Garlemald - Language

[Anonymoose]

In fact, the ability to speak the beast tribe languages was the Garlean's original excuse for hunting down Echo users - to them, that made them a beastman as well, and thus a Primal-summoning monster to be destroyed.

This citation has always bothered me a bit; the phrasing is wonky as literally translated as it was.

You see, in the eyes of the Empire, the ability to communicate with the beast tribes makes you one of them.

"If you speak a beastman tongue, then the Empire thinks you're a beastman!" ...

The word used was 蛮族 (savage tribe). The distinction seems moot at first, but 蛮族 is the real-world word for "barbarian". That's the the play on words: in Eorzea, these tribal, uncivilized ... primal ... "barbarians" actually are beast-men.

The spirit of the claim seems to have been merely that the Garleans view the beast tribes as savages and anyone who would trade with them, speak their tongue, associate with them at all, must necessarily be swept under the umbrella of the enemies of order, for they are also savages. The journal says merely that "they, too, will be branded by the Empire as heathens".

EDIT: OHEY

蛮族どもの英雄め……。

Literally: "Hero of the barbarians..."
Localized: "Mark me, savior of the savages."