It was mentioned earlier, but how easy english is for you all depends on what your native language is/was.
For example I speak English and Japanese fluently but translating from English to Japanese is very hard, sometimes impossible without changing the meaning a little bit. Have you ever watched a japanes anime with english subtitles? Most of the time the general meaning will be kept, but there is so much lost in the translation, whether it be connotations or just aspects of the culture.
I'm taking German taught in English, and it's easy for me because most of the grammer is the same. Only thing that really gets me is the articles der/die/das that all mean "the" but differs from noun to noun. I German was taught in japanese, first you would have to learn the whole alphabet, the sentance structure and all other things that would just be common sense to anyone speaking english.
Anyway, as for the translation in NS. It would help a lot of people definately. There is always meanings lost in translations. And sometimes computers can't even display certain charactors correctly. I have an english computer and have a very difficult time going to japanese sites and using programs that are supposed to be in japanese because my computer just turns them into random things. People sometimes ask me what it says, but when I tell them I can't read it, they don't understand that it's not displayed correctly.
so... just release it in english. There will be several "fansites" with instructions in their respective language.
Hmm, i see a lot of ignorance around here, of course, im talking about those people who think the foreign players should learn english to play.
First of all, how many of you honestly believe that you would learn a HARD language(and i know about this because i learned english by myself, no schools or dictionaries) in order to play a game?
Secondly, how many of you speak another language other than english? IMHO, most people who say "they should just learn english or else screw them" are talking like nationalists, meaning that you dont care about any other country or culture but your own. So, when you think they should learn your language, how about you learn another language first, and then see if you would suggest that to the other people who just want to have fun.
My last point would be, how many people do you think play this game in the UK and other parts of the world? Let me tell you that they are NOT a minority, in fact, most of the gaming community in the world consists of people from the UK and other parts of the world besides america. If you decide to be stubborn about this, and not help translate this into other languages, youre only hurting the mod, keeping it away from a BIG chunk of gamers out there.
So before you jump into conclusions, and start thinking that the evil people out there are trying to delay the mod, think about how you would like the mod you have long awaited, have only around 10 players(probably wont happen, but just making a point).
As for translating the game, if you guys want me to translate it into spanish, which is my native language, i would be glad to help. Im sure i could probably do it rather quickly also, mayeb before the release if i can get the manual before that.
I agree and disagree with many ideas here, IMHO if you moved to a foreign country permanently, you should learn the most commonly used language there out of respect for their culture, it would be futile and even ignorant to attempt to force them all to speak in your home language. Likewise, in the case of NS, a game which will be released for free to all free countries of the world, demanding that people from foreign countries playing on servers in their own country speak English is equally futile. If you join an American server it should be a safe assumption that the majority of people will be speaking English. Similarly, you should not expect to join a Brazilian server for instance, and see any chat that is not Portuguese, yes there may be English or Spanish there, but this should not be expected. I feel that as much text as is reasonably possible should be stored in an external file, so that someone who is bilingual can translate the in game text to another language, over time you would see these language packs popping up online. If this feature was included, all the kiddies out there could even change it so they see their own funny little comments in game. In the end, none are harmed by including text in a separate file (save the devs possibly), and the global NS community can only stand to benefit from it. Just my opinion. BTW... I can also speak Spanish, and if you need help translating, I could offer my services, although there have already been volunteers who are probably better qualified then I.
<!--QuoteBegin--XHydralisk+July 30 2002,00:43--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (XHydralisk @ July 30 2002,00:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm taking German taught in English, and <b>it's easy for me because most of the grammer is the same.</b> Only thing that really gets me is the articles der/die/das that all mean "the" but differs from noun to noun. I German was taught in japanese, first you would have to learn the whole alphabet, the sentance structure and all other things that would just be common sense to anyone speaking english.
so... just release it in english. There will be several "fansites" with instructions in their respective language.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Wow, I'm impressed, I thought it would a be a really heavy problem for people to learn German. Yes, the articles are the most difficult thing there I think.
