent" --Fargo

[Glamdring]

I'm rather entertained by some of their terms, mythology and all the related elements-including linguistics-is an interest of mine. I like seeing where they go for some of this stuff. Personally, I'm interested in seeing what they do with a making a mob like a Panangallan (or however it's spelled)

[Asymptotic]

So, are we expecting Quetzelcoatl?

There is a thunderbird in the art! ZAPDOS I CHOOSE YOU!

[Losie]

At least something is expanding our vocabulary these days. Text messages and Facebook definitely aren't. Still, Bivouac is a pain to spell and Prankration and Brenner sound stupid.

This is a good point - and, in fact, I find it funny that a localized Japanese-based game has vocabulary that immensely outpaces any US based game. Furthermore, I'm amazed that people take any issue with it.. It's a freakin' fantasy game people. Not every fantasy game is comprised of the same boring and unoriginal terminology - in fact, we've moved to a different continent full of people from another society, why is it so crazy to imagine they might have different or weird names? Does it really have to be boring and standardized? Geesh.

[Horadrim]

There is a thunderbird in the art! ZAPDOS I CHOOSE YOU!

I thought I was the only person who noticed that. I totally joked with my LS about it and no one even flinched.


This is a good point - and, in fact, I find it funny that a localized Japanese-based game has vocabulary that immensely outpaces any US based game. Furthermore, I'm amazed that people take any issue with it.. It's a freakin' fantasy game people. Not every fantasy game is comprised of the same boring and unoriginal terminology - in fact, we've moved to a different continent full of people from another society, why is it so crazy to imagine they might have different or weird names? Does it really have to be boring and standardized? Geesh.

Not really a good point, unless you're lazy and never read...

I'm a novelist in my free time, and I also read a lot of science journals, do research for myself and for work, and generally just enjoy learning. I feel like if a game has to be your source of vocabulary strengthening you're severely lacking in your efforts towards self improvement.

Granted, Square has always been amazing at introducing concepts, referencing lore and mythology, as well as using the most unorthodox words for things such that you learn something new anytime you look up their origins (I was sad when they added 'Memento Mori' though, because I hated that everyone would know what it meant, haha. Same effect when Flyleaf named their album that... -__- ).

Maybe I'm biased, though.

As a side note, if your text messages are shitty, your hand written letters would have been just as shitty. Stop dogging technology and the advancement of language. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoF2vdLxsVQ)

Why does everyone hate Prankration...?

[Imakun]

Beyond standard english, all the "whacky terminology" SE is using is a huge advantage for someone like me. I'm studying english at the university, along with german as a second language.
I also studied a bit of french and spanish in the past, with my native languange being italian.

You have no idea how much playing XI helped me, and I'm very happy that sometimes I have to open up my english dictionary (or google if it's some other language) to look something up.

[Kaisha]

as well as using the most unorthodox words for things such that you learn something new anytime you look up their origins
I wonder how many folks knew the salvage cells were all named after different types of clouds.

For a multi-lingual game, I wonder where the Japanese crew come up with some of these words, unless the localization groups for the other languages the game supports help brainstorm ideas, or use foreign words.

[Kincard]

Speaking of flavor text, I find it amusing they're running out of things to call the areas, personally- you notice that as a general rule, they try very hard not to repeat the same environment in the name of the area.

For example, both Jugner and Zitah are forests but one is called a Forest while the other is called Sanctuary, when it could've just as easily been called "Forest of Zi'tah". There are exceptions, of course, but they do try to avoid it.

Now they have to call places things like "Battlegrounds" and "Hunting Grounds".

[Asymptotic]

I mean, they seem to be doing okay (in that they can find a word if they really want to)

We're still missing

Yorcia Weald* and Kamihir Piedmont

*Woods

From zones currently named.

[Yinnyth]

SE has always had this sort of fetish for uniqueness. Ramuh, Ixion, Adrammelech. Ifrit, Belias, Phoenix. Odin, Diabolos, Fenrir. They borrow from every mythology they can find and create some legends of their own (Shantotto, Raogrimm, Cid). It may take some getting used to at first, but allowing camps to be called outposts, confluxes, and bivouacs helps to strengthen our minds where most video games do little more than indulge us in exactly what we want with no thought required (DIE PIGS DIE!!!).

[SpankWustler]

Piedmont

Foothills, more or less. Also, a region in Italy or a city in Alabama.

So, the zone will either be hilly, full of pizzas with delicious greasy-gooey centers, extraordinarily racist, or some combination of the three.