Even though we know that universal understanding is possible though real time translation devices that everyone in ME2 seems to have it doesn't explain universal literacy.
Here's my logic. If Shepard's first language is english then I think it is fair to say he reads and writes english too. Let's just say for the sake of my question that Joker's first language is say French naturally he would have his console's all set to French, Shepard wouldn't understand anything on the screen. This problem gets worst when you consider that different species also have their own different languages.
I actually don't like to nit-pick or point out plot holes like a lot of people on these forums and I am totally willing to accept just because as an answer, but I would like something better then that.
How do they read?
Débuté par
2342
, mars 21 2010 01:56
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#2
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 01:58
Dark_Caduceus
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Ocular implants that automatically translate any script to the language you set it to, controllable by a basic omni-tool. Just use your imagination, there's any number of solutions.
#4
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 02:42
Mondo47
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I assumed that if you were confronted by something written in Turian, say, your omnitool could read it for you and translate it into a format you could understand. With things like signposts or advertising, your omnitool would carry a set of default user info to transmit to these devices and allow them to alter themselves accordingly based on the number of viewers (produce a scoller of advertising/info in a selection of languages) etc.
Omnitool - perfect macguffin!
Omnitool - perfect macguffin!
#5
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 02:54
PandemicFear
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How would that help Shepard read?Ray Joel Oh wrote...
Babelfish that lives in the ear.
I assume that Shep's implant's translate the script for him, like someone ^ up there ^ suggested.
#6
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 02:57
CmdrFenix83
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2342 wrote...
Even though we know that universal understanding is possible though real time translation devices that everyone in ME2 seems to have it doesn't explain universal literacy.
Here's my logic. If Shepard's first language is english then I think it is fair to say he reads and writes english too. Let's just say for the sake of my question that Joker's first language is say French naturally he would have his console's all set to French, Shepard wouldn't understand anything on the screen. This problem gets worst when you consider that different species also have their own different languages.
I actually don't like to nit-pick or point out plot holes like a lot of people on these forums and I am totally willing to accept just because as an answer, but I would like something better then that.
Probably a safe assumtion that the entire Alliance has a single, unified language between them.
#7
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 03:01
Dark_Caduceus
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But not all of Council space, much less the Terminus Systems. Then again, Google offers a free translation suite for websites that can translate any language in a rudimentary fashion. I think it's safe to say that given over 150 years translation software will progess to the point of making this all a non-issue.
#9
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 03:05
CmdrFenix83
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Dark_Caduceus wrote...
But not all of Council space, much less the Terminus Systems. Then again, Google offers a free translation suite for websites that can translate any language in a rudimentary fashion. I think it's safe to say that given over 150 years translation software will progess to the point of making this all a non-issue.
No, but his example had Joker speaking French and Shepard in English. Again, it's a safe assumption that the entire Alliance speaks/writes in a universal language. Imagine then if a translator broke in the middle of a battle? The helmsman couldn't understand the Captain. It would be chaos!
#10
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 03:13
Maera Imrov
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I honestly don't even get how the real-time translation works. Listening to a translator for some speeches I've been at, and such, they always start behind the speaker, unless they have a prepared script, and even then people elaborate and deviate. I can't imagine any machine doing much better. You can't translate a language piecemeal, one word at a time. There's references and verb conjugations, people change entire trains of thought mid-sentence. Some languages have sentence structures that are entirely different to others. Inversions and so forth. In theory, there would be a delay of at least a few words before the translator could kick in with certainty on what's being communicated. This would be annoying to put in game so it makes sense that it isn't there, but I would've thought more people would mention it in fanfiction. It never comes up.
Hell, I never really paid the codex any mind in ME1 save in skimming, so I wasn't aware there were translators, until the siha conversation with Thane. I had assumed up to that point that there was a universal trade language that was used among the space-faring species.
I guess we can blanket it with the 'future tech is so awesome it's almost magic' but that bugs me.
Hell, I never really paid the codex any mind in ME1 save in skimming, so I wasn't aware there were translators, until the siha conversation with Thane. I had assumed up to that point that there was a universal trade language that was used among the space-faring species.
I guess we can blanket it with the 'future tech is so awesome it's almost magic' but that bugs me.
#11
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 03:22
Dark_Caduceus
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CmdrFenix83 wrote...
Dark_Caduceus wrote...
