2124 réponses à ce sujet

[Thal]

I'd be happy being a sloth demon.

[Izana]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

Nonononono. It must be demon themed!

1st place: Pride Demon (hey, you've earned it!)
2nd place: Desire Demon (you really wanted to be 1st.)
3rd place: Sloth Demon (the only reason you're not 1st is because you weren't trying. Really. )
4th place: Hunger Demon (hungry for another competition. Muse write moar!)
5th place: Rage Demon (WHY ME NOT FIRST PLACE, DAVID GAIDERRRRRR? *sets things on fire*)

22+ approval. But I wouldn't be fine to be 5th place, rage goes against my nature. Sloth is far more suitable.

[ColorMeSuprised]

Corker wrote...
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse ****. We don’t just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."

--James D. Nicoll

That's a great quote! And it not only fits the English language. Many languages are being polluted because they try too hard to fit in. It's pretty sad when it comes to Japanese. I will never understand why the Japanese youth is so bend on using more English. Green is in Japanese "midori" (緑) but instead of using that word, which I personally like very much, they switched to "gurin" (グリーン) which is how they spell "green" in Katakana. In my Japanese class we had many of these words and sometimes it was really difficult to even understand what they wanted to say. I like had to speak out all the words in Katakana and say them to myself many times until I understood what that should be.

It's feels like abusing both the English as well as the Japanese language...

I, with all my might, fight against the English siege in the German language. There are a few words I accept since they are more or less technical terms. Don't get me wrong, I love the English language - hands down, I absolutely worship the language - but I don't like it when a language loses it's origin.

tklivory wrote...

AmbraAlhambra wrote...

motomotogirl wrote...
First of all: Oh, that's a GERMAN word?! [smilie]../../../images/forum/emoticons/lol.png[/smilie]
Second of all:  Oh, there's a difference between "ü" and "u"?? [smilie]../../../images/forum/emoticons/lol.png[/smilie]
*swims around in her glorious American ignorance* xD

Seconded lol! [smilie]../../../images/forum/emoticons/whistling.png[/smilie]

All right, that's it, you're both grounded for willful neglect of the umlaut!  Into the corner with both of ye!

You made me laugh so hard!

I'm amazed. You did however notice that it's not a English word, didn't you? Since it doesn't really fit into the phonetic pattern of the English or latin language, IMO. Oh well, anyway.

And yes, there is a difference between these two, same as in French è, é or ê. (Oh how I disliked having to learn French, but at least I could rely on my Latin and English to translate it. Grammar was more like Latin though, but the vocabulary I took from English and changed the words so that they would look French. Like "ridicule" or "ridiculous". It's easy as soon as you know how to do it. Grammar however... and oh the tenses. Horror. I'm a lazy person...)

The Sarendoctrinator wrote...
At first, I thought they were making us read a childish book about talking animals, but then I enjoyed it and the history behind it. It sounds like you guys had to read a lot more than we did though.

Oh, I'm one of the few Americans here who knew that "über" is a German word, and that "ü" (which I have to copy and paste because it's not on my keyboard) and "u" are different? Cool. I only know a couple German words from TV/movies/music though, so I'm not sure how different those letters would sound.

I pondered a lot about how to explain the phonetic sound to you, however it's not really that easy. I guess, it would be good to explain it with "uber" since you pronouce it in English as we do in German with "über". The German "u" is more like the "u" in "hunger", whereas the "ü" is like the beginning of Geronimo, the "Ge" though you don't pronouce the "g" so much.

Ah, I suck. I'm sorry, that's the best I can do.

And yes, we had to read many, many (many, many....) books. One third was really crappy...

Finnian Valko wrote...

I got it:

5th place: Knight Commander
4th place: First Enchanter
3rd place: The Champion
2nd place: Warden Commander
1st place: The Arishok Basalit-an

I really want to become 1st place now.

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...
Nonononono. It must be demon themed!

1st place: Pride Demon (hey, you've earned it!)
2nd place: Desire Demon (you really wanted to be 1st.)
3rd place: Sloth Demon (the only reason you're not 1st is because you weren't trying. Really. )
4th place: Hunger Demon (hungry for another competition. Muse write moar!)
5th place: Rage Demon (WHY ME NOT FIRST PLACE, DAVID GAIDERRRRRR? *sets things on fire*)

Hm.... if you see this:



you just cannot say "no" to first place. I don't want to be run over by that guy.

