Differences between English and Japanese MSQ Dialogue (bit of a rant)

[Lersayil]

I'm so thankful this game isn't X-seed tier. My primary complaints extend to mostly non MSQ related dialog like Khloe minion and the fat cat mount descriptions.

... ok but, like ... the Fat Cat description is soo much better in english!

One of the few cases where I fully endorse the localization.

[Iscah]

-Lyna openly cursing how unfair and awful things are, translated as her saying "I'm fine", because apparently, English Lyna tries to be less open about her emotions instead of just throwing them at whoever is there to listen.

The thing is - she's not fine, she knows it, and you know it. She's not pretending to be fine. She *is* openly cursing how unfair and awful it is that she is still here and alive when so many aren't - that she is fine compared to them as she lies on the ground collapsed in pain.

It was clear and powerful to me.

-But my favourite was, without a doubt, Urianger or Estinien (can't remember which) saying a long sentence that was translated as "mhph...".

As if anything Urianger says could be condensed to a one-word response... :P

[Lersayil]

The thing is - she's not fine, she knows it, and you know it. She's not pretending to be fine. She *is* openly cursing how unfair and awful it is that she is still here and alive when so many aren't - that she is fine compared to them as she lies on the ground collapsed in pain.

It was clear and powerful to me.


As if anything Urianger says could be condensed to a one-word response... :P

True, they are mostly inconsequential nitpicks, but they are annoying and hard to explain when the change is clearly (?) not a localization decision, and only changes the tone / painted personality of a character.

Those two examples are good ones. Sure some might think its better this way, but why even change them?

[Krotoan]

As far as I know, they already use lip syncing features in all their cut scenes. It's not an advanced one, but it still does the job.

someday I want someone to actually lipread what we're saying when we "explain" things to NPC's.


Personally it seems like we go. "Pwawowaawohwiiwowowowowah" to pretty much everyone.

[Ilyrian]

I still find it fascinating that they use actual British English voice actors. As a UK native it just blows my mind - not that I'd have any issue with NA actors doing it but yeah, still a bit out of the ordinary for a AAA game.

Some of the dialogue, however, does seem a bit stilted but I kind of see the style they're going for - but some of it does read as 'took a Shakespeare class in school 20 years ago and I'm pretty sure this is how they still speak in the Old Country.'

Thancred is best (British posh) boy though.

[Granyala]

I pity a non-English speaker listening to Urianger say just about anything. Good f'ing luck.

Uriangers English is the best of them all! He always cracks me up.
And I am saying that as a German.

As for the differences: they exist between German and English as well and at times are quite pronounced.

[Nestama]

I still find it fascinating that they use actual British English voice actors. As a UK native it just blows my mind - not that I'd have any issue with NA actors doing it but yeah, still a bit out of the ordinary for a AAA game.

Some of the dialogue, however, does seem a bit stilted but I kind of see the style they're going for - but some of it does read as 'took a Shakespeare class in school 20 years ago and I'm pretty sure this is how they still speak in the Old Country.'

Thancred is best (British posh) boy though.

At least it's not to the point of H'aanit in Octopath and it's not as bad as some seem to make it. There are some words you normally wouldn't hear in every day life, but they're used sparingly. Especially when Urianger is not around.

True, they are mostly inconsequential nitpicks, but they are annoying and hard to explain when the change is clearly (?) not a localization decision, and only changes the tone / painted personality of a character.

Those two examples are good ones. Sure some might think its better this way, but why even change them?

Why not? What Lyna says in EN perfectly matches her body language. I may need you to specify what you mean by "clearly not localisation decisions," as everything localised is a localisation decision and has been given the okay by the higher ups (as mentioned in the link I posted in the previous page).

Also gotta remember that Koji Fox is co-leader of the world/lore developing team, as well as the English translation and localisation director.

[Celestene]

True but for some direct translates is much harder. It does not make sense to many americans so it is pretty close. I think they try hard to make it close as can make sense.

[Lersayil]

Why not? What Lyna says in EN perfectly matches her body language. I may need you to specify what you mean by "clearly not localisation decisions," as everything localised is a localisation decision and has been given the okay by the higher ups (as mentioned in the link I posted in the previous page).

Also gotta remember that Koji Fox is co-leader of the world/lore developing team, as well as the English translation and localisation director.

Ehr lets see... decisions made due to cultural differences, or incompatible terms that cannot be directly translated.

Personally I believe that the the cultural part is bollocks, but at least I can see their reason there.

What would be a reason to make a change like that Lyna line? It doesn't seem to serve a purpose other than changing it for changes sake.

[Halivel]

Well what would be a reason to remove a complete sentence and replace it with "Hmph" to begin with in case with Estinien? (Last MSQ quest, don't remember number for cut scene... second from the end at least).
Though, considering that not all scenes are originally Japanese (and we have no chances to know where is the original one) it would be correct to ask the question from two points:

Option 1: There was a sentence in original Japanese. Why, for the Twelve's sake, they removed it if there is zero reason for this?
Option 2: There was a "Hmph" in original English. Why, for the Twelve's sake, they wrote a whole sentence if there is zero reason for this?

And btw Estinien is not the only case when sentences are drastically shortened (or opposite) but it's the recent content so most fresh in mind. Do these differences are really important for MSQ? Not really, mostly these are minor differences (I will not call them mistranslations, because it's not so simple in case with FFXIV). But do they still confuse you or change the atmosphere of a scene in specific situations? Hell yes they do.