As a Non-Native English Speaker This Game is the Most Hellish Game I Have Ever Played

[Alxyzntlct]

I see this sort of complaint from time to time, and I don't really agree with it at all. Granted, I am a native English speaker but, to me, the language used in the game just reads as a stylistic choice. It's basically world building. Are there occasional words that I don't understand at first? Of course. Could they use simpler words? Sure, but that would make the game feel on one hand dumbed down and on the other hand too modern/normalized. People in this world speak a little differently because, well, it's a different world. If they spoke just like you or me it would feel less like a different setting to me.

I agree with this completely; I personally found the use of the English language to be incredibly refreshing and enjoyable! I'm so used to having such things "dumbed" down that it was surprising at first, and only delighted me more the further I got into the story.

[Genjuro]

I'll take Urianger compared to the pirate stuff that's coming out of Limsa any day. I had such a hard time trying to figure out what Baderon was trying to tell me I just gave up and went with the Quest objective and map.

[Herebedragons]

I'll take Urianger compared to the pirate stuff that's coming out of Limsa any day. I had such a hard time trying to figure out what Baderon was trying to tell me I just gave up and went with the Quest objective and map.

What? So I'm the only one who likes to try and read all those lines out loud without tripping over my own tongue? That makes me kinda sad. No, I'm not being sarcastic here.

[Jadedsins]

I don't understand the point of this thread. Are you upset that they use a style that is hard for an non native English speaker understand? And I must ask why are you upset about that? I'm kinda confused. You understand you are a non native English speaker. Should the game cater to Non native English speakers even though it is a style that adds nuance to the guy. So should we have to give up that because of people like you who might not understand it? Don't think so.

[Lanadra]

Its not just that, often times other characters using harsh words where they could have easily use simpler words. Like take quintessential as an example. Where you can easily say essential they are making them say quintessential, like what is the point of that rather then making it hard to understand.

For the record..

• quintessential
  adjective
  of or relating to the most perfect embodiment of something: the quintessential performance of the Brandenburg Concertos.
  
• essential
  adjective
  absolutely necessary; indispensable: Discipline is essential in an army.

While they are slightly similar, you cannot simply say 'why use quintessential, just use essential'.

Also, it's not 'academic english', it's as others have said, older English or as people sometimes like to say.. Shakespearean English. Understanding it doesn't have much to do with 'native or non-native' English speaker. I am not a native English speaker yet I don't have much issue with it myself.. some of Urianger's dialogue excepted.

In addition, as others have said, Urianger is supposed to be a pain in the ass to make sense of.. for us.. for others in the narrative. He is that way in all of the game's languages, Japanese included.

[ICountFrom0]

I can understand not liking the english translation, but there's also the Japanese, French, and German.

Though, I suspect urenge is just as ... uncomprehencible.

[Averax]

It dials down later on. People speak more plainly.

But you will never be rid of "must needs" and "pray"

[Payadopa]

But isn't this odd don't you think. I wanna play a game, if i wanted to study english with looking at the words i don't know the meaning of and try to learn them i would have just do that. Like i said i would have study english. And isn't it odd to say that in order to understand some of the words you need some what basic knowledge of Shakespeare. Last time i checked mmorpg didn't require knowledge of old, or Shakespeare english.

What even is this? I want some flavour in my story, not a picture book. If anything, learning new words is a good thing. Not everyone wants to talk like a caveman. Eloquence is not a crime.

Look a word up and then you know it for next time. It's not that hard. You are allowed to learn stuff outside of school.

[ICountFrom0]

Look, I'll give one more option.

If you google, with just the right keywords, well, there are OTHER languages... and other unofficial means.

[ZedxKayn]

Isn't Urianger speaking like this specifically a quirk of the English localization?

Outside of the lack of paragraphs this explains the other thing that made me feel weird reading the OP.

It's perfectly normal to know modern, informal slang when you're not a native speaker but not formal older English.

What even is this? I want some flavour in my story, not a picture book. If anything, learning new words is a good thing. Not everyone wants to talk like a caveman. Eloquence is not a crime.

Look a word up and then you know it for next time. It's not that hard. You are allowed to learn stuff outside of school.

Ngl this sounds awfully like you're implying that not understanding or speaking ye olde English is having the communicative capacities of a caveman.