An Introduction to Dragonspeak

[Roris]

Flair is good when it's done well or fittingly, like most of the game's translation actually, but here a lot of text and clarity was to thrown out in favor of even more epic maymays, gotta get those in at every chance.

I don't think conciseness was the right choice to localize the dragon's language, or maybe it would be if the conciseness wasn't overdone and ended up being way too concise especially in key story cutscenes.

I actually like the guy in the JP version while in the EN he's a maymay spouting dragon who just takes away the Blessing because why not, not like it really did much though and we only got that in 2.0 with the crystals and was only really used in Praetorium mechanics wise, and it's actually separate from the Echo we already had before apparently.

[Nialle]

Maybe I'm a savant or something, but all the stuff people are claiming wasn't conveyed in the English dialogue I picked up on just fine.
The translation of this game is one of the best I've read -- full of character and skilled use of words. People who want a dry, literal translation are not going to get their way, because the style of FFXIV's localization team is, in my opinion, one of it's shining points and I doubt I'm alone in thinking so.

Why people are pissed that there is some vagueness in Mid's dialogue baffle me -- acting as if all these plot points are not going to be fully explained and restated later on in the story as well -- everything is going to be made clear when the time is necessary for it to be.

[Balipu]

First things first: thank you for the lore chunks about dragonspeak in ARR.

Moving on...



With respect, this is just unprofessional.

I don't think it is and I have a degree in linguistics and am currently working as a translator for a company. How about you?

That's a failing on your part.

What? That I understood everything in the english version and didn't need the word to word japanese to reveal some hidden meaning? I don't think it is I who failed.

Maybe I'm a savant or something, but all the stuff people are claiming wasn't conveyed in the English dialogue I picked up on just fine.

Me too. High five!

[Zetsumei_Tsunarashi]

Don't forget guys there is plot summary in the completed quest log.



I feel like reading this text helps to bridge the gap a little more, but it could still probably be worded better. In the future, where things like dragonspeak might get in the way of our understanding of plot points, it might be a good idea to be more straightforward when writing the quest summary text.

[Zohar_Lahar]

Just to include several pop culture references is not. The fact that the Ishigardians are preparing to "Sin again" being the reason for the new surge is an important point. The current translation makes it seem that the Dragons are just being vindictive.

Since he never elaborates on Ishgard's sins, it seems vindictive no matter the version.

[Jacost]

I see 4 major points missed out:

1. Ishgard is planning to sin again. This is the big one, really; changing the shout out to something like "We act, that history not repeat." That's suitably vague.
2. Hydaelin wants us to meet Middy and receive yet another blessing. Or to be more precise, it's by her will that this entire scenario is unfolding. I don't think it's that important, really.
3. Middy sealed the blessing to test us. In the English version, he seems to have done it for no reason; there is some subtext there, but it's too subtle for most to pick up on. An actual worded hint would have made it less of an issue.
4. Middy believes that the war can't be stopped, but it's impact could be lessened. It's been mentioned that omitting this makes the situation more tense, and I find myself agreeing. The odds are genuinely against us here, and that makes it more exciting.

Really, the only part that's that important is the first one. I find it likely that it will be elaborated on later, hopefully without it feeling like it was pulled out of nowhere.

[Intaki]

I'm still not entirely sure how Ishgard doing things a big dragon doesn't like is a surprise that we need spelled out for us.

[Jacost]

It implies that there's something specific that Ishgard has in mind.

[Intaki]

It implies that there's something specific that Ishgard has in mind.

Does it though? Is that specifically what the Japanese implies, or is Middy essentially just saying, "We must punish Ishgard for having sinned before; what's more they shall sin again!" Is it foreshadowing or just him trying to give emphasis to his statement?

[Andaeron]

I wonder, how many people arguing either side of this actually speak both English and Japanese at the native, collegiate level. I know I sure as hell don't, but Ferne and his team damn well do. And reading a translation of the original Japanese doesn't seem to give me any new information. And honestly, there are parts of the English translation that I would have translated grammatically different (my reading is better than my speaking/listening). "They want to sin again-" I would have gone with "Those people shall sin again." Volitional is a tricky case.

We can talk about that one too...
Neither of these mention that Hydaelyn has a reason for your meeting with Midgardsormr, merely that you won the fight due to the echo. With the English text, it sounds more as though the echo is the only reason you've won, but that's more text nuance.

"By Her [Hydaelyn's] gift [of the echo] you have earned a moment of reprieve [from this battle/me killing and eating you/the entire Dravanian war/etc...]. Speak, mortal, and I shall listen [since said gift has earned you the opportunity on account of not being dead]." Did I miss anything from the translation there? I can also parse any other part that is unclear to anyone.

It seems that the biggest problem is that in addition to the English being much more economical and nuanced, is that at times, something is said in one language that is said before or after in another. Also, the Japanese is SO repetitive. The translation that everyone is going by seriously reads like the "Speed Racer dub" version. Based on what Ferne said, they probably took a VERY similar translation as a first draft and pared it down by combining concepts and omitting useless repetition. So not only do you not get a line by line rendering, you also end up with nearly every word and phrase in English doing multiple things AND referencing back and forth in the dialogue.