Curse

DerColonel · Jun 17, 2006, 12:22 PM // 12:22

Great thing this call for better localisation!
Hello Gaile,
helle there!
I'm using the German language version of GW.
What I noticed is, that the names of the boss-monsters (and a row of friendly NPCs as well) are often not translated but sometimes they are.
For a simple example Maak Frostfriend (found in Witmans Torheit) is not been translated to Maak Frostfreund.
Since it would be a lot work to list all of untranslated boss-monster and NPCs names and provide an suggestion for translation (a couple of guys from a german forum and me could do it) I want to question you, Gaile, first wether this translation of names would be for good to an avail.
Is there a chance it would be realesed in the coming updates?
Best regards

Gaile Gray · Jun 17, 2006, 07:33 PM // 19:33

This feedback is excellent. Coupled with the commentary in the other thread on your suggestions for improvements to English language text, we're looking forward to making positive changes. This also helps us as we prepare for the localization of C3 and future campaigns.

So thank you and keep the feedback coming!!

Overnite · Jun 18, 2006, 12:51 AM // 00:51

This game needs a 1337sp33k version and Bork Bork ! voiceovers.

Shyft the Pyro · Jun 18, 2006, 01:56 AM // 01:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overnite

This game needs a 1337sp33k version and Bork Bork ! voiceovers.

Seconded. Maybe we could even go as far as giving the 1337 their own Halls region?

DerColonel · Jun 18, 2006, 12:54 PM // 12:54

German GW:
I stumbled over this:
In English there are the items
"Decayed Orr Emblem(s)"
Currently these are mistranslated as "Rott-Orremblem(e)".
I suggest this: "Verrottetes Orr-Emblem" (sing.) and "Verrottete Orr-Embleme" (plural)
Greetings

Cjlr · Jun 18, 2006, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ristaron

I would like to see more Canadian spelling.

Seriously, having to consciously substitute the extra consonants and vowels detracts from things.

Quite... The colour of your armour, eh? I would be ecstatic if such a thing were to happen, but since in all likelihood the large majority of English-speaking players is American, implementing dialectic versions of the languages might be prohibitively costly or time-consuming. And why stop there? The same situation exists in probably most of the other languages. One would end up with British vs American vs Canadian vs Australian English, or Metropolitan vs Quebecois French, or, or, or, and so on.

Carth` · Jun 22, 2006, 02:46 AM // 02:46

I think you'll find there are two main groups. British English, and American. People in America use American English, naturally, and everywhere else uses what is for most intents and purposes British English. This includes Australia, New Zealand, and former colonies who use it as a second language like India. Canada uses a hybrid, they kept many British spellings, but due to the location many Americanisms appear. I think places like France and other European nations prefer to learn British spellings, although I was shocked when I went to a German school on an exchange programme to see how they were learning American English, and they didn't understand me using expressions like 'lift' for 'elevator', 'chips' for 'fries' and 'crisps' for 'chips' (had so much confusion over that one).

So don't presume that American English is so unanimous and learn a bit about places outside of your own country. It is ubiquitous yes, but not unanimous. Unless you have exact figures of how many using the English interface live in America, I don't think you can say for sure that the difference would be huge.

That's not to say these places don't have their own versions of English (such as Australian English), but the main differences are a few alternative words, which wouldn't make a difference to something like Guild Wars, and the occasional Americanization of some spellings, but nothing that probably wouldn't be true in Britain as well, for example 'organise' vs 'organize', nobody would care in Britain, they are pretty much interchangeable. Even within Britain there are regional dialects that are quite different in more than just accent.

American spellings are becoming common for new technology etc, but again, that is everywhere, for example 'program' instead of 'programme'. The main gripe, for which it wouldn't be hard to localize and add a British English option, is for things like 'armour', 'colour', 'grey'. Would it really be so hard to just replace every occurrence of words like these for a British English option?

Cassandra · Jul 17, 2006, 12:02 PM // 12:02

as a non-primary-English-speaking European gamer, I strongly support the idea of a British English GW.

Sir Mad · Jul 26, 2006, 01:14 AM // 01:14

It's not exactly the topic, however I'd like to point out - sorry about that - the low quality of the french translation of GW. I have the french version of the game - I switched to the english version (thanks ANET, for letting us choose the language btw) a few days after having purchased the game. The french translation (and the translation in other languages?) is not wrong scricto sensu, however it seems to have been translate by a 12 years old american boy fluent in french, using a dictionary to find a translation of the few words he didn't know. Sorry if it sounds rude, it's not meant to be.

I mean... the dialogs mean the same thing in fench and in english, however the french version uses the vocabulary of a 12 years old boy. There is also the problem of many words I never heard before (I have one example in mind: "winnowing" translated by "vannage" - I know winnow is not an usual word in english, but I doubt even 0.1% of the french population had heard the word "vannage" before). The way of translating the name of the weapons sounds also really weird. Adjectives such as "surrending" or "elbon" do not exist in french, so they had to find a side-way - "Firey longbow of fortitude" for example is translated in french by "longbow of fortitude (of fire)" - don't tell me it sounds right...

I don't think my post will help much - I'm only giving a few examples to illutrate this, but it's an oportunity to let you know. I don't know if the translation of Factions is better - I never went back to the french version - hopefully it is. Maybe players having played the game both in english and in german or italian or spanish could post if they have the same feeling with other languages...

Dark Tykane · Jul 26, 2006, 08:34 AM // 08:34

Just make sure you never make an American District-Espanol.
Nuf said from me.

Laibeus Lord · Jul 26, 2006, 09:17 AM // 09:17

I like to say about the use of "then" instead of "than" in many of the English texts in the game. It is confusing for non-Americans like us Filipinos

We understand that the American English sounds differently, so with that, we are not blaming or pointing at anyone here.

