77 réponses à ce sujet

[Pint]

FatherOfPearl wrote...

Have you ever tried to create a new language, complete with a searchable dictionary, morphology, and syntax?

Now do that, let's say, seven times. See the problem yet?

It's far easier to just give your VAs their lines and hand-wave it with an in-game translator chip than it is to teach them the correct pronunciation and intonation of languages you made up yesterday.

Everyone speaks galactic-common, nerd.

[The-Fantasm]

This thread is a stupid.

[DatRandomGuy1]

I'm pretty sure Shepard mentions a translator once or twice, it's safe to assume every race (except very minor ones, thresher maws, pyjaks, yahg's ect) is given one at birth/leaving their own planet.

[Lady Abstract]

Xabungle wrote...

Um, I believe they are all speaking in their own languages and their translators are deciphering .

Also if you romance thane he calls you siha and shepatd says I think my language translator glitched can you repeat that 

[thehomeworld]

So all the aliens should speak made up languages just so players who hate subtitles can learn to love reading? I think not, its easier for them to make them all speak English and say its your translator working rather then turn off players to even picking up the game because subtitles are mandatory.

[ConanTheLeader]

I'm sure it's been mentioned but just in case, there is a codex entry from one of the DLC pieces for the original Mass Effect game (The one with those annoying Batarians) that explains everyone wears translators either in their clothing or on their omni-tool.

EDIT: FOUND THE CODEX ENTRY!

http://masseffect.wi...ng_Down_the_Sky

"Human cultures remain linguistically divided. Some converse in Spanish, others in Mandarin, Arabic, Swahili, etc. Every alien race has their own equally broad panoply of languages and dialects.Most individuals know only their mother tongue, and rely on machine translation. Modern portable computers allow anyone with a few hundred credits of equipment to enjoy seamless real-time translation of alien languages, courtesy of handheld PDAs, computers in clothing or jewelry, or sub-dermal implants. Without fast and accurate translation, galactic trade and culture would not exist.Governments provide subsidized software, updated through the public extranet "on the fly", often as users approach spaceport customs facilities. Even the batarians, who isolated themselves from galactic society nearly two decades ago, take pains to provide up-to-date glossaries and linguistic rules, though most suspect that this is only so they can continue exporting propaganda.It is still considered broad-minded and practical to be able to speak without machine aid. Children often take courses in alien language, and most races can speak the simplified artificial "trade tongue" with little difficulty.Some species must rely on machine translation to interact with the rest of the galaxy. Hanar, for example, cannot reproduce the spoken language of any humanoid species, and other races cannot reproduce hanar bioluminescence without mechanical aid. Newly discovered or obscure races don't have machine translation available until the linguists have had time to study them."

Modifié par ConanTheLeader, 07 octobre 2013 - 10:49 .

[Baihu1983]

Some probably moan about all the talking anyways so can you imagine it if they had to read subtitles as well when ever a character was talking in non English?

[The-Fantasm]

bump

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

ThatBigStupidJellyfish wrote...

Because, English is the only language, they are developed and do not have any pansy languages.

murican english

Exactly. Did any of you ever watch any of the sci-fi movies or read any of the sci-fi books written in English back in the 1940s and 1950s? The aliens all spoke English. They spoke English on the original Star Trek series. Now stop asking stupid questions. 

[cap and gown]

Buy a non-english version of the game. You can have everyone in the galaxy speak German. Or French if that suits your fancy.

[Abraham_uk]

cap and gown wrote...

Buy a non-english version of the game. You can have everyone in the galaxy speak German. Or French if that suits your fancy.

The version I got had English, French, German and Italian languages as part of the packages.

I enjoyed hearing 8 different takes of Commander Shepard. Both genders, 4 languages.

[EverLastingDead]

Wulfram wrote...

Shepard is using a translator, presumably one made by an american company.

"Made by an American company." 

Hah, that is cute seeing as how every time I seem to buy something in america it gets shipped and somewhere on it says either "Made in China." or "Made in Japan." 

Also would you rather read subtitles the entire three games? I mean sure it would be realistic but after an hour I would like to just understand em instead of reading it the entire time. Plus not just Americans speak English sherlock.

[Undead Han]

spacehamsterZH wrote...

Abraham_uk wrote...

Are you sure they're not speaking Canadian English as opposed to American English?
Bioware was Canadian last time I checked.

Mass Effect should've been called Canadians in Space, but I guess that didn't have quite the same ring to it.