Modifié par ColorMeSuprised, 29 janvier 2012 - 10:37 .

[Maria13]

motomotogirl wrote...

ColorMeSuprised wrote...

Death in Venice was one of the books I was lucky I could opt out. Though a friend of mine had to read it. She never fell faster asleep and after the exam she actually burnt the book.

I just laughed out loud so hard LOL Yes, it is a rough read, especially for a high schooler.  It was a rough read as an undergraduate.  It's not very long though.  More a novelette than anything.  Oh but you read it in the native German I'm sure.  I wonder at the differences.  

You guys have such long words.  

But I <3 "Death in Venice"! I saw the Visconti movie several times and then bought the novella (in English)...

Anyone do Spanish? Apart from Sres, we have áéíóú, wait for it, ü then ll rr and that pesky ñ!


Good luck, buena suerte, bonne chance, glück to everyone

Modifié par Maria13, 29 janvier 2012 - 10:49 .

[ColorMeSuprised]

Maria13 wrote...

But I <3 "Death in Venice"! I saw the Visconti movie several times and then bought the novella (in English)...

Anyone do Spanish? Apart from Sres, we have áéíóú, wait for it, ü then ll rr and that pesky ñ!


Good luck, buena suerte, bonne chance, glück to everyone

Ah yes, Spanish. I like that language. I never learned it and I cannot speak it, but I can read it (a little). There are a few words I have to look up, but Grammar is close to Latin and French and vocabulary is more like French and Italian. I have to guess most of the time but a friend of mine who learned Spanish gave me a few texts I should translate and she was suprised that I did pretty well. I remember, I had a problem with pájaro. Of course, these were easy texts. I could NEVER read a scientific essay with technical terms. NEVER. I think she gave me text from children's books.... Well, I at least knew what was going on even if I did not get all the details.

Oh! I just remember, Russia has six cases which wasn't that easy, too. In German there are four, in Latin five (whoever needed the freaking ablative, I will never know...). I had my share of problems with four cases, I didn't need more... In English there are only three, which I was very happy about. In French none.

HOWEVER the French tenses made more than up for that... in a bad way...

Modifié par ColorMeSuprised, 29 janvier 2012 - 12:11 .

[Maria13]

ColorMeSuprised wrote...

Maria13 wrote...

But I <3 "Death in Venice"! I saw the Visconti movie several times and then bought the novella (in English)...

Anyone do Spanish? Apart from Sres, we have áéíóú, wait for it, ü then ll rr and that pesky ñ!


Good luck, buena suerte, bonne chance, glück to everyone

Ah yes, Spanish. I like that language. I never learned it and I cannot speak it, but I can read it (a little). There are a few words I have to look up, but Grammar is close to Latin and French and vocabulary is more like French and Italian. I have to guess most of the time but a friend of mine who learned Spanish gave me a few texts I should translate and she was suprised that I did pretty well. I remember, I had a problem with pájaro. Of course, these were easy texts. I could NEVER read a scientific essay with technical terms. NEVER. I think she gave me text from books for the youth.... Well, I at least knew what was going on even if I did not get all the details.

Oh! I just remember, Russia has six cases which wasn't that easy, too. In German there are four, in Latin five (whoever needed the freaking ablative, I will never know...). I had my share of problems with four cases, I didn't need more... In English there are only three, which I was very happy about. In French none.

HOWEVER the French tenses made more than up for that... in a bad way...

Watch out though! Spanish tenses are worse than French... Almost directly lifted from Latin.

I did a little German in my time, passed the Mittelstüfe... But my vocab is poor...

[ColorMeSuprised]

Maria13 wrote...
Watch out though! Spanish tenses are worse than French... Almost directly lifted from Latin.

I did a little German in my time, passed the Mittelstüfe... But my vocab is poor...

Oh, I can hardly imagine that. Since French is my personal enemy... Like Meredith at the end.  Or more like the stature at the end of Drakensang (which are essentially the same, IMO...)

German must be difficult for foreigners to learn, I think. Since I grew up with that language I cannot relate but it's what I think....

