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

[Knahli]

JAPANESE MINFILIA:
"U-um, are you alright? If you feel tired, maybe you should rest..." (sounds concerned and hesitant, clumsy as to not knowing what to do to help or where the problem lies).

TRANSLATION:
"You have something on your mind. What is it?" (looks quite direct, calm, and business level. A sentence that Y'shtola or any other Scion could have said).

When exactly does that play, though? I would like to know the context of the scene.

I don't remember the exact scene, but if the Japanese script shows Minfilia with a certain type of personality at that point of the story, it means that's the personality she's supposed to have..

Then I can't really argue on this.

If memory serves, I believe the scene you two are talking about is:

...when everyone is discussing Y'shtola's leap into the pit. Ryne looks towards the WoL and notices they are quiet and possibly thinking about something. She asks after them and the WoL gets the prompt that lets them mention that they suspect Y'shtola may have used Flow again.

[Nestama]

Oooh, that scene! Okay! Given the few scenes that flash before the question is asked, it's safe to assume that Minfillia noticed the WoL was deep in thought. She also doesn't look "calm, direct, business level," but concerned/worried... or maybe it's curiosity?

Basically, to me it fits better that she would ask us what's on our minds over "are you alright?" Our character in the scene don't exactly look tired or unwell. Just sad (and deep in thought, as Minfillia noticed). The responses we give her there also match what she asks.

Now I'm curious what responses the WoL has on the JP client. Because if she asks if you're feeling unwell, the only two responses I can think the WoL would have are: "Nah I'm fine!" and "Maybe I could do with a lie down," but then that doesn't really match the scene at all and becomes completely irrelevant dialogue fluff between the WoL and Minfillia.

[Knahli]

Oooh, that scene! Okay! Given the few scenes that flash before the question is asked, it's safe to assume that Minfillia noticed the WoL was deep in thought. She also doesn't look "calm, direct, business level," but concerned/worried... or maybe it's curiosity?

Basically, to me it fits better that she would ask us what's on our minds over "are you alright?" Our character in the scene don't exactly look tired or unwell. Just sad (and deep in thought, as Minfillia noticed). The responses we give her there also match what she asks.

Now I'm curious what responses the WoL has on the JP client. Because if she asks if you're feeling unwell, the only two responses I can think the WoL would have are: "Nah I'm fine!" and "Maybe I could do with a lie down," but then that doesn't really match the scene at all and becomes completely irrelevant dialogue fluff between the WoL and Minfillia.

I don't mean to speak for Clover so she'd have to clarify herself if she comes back to see this, but I think by "look" she might have actually meant "sound" given the way the rest of her sentence reads. Maybe she said "look" because she is talking about how the text itself appears to read when compared against the audio and possibly Minfillia's body language.

In any case, my understanding of her argument here is that Minfillia's way of saying something reflects on her personality and even this admittedly subtle changes can mark quite a notable difference when it comes to both the perceived character development and our own interpretations of a character. So to use this example here, her comment about Minfillia's reply being "direct, calm and business level" likely means that the english text reflect's Minfillia's disposition in this situation toward being in a more relaxed and level-headed state and a character that is comfortable turning to the WoL, whom clearly appears troubled, and asking what's on their mind with a comparable stocisim to that of the older and more weathered Scions. On the other hand, the Japanese dialogue reflects her insecure and sheepish nature, more akin to a character that is both sincerely worried and perhaps a little afraid to talk - like she is still trying to find her place in the group as a character who currently feels troublesome and worthless.

I think if you settle on the fact that the 'basic message' still comes across just fine then you are only scratching the surface of the debate. Nuance is everything when it comes to storytelling and while you can argue that this sole example in itself amounts to very little - if anything - in the grand scheme of things, repeated instances of this can really alter the way a character comes across overall, at least in my opinion.

Though with all of that said, its a little frustrating to listen to myself argue for the consistency of Ryne's character of all people considering how dissatisfied I was with how she does a virtual 180 at a pivotal moment later on, but I digress.