North Americans in space would be more accurate, since a good portion of the voice acting cast is from the United States. Ali Hillis (Liara), Brandon Keener (Garrus), Seth Green (Joker), Ash Sroka (Tali), Raphael Sbarge (Kaidan), Keith David (Anderson), Martin Sheen (the Illusive Man), Steve Blum (Grunt), Courtenay Taylor (Jack), Freddie Prinze Jr (Vega), and Lance Henriksen (Hackett) are just a few of the American actors.

Modifié par Han Shot First, 16 octobre 2013 - 05:29 .

[Aggie Punbot]

Hmm, there's a thought. Did the translators go poof if you made a certain choice at the end of the game?

[Display Name Owner]

Before translators where ever confirmed, I'd always assumed that everyone was just speaking some galactic standard language.

As for why the majority of them sound north american, there's no story reason for that and that's obvious. Maybe more slightly varied accents wouldn't have gone amiss, but there you go.

[666Bratwurst]

Wow, imagine if everyone in the galaxy spoke Japanese...
Although listening to some of the alien species speak in their original languages would be kinda interesting and a little bit more immersive.

[Ajensis]

666Bratwurst wrote...
Although listening to some of the alien species speak in their original languages would be kinda interesting and a little bit more immersive.

I personally prefer it the way they've done it so far. Anyone who played KotOR will remember the repeated alien phrases that apparently meant something entirely else each time, and it got a little old in the end. So unless they go all Tolkien and actually develop a new language, I'd rather they just focus on what the characters say, not how they say it.
I generally want the lore to be sensible and coherent, but on this point I'm more than happy to make compromises. It never hurt my feeling of immersion anyway.

[666Bratwurst]

Ajensis wrote...

666Bratwurst wrote...
Although listening to some of the alien species speak in their original languages would be kinda interesting and a little bit more immersive.

I personally prefer it the way they've done it so far. Anyone who played KotOR will remember the repeated alien phrases that apparently meant something entirely else each time, and it got a little old in the end. So unless they go all Tolkien and actually develop a new language, I'd rather they just focus on what the characters say, not how they say it.
I generally want the lore to be sensible and coherent, but on this point I'm more than happy to make compromises. It never hurt my feeling of immersion anyway.

It could something as simple as a translator malfunction which has the alien speak their own language for just a few seconds.Or maybe it could be a running gag in the next game where say,one of your companions (or your character) has a faulty translator and in certain situations it would break or something like that.  It wouldn't happen often,but it could be enough to get a chuckle or a round of face-palms once or twice.
Unlike KOTOR the aliens wouldn't be saying the same thing over and over again.(At least I hope so...)

[Ajensis]

666Bratwurst wrote...
It could something as simple as a translator malfunction which has the alien speak their own language for just a few seconds.Or maybe it could be a running gag in the next game where say,one of your companions (or your character) has a faulty translator and in certain situations it would break or something like that.  It wouldn't happen often,but it could be enough to get a chuckle or a round of face-palms once or twice.
Unlike KOTOR the aliens wouldn't be saying the same thing over and over again.(At least I hope so...)

That idea has some merit, but again I fear it'll just make you notice the whole language-thing and then the English-speaking aliens might impact my sense of immersion. I'd rather they just conveniently ignored this part of the setting and focused on the other areas
I'm not entirely closed-off to what you're saying. If Bioware decide to do something along those lines, I'll keep an open mind and see whether I think it works or not. Just not sure it's worth their time to delve into the language aspect - and if they did, I'd probably want them to go all the way and have different-sounding languages without the repeated soundclips á la KotOR.
We'll see what happens

[Undead Han]

isnudo wrote...

Before translators where ever confirmed, I'd always assumed that everyone was just speaking some galactic standard language.

There is a galactic standard language. It is mentioned in the first Mass Effect book I believe.

[Seishoujyo]

Because of McDonald and Coca Cola, they re everywhere even on the Citadel.

Or just the beginning of the space magic, don't know.

[starbuck2190]

Alien Squaddies Speak English? -- Mass Effect Linguistics

[Pearl (rip bioware)]

tek_awma219 wrote...

Alien Squaddies Speak English? -- Mass Effect Linguistics

The fact that someone put that much effort into writing that makes me very concerned.

edit: this thread is still a stupid.

Modifié par FatherOfPearl, 26 octobre 2013 - 03:10 .

[Br3admax]

Can someone give me a valid reason on why this thread is still going?