And yes, I think there will be quite many fansites offering a translation, as soon as ppl notice that NS can do different languages. Maybe the dev team can include some kind of selection tool in game, so you can swap language from the menu or so. That would be helpful for ppl like me i.e. as I like to play games in English and enjoy it, but i.e. my brother does hardly speak no English. Just a thought so.
i can't believe this, don't they teach english in the european countries? I mean c'mon, people in belgium get their first english and french lessons when they're 12/13,I'd be really surprised if this wasn't the case in most (if not all) european countries. And yes english is everywhere around you these days, turn on the tv, just surf on the net, hell, even music. Even if i play on a belgian CS server players use something that's 70% dutch and 30% english. And Cyanide has a really good point btw. And I'm sure playing NS isn't like reading an english novel, it'll be pretty basic english
I think languages suck, we should all be speaking in forms of grunts and handsignals. Or maybe we should start working on our telepathy... There we go, problem solved! <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--TheGunSlingerOmega+July 30 2002,00:07--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (TheGunSlingerOmega @ July 30 2002,00:07)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Oh and here I come to the rescue! I would be willing to translate the manual into any language....mwahaha
Evil_bOb1Join Date: 2002-07-13Member: 938Members, Squad Five Blue
<!--QuoteBegin--BioHaz+July 30 2002,11:12--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (BioHaz @ July 30 2002,11:12)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think languages suck, we should all be speaking in forms of grunts and handsignals. Or maybe we should start working on our telepathy... There we go, problem solved! <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I tried doing handsignals in front of my screen, its not a bad idea, the bad thing is your post count doesn't go up...
DruBoBack In BeigeJoin Date: 2002-02-06Member: 172Members, NS1 Playtester
I seem to remember some of the IRC bums planning translations of the manual to German and Spanish. Maybe those same people (I don't remember who the German crew were, but the spanish crew was blueman and me) can translate the titles.txt too, depending on how we do with the manuals.
I can help you for the spanish translation, i'm spanish and i know blueman too <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
Comments
For example I speak English and Japanese fluently but translating from English to Japanese is very hard, sometimes impossible without changing the meaning a little bit. Have you ever watched a japanes anime with english subtitles? Most of the time the general meaning will be kept, but there is so much lost in the translation, whether it be connotations or just aspects of the culture.
I'm taking German taught in English, and it's easy for me because most of the grammer is the same. Only thing that really gets me is the articles der/die/das that all mean "the" but differs from noun to noun. I German was taught in japanese, first you would have to learn the whole alphabet, the sentance structure and all other things that would just be common sense to anyone speaking english.
Anyway, as for the translation in NS. It would help a lot of people definately. There is always meanings lost in translations. And sometimes computers can't even display certain charactors correctly. I have an english computer and have a very difficult time going to japanese sites and using programs that are supposed to be in japanese because my computer just turns them into random things. People sometimes ask me what it says, but when I tell them I can't read it, they don't understand that it's not displayed correctly.
so... just release it in english. There will be several "fansites" with instructions in their respective language.
First of all, how many of you honestly believe that you would learn a HARD language(and i know about this because i learned english by myself, no schools or dictionaries) in order to play a game?
Secondly, how many of you speak another language other than english? IMHO, most people who say "they should just learn english or else screw them" are talking like nationalists, meaning that you dont care about any other country or culture but your own. So, when you think they should learn your language, how about you learn another language first, and then see if you would suggest that to the other people who just want to have fun.
My last point would be, how many people do you think play this game in the UK and other parts of the world? Let me tell you that they are NOT a minority, in fact, most of the gaming community in the world consists of people from the UK and other parts of the world besides america. If you decide to be stubborn about this, and not help translate this into other languages, youre only hurting the mod, keeping it away from a BIG chunk of gamers out there.
So before you jump into conclusions, and start thinking that the evil people out there are trying to delay the mod, think about how you would like the mod you have long awaited, have only around 10 players(probably wont happen, but just making a point).
As for translating the game, if you guys want me to translate it into spanish, which is my native language, i would be glad to help. Im sure i could probably do it rather quickly also, mayeb before the release if i can get the manual before that.
I Hope this enlightened some people.
Well any means
French,German,CHinese,Japanese,spanish, etc etc..
/me knows basic spanish just from being raised in cali
so... just release it in english. There will be several "fansites" with instructions in their respective language.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow, I'm impressed, I thought it would a be a really heavy problem for people to learn German.
Yes, the articles are the most difficult thing there I think.
And yes, I think there will be quite many fansites offering a translation, as soon as ppl notice that NS can do different languages. Maybe the dev team can include some kind of selection tool in game, so you can swap language from the menu or so. That would be helpful for ppl like me i.e. as I like to play games in English and enjoy it, but i.e. my brother does hardly speak no English.
Just a thought so.
There we go, problem solved! <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
Well any means
French,German,CHinese,Japanese,spanish, etc etc..<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Babblefish doesn't count.
<!--emo&:p--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'><!--endemo-->
There we go, problem solved! <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I tried doing handsignals in front of my screen, its not a bad idea, the bad thing is your post count doesn't go up...