Translation Team: Please stop doing this...

[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.

[Viridiana]

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.

Hello. Hi. 'Ello. Hey. Heya.

Notice how the meaning hasn't changed at all, only the origin? And to use your examples, the meaning didn't change until you added a whole additional clause.

[Conradus]

Hello. Hi. 'Ello. Hey. Heya.

Notice how the meaning hasn't changed at all, only the origin? And to use your examples, the meaning didn't change until you added a whole additional clause.

Of course the meaning's changed. Just not the primary meaning. A different sort of person says "Hello" than says "Heya". The meaning you convey says something about you, and that changes when you change which word you pick.