[Grimgriz]

i know this is for da2 but i need some quick advice concerning dao the water jug /altar in the werewolf woods. i know ur suposed to fill it , put it on altar ,pray sip , dump then door opens i have done that first run as a human. Know that im playin an elf it isnt giving me the take a sip option is this a bug plz help i got arcane warrior yet know armor & i can smell the jugornaut (i know its misspelled sry).

[Grimgriz]

is there a way to ask offical da dudes questions i need help

[Grimgriz]

if u download the latest patch for dao doe it include all the others or do u need to download each 1 indavidually?

[Grimgriz]

i know this is for da2 but i need some quick advice concerning dao the water jug /altar in the werewolf woods. i know ur suposed to fill it , put it on altar ,pray sip , dump then door opens i have done that first run as a human. Know that im playin an elf it isnt giving me the take a sip option instead the altar boils the water is it racist to non dalvish elfs? lol any 1 else ever experience this or know how to fix it?

[ArkadyRose]

ColorMeSuprised wrote...
German must be difficult for foreigners to learn, I think. Since I grew up with that language I cannot relate but it's what I think....

I found it quite easy to pick up actually - easier than French at school! Mind you, both my French and German are rusty these days....

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Grimgriz wrote...

i know this is for da2 but i need some quick advice concerning dao the water jug /altar in the werewolf woods. i know ur suposed to fill it , put it on altar ,pray sip , dump then door opens i have done that first run as a human. Know that im playin an elf it isnt giving me the take a sip option instead the altar boils the water is it racist to non dalvish elfs? lol any 1 else ever experience this or know how to fix it?

Don't have an answer for you, sorry.

I suggest you try the technical issues section of the DA:O part of the forum instead of posting your question to multiple random threads.

Modifié par Shadow of Light Dragon, 29 janvier 2012 - 12:54 .

[ColorMeSuprised]

ArkadyRose wrote...

ColorMeSuprised wrote...
German must be difficult for foreigners to learn, I think. Since I grew up with that language I cannot relate but it's what I think....

I found it quite easy to pick up actually - easier than French at school! Mind you, both my French and German are rusty these days....

Haha, well French... I think my opinion about this language is now very well known. I think the reason I really dislike it is probably because i was forced to learn it. After I changed school they only taught French and Russian and not one language I have learned. And since they only taught Russian for people who had the language in their previous school, they put me in French classes.

I hate being forced to do something...

But it's great that German is not that bad for you. It's a beautiful language, even thought it's kind of harsh. Everything we say sounds like a threat someone once told me. When I was in America for three weeks I met quite a few that learned German. Mostly because of Rammstein, they said.

Modifié par ColorMeSuprised, 29 janvier 2012 - 01:12 .

[Searska]

To quote an fellow impatient mage, "Ug, the suspense is killing me!"

[Scrimgeour10]

I study german at uni, and spent a year in heidelberg last year. I love the languange, and in terms of grammar I actually enjoy it because when you learn the rules then it all makes a lot of sense. Never attempted any of the romance languages though.

[ArkadyRose]

If you want a language that makes "Good morning!" sound like a threat, try Sruptski (Serbo-Croatioan)! My late father-in-law was Serbian - whenever he started muttering to himself, it sounded like a string of really foul swearwords!

I dropped French when I turned 15, but took German to exam level. I picked up Scots Gaelic when I was 9, and I've started brushing up on it again recently. I taught myself enough Italian to give directions to tourists when I was working on London Underground, and started picking up Welsh when my elder two daughters lived there with my ex - Welsh has an almost identical grammar structure to Breton French, as they both have the same roots.

I've recently started teaching myself Russian as one of my youngest daughter's best riends at school is a little Russian girl. She thinks it's hysterically funny to correct my pronounciations.

[Scrimgeour10]

As a scot, I always feel bad for only knowing one or two words of gaelic. its a shame, but apart from in certain areas, it's never used anymore

[Nenalata]

I found Russian easy to pick up because I took an immersion program. I feel like that's a language that you kind of /need/ a program for--if I had to just to basic memorisation, I think it'd be a lot harder.

I like French--I heard someone say that French starts out hard and gets easy, while Spanish starts out easy and gets hard. My Spanish is limited to "The adults are cooking rice in the kitchen," but I bet it's true.

