Translation Team: Please stop doing this...

[OMEGA_HACK]

Read "The Worm Oroboros" by E.R.Eddison it is a 'modern' high fantasy novel that utilizes that Old English.

[Mikhaill]

If the very simple language used in this game confuses any native English speaker, all I can say is put down the games and do your homework kids - there is nothing difficult used here.

The problem is a lot of modern day citizens do not use this type of language and so you have people scratching their heads a bit unless they understood a bit from their learnings in school. I sort of like it, but on the boat where they could lessen up a bit more because there are some that are actually a brain cruncher and has me playing The Divinci Code on it...They tend to be redundant with words such as "Mayhap" They use this word near in constants. I'd also like to point out that there is a lot of hostility on this thread because some people have opinions and telling others to "Go back to school" or "*Insert ignorant modern day slang*" and "This complaint makes me sad." and my favorite "Dumb down the game for casuals" I guess only hardcore's can understand this type of literature...what...is nothing but rude. Instead, suggest books that's easier for people to understand as some others have already done. As for the Limnsa people, I know no book with just Pirate's on the top of my head like that but here's one that has Pirate's slang here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Pirate-Pri.../dp/1599631962. So I'm hoping this helps a few people, you can also just type and google and look up some slang you may see. I personally found The ROG's guild easier to understand for some odd reason...My opinion: Could just tone it down a wee bit...that way this will not deter players from reading the story more...I'm mainly looking at the Lim's people because they are speaking Alien to me haha. This entire topic is completely subjective from one another and there is no need for people to bash each other this badly over it... Oh and I don't know how to source the link directly by the way, so just copy and paste it to your browser. *Edited* Nevermind it linked lol.

[Niwashi]

I love the slightly archaic and alliterative bits like what the OP complained about. (And I adore Urianger's poetry. It's always a delight to talk to him.) I also adore some of the specialty dialects like the goblins and slyphs. I'm sort of wavering on the rogues' brogue. It kind of threw me a little at first, but then as I got a little more used to it I started really liking that one too (and even the fact of taking a while to get used to it fits, as it would have been the same for my character while becoming a part of this shadowy underworld he hadn't previously known existed). For the Lominsan pirate-speak, well, I do like that they have such a dialect, though it could perhaps do with a bit of toning down in places, (not too much, as they should leave enough to keep it clear that there is an accent, but it doesn't really have to be indicated in the spellings of every word).

On the one hand, I do know that not everyone using the English version of the game is a native speaker of English. If someone learned it as a foreign language and is still struggling a bit even with basic standard dialog, then adding flavor to any of it could make it even harder. But on the other hand, I don't really like suggestions that those of us who do speak the language natively should lose out on being able to see it used with a bit of style and flavor. I don't want to be limited to the the English For Beginners version.

[Conradus]

The problem is a lot of modern day citizens do not use this type of language

And the answer is that Eorzorans are not modern day citizens and thus should not sound like ones.

[Mikhaill]

And the answer is that Eorzorans are not modern day citizens and thus should not sound like ones.

Okay then. So why do you expect people to understand something that's not commonly used ANYWHERE anymore? I don't even understand some responses in this topic since most of you people are coming off like intelligent English professors and look down to others who don't really understand some of text when those people are looking for a middle ground or a tone up.

[OMEGA_HACK]

I'd like to point out that writing something in a different dialect does not change the meaning of the words, it only changes the possible origin of the speaker.

I'd like tah point uut that writin' sumting in a dif'rent di'lect does not change da meanin' of da words, it only changes da possible or'gin of da speaka.

Its flavor, and the story still gets across the same, its just forcing the mind to apply an accent, much like Old English does. If you cannot read Old English then you should read more of it, or try writing bits of that format. Furthermore, isn't the reason in which Japanese dialogue is 'fluffed' as much as its a pretty literal language? I'm not a scholar in their language but I thought I read somewhere that their written language doesn't really have 'dialect' options. I could be completely wrong, its been a while since I looked in to it.