But not all of Council space, much less the Terminus Systems. Then again, Google offers a free translation suite for websites that can translate any language in a rudimentary fashion. I think it's safe to say that given over 150 years translation software will progess to the point of making this all a non-issue.
No, but his example had Joker speaking French and Shepard in English. Again, it's a safe assumption that the entire Alliance speaks/writes in a universal language. Imagine then if a translator broke in the middle of a battle? The helmsman couldn't understand the Captain. It would be chaos!
A fair point, okay guys, everyone speaks English.
#12
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 03:34
InHarmsWay
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From what I could tell, there is a galactic common language. As mentioned in Mass Effect 1 when an asari scientist says all of this scientific jargon, Shepard will say, "Can you say that in galactic?" Meaning that they can understand any language, but will speak "galactic". So Shepard's first language is probably english, but he knows "galactic"
#13
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 03:37
stormrain
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Dark_Caduceus wrote...
CmdrFenix83 wrote...
Dark_Caduceus wrote...
But not all of Council space, much less the Terminus Systems. Then again, Google offers a free translation suite for websites that can translate any language in a rudimentary fashion. I think it's safe to say that given over 150 years translation software will progess to the point of making this all a non-issue.
No, but his example had Joker speaking French and Shepard in English. Again, it's a safe assumption that the entire Alliance speaks/writes in a universal language. Imagine then if a translator broke in the middle of a battle? The helmsman couldn't understand the Captain. It would be chaos!
A fair point, okay guys, everyone speaks English.
My personal theory is that the Normandy is actually a TARDIS and translates everything into your native tongue (This also coincides with Shepard actually being a Timelord, which explains his coming back to life - he regenerated).
Or we could just trust the codex's statement on translators and such. But that's boring.
#14
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 10:19
devilsgrin
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theres no question that the Alliance would have a standardised language... English most obviously considering its the most widespoken of languages.
The Council, thats the tougher question. I'd assume that most of the diplomats on the Citadel would have picked up English fairly quickly, since the Alliance represents humanity to the Council. In reverse though, i'd thank your omni-tool for much of the translation in text, advertisements, signs... spoken though, theres a case for a Galactic language.
The Council, thats the tougher question. I'd assume that most of the diplomats on the Citadel would have picked up English fairly quickly, since the Alliance represents humanity to the Council. In reverse though, i'd thank your omni-tool for much of the translation in text, advertisements, signs... spoken though, theres a case for a Galactic language.
#15
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 10:27
Jarkill
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It's obviously a handwave. But it's a good one. The alternate handwave would be to have poor speaking animations and terrible lip syncing, then claim it's only like that because you're actually hearing it over a translator.
For what its worth, they did the right thing.
For what its worth, they did the right thing.
#16
Posté 21 mars 2010 - 11:13
jklinders
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Mondo47 wrote...
I assumed that if you were confronted by something written in Turian, say, your omnitool could read it for you and translate it into a format you could understand. With things like signposts or advertising, your omnitool would carry a set of default user info to transmit to these devices and allow them to alter themselves accordingly based on the number of viewers (produce a scoller of advertising/info in a selection of languages) etc.
Omnitool - perfect macguffin!
Well, they don't call it "omni" for nothing:innocent:
Not too too far out of belief when you consider that a mobile phone has about 10,000 (or more) times the computing power of those old 1950s style mainframes that filled gymnasium sized rooms. Assuming we do not killourselves first, where do you think these devices will go in 150 years?
#17
Posté 22 mars 2010 - 12:57
2342
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I honestly didn't think this would get so many posts let me clarify some.
I agree that the Alliance has a dominate language that everyone speaks and reads.
My example was just to show the human to human reading issue and how when you throw aliens in the mix the problem becomes worst.
This thread is about universal READING not universal speech. The explanation in the game is a bad one but I accept it. I don't like the idea of ocular translators it seems like anytime I went to the Citadel or Omega Shepard would get a major headache from the advertisements. I guess the omni-tool can solve all problems I just wish the game would say that.
I agree that the Alliance has a dominate language that everyone speaks and reads.
My example was just to show the human to human reading issue and how when you throw aliens in the mix the problem becomes worst.
This thread is about universal READING not universal speech. The explanation in the game is a bad one but I accept it. I don't like the idea of ocular translators it seems like anytime I went to the Citadel or Omega Shepard would get a major headache from the advertisements. I guess the omni-tool can solve all problems I just wish the game would say that.