So to the issue, the case is about this:
used in a phrase:
"Other then" should be "other than". ^_^

Anyway, just a heads up, I'm still compiling my reports about it then I'll send it via email

makosi · Jul 26, 2006, 09:48 AM // 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassandra

as a non-primary-English-speaking European gamer, I strongly support the idea of a British English GW.

Yes, me too. For some strange reason it has always burned me to see "Favor" instead of "Favour". Meh, I'm a whine. I managed to convert a Dutch friend to saying "colour", favour" etc due do gentle, persistent nagging.

I also think that: "I have Bleeding on me" sounds a bit 'off' and those conditions could be changed to "I'm suffering from Bleeding/Disease/Deep Wound/Dazed" etc.

As for hexes, "I have Conjure Phantasm on me" sounds a bit more realistic but "I am hexed with Conjure Phantasm" sounds normal.

KurtTheBehemoth · Jul 26, 2006, 10:05 AM // 10:05

Wow, this thread is way over my head since I only speak English, and then as if it was a second language. I am pleased to see a thread like this all the same. Although, I would worry less about subtle translation errors and more about the content quality of the future chapters.

KurtTheBehemoth · Jul 26, 2006, 10:52 AM // 10:52

OMG, I think I stopped this post dead in its tracks. Or else no one is still awake.

Numa Pompilius · Jul 26, 2006, 12:23 PM // 12:23

Regarding localization: whatever you do, do NOT make Guildwars default to the settings implied by Windows locality preferences or, even worse, the IP number.

Nothing annoys me more than annoying localization like, say, Googles insistance that if your IP shows you're in, say, Sweden or Hungary, then the Google interface always defaults to Swedish or Hungarian.

Just have English the default, make other languages an option/preferences.
I know this is how it works now, please PLEASE don't change that in an attempt to have GW be 'smart' about localization!

EDIT: Other than that, it's like Kurt says: users in non-English speaking countries are normally quite used to bizarre localization, and will take minor language errors in their stride.

Tachyon · Jul 27, 2006, 12:49 AM // 00:49

If you're going to have English as the default, well for me it is, then please at least use the correct English spellings. A few bugbears of mine:-

Gladiator's/Bonetti's Defense should be Gladiator's/Bonetti's Defence!

The same for Expose Defenses!

People don't have Favor of the Gods, they have Favour!

There is no Strength of Honor! It is infact, Strength of Honour!

Please! I'm getting sick and tired of games claiming to be in English and then using some bastardised US spelling. Not major you may think, well it is to us over here in England who speak the language and gave it to the World.

Numa Pompilius · Jul 27, 2006, 01:55 AM // 01:55

I admit I was under the impression that the most common language spoken in most of the US was called 'English'.

However, the british may have given English to the world, but they're also the ones who mangle it the worst. Actual spoken British English, outside the studios of BBC, is a guttural pidgin-like collection of sounds, half of which, mercifully, are swallowed, not spoken. Even southerners don't do as much violence on the language as the British routinely do.

Lady Lozza · Jul 27, 2006, 03:02 AM // 03:02

That is all a matter of perspective, Numa. I understand the Brits better than I understand a lot of Yankies.

Gaile, in all honesty, the main problem I have with the English version is that the US has neglected a couple of verb forms and other constructions over the years in an effort to make the language "simpler". There are times that I have to read the quest log several times over to figure out what is actually going on.

Despite what some people have said, there are significant differences between "Microsoft" English and British English, and it isn't just limited to individual words.

AceeBlueEagle · Jul 27, 2006, 04:25 AM // 04:25

I'm happy with it as is... and this thread reminds me of a Monty Python skit:

Hungarian: I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
Clerk: Sorry?
Hungarian I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
Clerk: Uh, no, no, no. This is a tobacconist's.
Hungarian: Ah! I will not buy this *tobacconist's*, it is scratched.
Clerk: No, no, no, no. Tobacco...um...cigarettes (holds up a pack).
Hungarian: Ya! See-gar-ets! Ya! Uh...My hovercraft is full of eels.
Clerk: Sorry?
Hungarian: My hovercraft (pantomimes puffing a cigarette)...is full of eels
(pretends to strike a match).
Clerk: Ahh, matches!
Hungarian: Ya! Ya! Ya! Ya! Do you waaaaant...do you waaaaaant...to come
back to my place, bouncy bouncy?
Clerk: Here, I don't think you're using that thing right.
Hungarian: You great poof.
Clerk: That'll be six and six, please.
Hungarian: If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against
me?
I...I am no longer infected.
Clerk: Uh, may I, uh...(takes phrase book, flips through it)...Costs six
and six...ah, here we are. (speaks weird Hungarian-sounding
words)
Hungarian punches the clerk.

Meanwhile, a policeman (Graham Chapman) on a quiet street cups his ear as if
hearing a cry of distress. He sprints for many blocks and finally enters the
tobacconist's.

Cop: What's going on here then?
Hungarian: Ah. You have beautiful thighs.
Cop: (looks down at himself) WHAT?!?
Clerk: He hit me!
Hungarian: Drop your panties, Sir William; I cannot wait 'til lunchtime.
(points at clerk)
Cop: RIGHT!!! (drags Hungarian away by the arm)
Hungarian: (indignantly) My nipples explode with delight!

Asuka Raimei · Jul 28, 2006, 12:42 AM // 00:42

In French, when you are absent for 1 day the guild window show : "1jourS"
and when you are absent for more than one day it show "2joursS"

it should be "1 jour" and "2 jours"

Example :