Translation Team: Please stop doing this...

[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.

[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.

[Gunspec]

Honestly, using greetings is probably the worst example you could choose. There's really no good way to translate greetings. And that's true of a lot of common phrases in languages.

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.

[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.

[SummerSkye]

Anyroad....

[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.

[KisaiTenshi]

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.

I think people are confused. At best, what we've seen in FFXIV is shakespeare level of obsolete English. Not old English, or even middle English. Most people who speak and read english can't read "old english" (Angelo Saxon) whatsoever. Lord of the Rings may have been inspired by what it sounds like, but it certainly isn't any dialect of English that people would speak.

In the context of FFXIV, anyone speaking "weird" is how an accent or verbal tic (-meow) is just flavor text and the average person who knows English won't pretend to know all the words being said, but they sound close enough to something we do know, so the mind fills in the blanks.

[Chasely]

Yeah. Urianger's speech is just painful to wade through. He could say the exact same thing in 1/10th the time if he just spoke like a normal person. He's so long-winded. his text just goes on and on and on and on... It's like he doesn't know when to shut up and just let things die; leave well-enough alone, you know? Just when you think he's done he goes on some more; like he just doesn't get that we're tired of hearing his face hole.

Also, must-needs is redundant.