[Aeyis]

I'd like to point out that writing something in a different dialect does not change the meaning of the words, it only changes the possible origin of the speaker.

I'm no expert on the specifics of Japanese dialect, however:
It can change things a bit. In the ARR quest where you meet Nanamo in disguise she uses ''watakushi'' which implies she is noble. (despite the fairly low grade garment she is wearing) The dialect she uses kind of gives her away, as it's a ''formal/old''ish- dialect. Because of that its fairly obvious that it indeed is Nanamo in disguise.
The dialect she uses is very much a ''highborn'' dialect. Using a different dialect for her would portray her as a different person, I think.


While it doesnt influence the overarching story, it does influence the way you view the characters of the story. To me the characters are an important part of any story.

[Viridiana]

I'm no expert on the specifics of Japanese dialect, however:
It can change things a bit. In the ARR quest where you meet Nanamo in disguise she uses ''watakushi'' which implies she is noble. (despite the fairly low grade garment she is wearing) The dialect she uses kind of gives her away, as it's a ''formal/old''ish- dialect. Because of that its fairly obvious that it indeed is Nanamo in disguise.
The dialect she uses is very much a ''highborn'' dialect. Using a different dialect for her would portray her as a different person, I think.

That. . .rather clearly illustrates his point, no? Her dialect gave away her origin without changing any meaning.

[kyuven]

I'm no expert on the specifics of Japanese dialect, however:
It can change things a bit. In the ARR quest where you meet Nanamo in disguise she uses ''watakushi'' which implies she is noble. (despite the fairly low grade garment she is wearing) The dialect she uses kind of gives her away, as it's a ''formal/old''ish- dialect. Because of that its fairly obvious that it indeed is Nanamo in disguise.
The dialect she uses is very much a ''highborn'' dialect. Using a different dialect for her would portray her as a different person, I think.

"Watakushi" doesn't really imply "noble," more like "well-bred." A prominent merchant's daughter would use it as well (such as, say, Lolorito's female family members)
"Wareware" is what they use in "noble" situations, and it's kind of a "royal we", though not limited to nobles in the slightest (Merlwyb, Kan-E, and Raubahn all use it, and it's usually use to imply "we as a group/nation/whatever")
Japanese is very complicated, but everything used in-game with the exception of Urianger, Ramuh, etc. is pretty bog standard Japanese speech still used today. It's entirely possible to run into someone who speaks Japanese exactly like Nanamo in the real world, but night impossible to meet someone who speaks English like her.

Good point, but you just made me think of some funny examples. If the guy says "konichiwa" don't translate that as "Salutations and greetings, honored friend!" And I think that's the only real problem I have with the common speech in this game, sometimes a modern Japanese phrase is turned into old fashion fantasy English gibberish for no reason.

Sometimes, admittedly, it has to do with mouth flap matching. Kon ni chi wa has more mouth flaps that "hello" or "greetings..."
Though they don't always exert the effort to match mouth flaps, so this may be a digression.

[Aeyis]

It's entirely possible to run into someone who speaks Japanese exactly like Nanamo in the real world, but night impossible to meet someone who speaks English like her.

Yes, I kind of shortened the explanation there.
My original post had royal for ''wareware'' and noble for ''watakushi'' (so you could understand better what meaning I ment with noble: well-bred)
That's my point, in the english you would have to give a similar kind of vibe to the dialogue to give it the same implication.

I didnt want to make it too long as it seemed off-topic

That. . .rather clearly illustrates his point, no? Her dialect gave away her origin without changing any meaning.

The opposite I would think? Because her origin is kind of important to the meaning of the dialogue and plot.
He is correct about it pointing to origin. But incorrect in that it does in fact change meaning.


There are many ways to say the same thing.<-
Heh. There are many ways to say the same thing. <-
Heh. Whatever you might think, things can be said in one way or another and still mean the same thing. <-
But depending on how you phrase it, and how much fluff you add; they can mean (be interpreted) in entirely different ways.