ColorMeSuprised wrote...

German must be difficult for foreigners to learn, I think. Since I grew up with that language I cannot relate but it's what I think....

I don't know any German (I wish I did) but I think it's pretty easy for English-speakers to pick up. We're a Germanic language, after all. I think it's a beautiful language, and I really really would love to learn it.

[Da len bellanar]

According to David Gaider's twitter page he has chosen his Top 5 and the overall winner and they will announce them sometime after monday.

[Finnian Valko]

Da len bellanar wrote...

According to David Gaider's twitter page he has chosen his Top 5 and the overall winner and they will announce them sometime after monday.

Does that imply that the overall winner is seperate from the top five somehow?

[BrennaCeDria]

Finnian Valko wrote...

Da len bellanar wrote...

According to David Gaider's twitter page he has chosen his Top 5 and the overall winner and they will announce them sometime after monday.

Does that imply that the overall winner is seperate from the top five somehow?

Not if they stick to the original "top five, and he picks his favorite from them". I think only the way things were changed was that he (and the writers) took on all the stories before narrowing it down, instead of him only accepting the top five to read.

[Will Shred]

Finnian Valko wrote...

Da len bellanar wrote...

According to David Gaider's twitter page he has chosen his Top 5 and the overall winner and they will announce them sometime after monday.

Does that imply that the overall winner is seperate from the top five somehow?

I wouldn't think so. Sounds to me like the top 5 is inclusive of the winner, not exclusive.

But yeah, I'd like to see the top 20 named too. They don't have to try to put them into rankings, just list the stories or authors alphabetically.

[Will Shred]

On the subject of fanfiction do's and don't's from a few pages back, I agree that you see a lot of the same things in fanfic that you do in published original fiction from newer authors. And there are different learning curves as well depending on whether you're writing short "one shot" stories like these contest entries vs. long form novel length fiction. 

My main purpose when I started writing fanfic was to use it as a practice medium for honing my fiction writing skills before tackling an original novel or two that I've had ideas for. Basically I didn't want to burn up my original ideas on stories that would be unpublishable without major rewriting simply because I was learning as I was going. So playing in someone else's sandbox gave me a very fun way to practice writing novel length fiction. Then I discovered I actually really enjoyed writing "campaign" style stories that cover the game stories but in the process fill in the gaps left by the game

That's why *constructive* criticism is very helpful to authors. There's a night and day difference in the quality of my first novel length fanfic (a different fandom than DA) and my second (DA:O story 'The Little Hero'), and another significant leap in quality now that I'm on my third (DA2 story 'Hurtled into Chaos'). I can look back over my previous work and practically *see* the learning curve kicking in at times. Of course, I still have plenty of room for improvement. No delusions there.

As far as flowery prose, excessive metaphors/similes and such, it's like anything in that there's a balance. I use "flowery" descriptions sparingly, mainly for effect. For example, in a recent chapter of my DA2 story I was going through the battle between Hawke and Ginnis on the quest to rescue Saemus. I threw in this line:

"After a lengthy, somewhat cautious feeling out period in which each rogue mostly failed in their attempts to find and exploit weaknesses in their opponent's defenses, the intensity had ramped up to a fever pitch, with the quartet of blades repeatedly clashing in a rapid fire staccato to create a macabre symphony of sound and spark." 

A bit over the top? No doubt... but I wanted the visceral, intense clash to "pop" amidst the much more straightforward descriptiveness surrounding it. My point is, reading flowery narrative like that would be brutal if the story was chock full of it, but it can be very effective when used situationally.

Anyway, good luck to everyone once again! Like everyone else, I can't wait to see the results.

Modifié par Will Shred, 29 janvier 2012 - 06:05 .

[BevH]

Grimgriz wrote...

i know this is for da2 but i need some quick advice concerning dao the water jug /altar in the werewolf woods. i know ur suposed to fill it , put it on altar ,pray sip , dump then door opens i have done that first run as a human. Know that im playin an elf it isnt giving me the take a sip option is this a bug plz help i got arcane warrior yet know armor & i can smell the jugornaut (i know its misspelled sry).

You'd get a faster response if you post this question in the DA:O Quests/Storylines forum. I don't know if spoilers for either game would be welcome in this forum.