The many names of Louisoux

I have a question for localisation about the 'signature' of the Astral Era prophecy plaques. While there is a thread Here analysing the meat of the prophecy, I find the last bit about it being an extract from Louisoux' journal to be quite interesting. I know that there is a challenge in ensuring that the message stays true between language translations, I am interested in why there is a difference between languages treatement of that line

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...2c2d47bb6983c3
http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...f42a1ce640bb0b
http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...104d85a74e2e8e
http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...cd1397a6404cfe

(the below is the final line run through Google Translate)

From the journal of Louisoux Leveilleur = From the journal of Louisoux The Watchman
Extrait des Paroles de Louisoux le Preux = Extract of the word of Louisoux The Valliant
Aus Louisoux' Hinterlassenschaft = From Louisoux' legacy
賢人ルイゾワの遺文集より = From the collection of literary remains of sage Ruizowa

In the Enlglish version it calls him Louisoux Leveilleur which has a French ring to it and when translated it means 'the Watchman'. Is that supposed to be a surname? If not why not call him the watchman in English? Or even 'the Archon' or 'of the Circle of Knowing'. In french the suffix 'le Preux' means Valliant, Brave or Gallant, all of which apply to him, but are quite different from the meaning of 'The Watchman'. In German he doesn't seem to be given a title, it just mentions his written work as his legacy. And in Japanese he is called a 'Sage', also applicable but then again meaning more a man of wisdom, than gallant or a watchman. So why the difference in how he is called between the languages? Is there some meaning behind it all?

A good question.

"Hinterlassenschaft" is probably better translated as "memoirs" in this context, although that does not really change the meaning much, as his memoirs would be a part of his legacy.

I understand that all the language versions collaborate these days, although most of the text will have its origins in the English or Japanese versions. This makes the deviation even more interesting.

As a side note, I also recall seeing an elezen running around on the Aegis server in the month before the final save and his name was Louisoux Leveilleur. I can't help wondering if it was an SE staff member in disguise.
Does anyone happen to know when we first learnt of Louis' surname?

Leveilleur is his surname (if it was a title, it would be "Louisoix le Veilleur")
"Preux" is the word which's been chosen in french for "Archon", even if it doesnt mean the same thing (preux = vaillant, archon = ruler)

I get that the Loc. teams want to stylize and flavor the text for it to be more interesting..but when it deviates this much between the languages, sometimes I have to ask the same thing: why?

English seems the most embellished of the languages. Unfortunately this is not the first time I've witnessed this sort of thing in XIV. There was much debate about the text on that stupid Commemorative Coin, where people picked apart the English text, only to be debunked by a French translation which had a completely different meaning.

And the English version is also the only language to call Hyurs "Hyurs". The other three call them "hyuran". Lalafells, Roegadyns, Elezen don't have their race name changed, so why the change to Hyur? o_O

As far as the Louisoix texts, again, English is the only language that seems to try to peg "Leveilleur" as a sort of last name for him, instead of a title like "sage" or "valiant". If they'd written it as "Louisoix le Veilleur", it would follow the same pattern of "title" vs "last name". (veilleur could also mean vigilante; someone who keeps vigil)

tl;dr:
English, Y U NO KEEP IT SIMPLE

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Originally Posted by Catapult

A good question.

"Hinterlassenschaft" is probably better translated as "memoirs" in this context, although that does not really change the meaning much, as his memoirs would be a part of his legacy.

I understand that all the language versions collaborate these days, although most of the text will have its origins in the English or Japanese versions. This makes the deviation even more interesting.

As a side note, I also recall seeing an elezen running around on the Aegis server in the month before the final save and his name was Louisoux Leveilleur. I can't help wondering if it was an SE staff member in disguise.
Does anyone happen to know when we first learnt of Louis' surname?

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I remember seeing that guy too, just standing around at Camp Tranquil once. I figured they'd have a GM marker if it was a SE rep playing the char, but maybe they were incognito.

...and I still don't actually know how to pronounce his name :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vilhem

And the English version is also the only language to call Hyurs "Hyurs". The other three call them "hyuran". Lalafells, Roegadyns, Elezen don't have their race name changed, so why the change to Hyur? o_O

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If you think about it, use of the term "Hyuran" naturally sounds a lot like an adjective rather than a noun and could lead to confusion if not modified. Think Bosnian, German, Garlean, Gridanian, Limsan, Indonesian and Australian as both in-game and mundane examples of the -an use for describing nationality.
While I can't speak for French or Japanese, German at least doesn't have such an instinctive complication.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yelta_Sumasu

...and I still don't actually know how to pronounce his name :p

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It's said Louie-zwa