Silver Card Conversation
Jun. 28th, 2014 11:01 amI actually like how this one was localized and my overly literal translation doesn't capture the same sense of playfulness, but there happens to be one moment that's relevant to Soren's motives that I'd like to cite in my Ike sexuality essay thing.
( Silver Card convo (RD 3-2) )
( Silver Card convo (RD 3-2) )
If you've ever wondered plot-crucial questions like, "How did Lillia end up with Ashnard?" you should probably check this out. This thing was pretty dramatically different in the Japanese.
( Huge Spoilers )
( Huge Spoilers )
FE10: 1-8 Vika
Dec. 28th, 2012 09:07 pmI took a look for this for a fic I'm working on and thought you all might find it interesting too.
( 1-8 Vika )
( 1-8 Vika )
Some more NoJ Q&A about FE10
Dec. 20th, 2012 11:28 pmThese are basically everything I found interesting (ie practically all the non-gameplay ones). This is quite long, beware!
( Translations )
( Translations )
The fourth question on this page reads:
Penname: A Sexy Male Thief
Age: 16 Gender: Male
Question
This is a bit of a spoiler, but in your latest work you can have a female thief named Heather join up with you, right?
From Heather’s interactions with Nephenee, Ilyana, and “absolutely wonderful”1 Lucia, she seems to be very fond of girls, but what the heck made her that way?
Does she simply dislike men, or was she traumatized against them and because of that worries incessantly, sleeplessly, and is so troubled that she cannot interact with them normally?
Since I used Heather as my number one unit through the very last chapter, I cannot help but worry greatly about this.
So I ask of you, please, won’t you enlighten me? orz.
Answer
She herself asserts that “such is her nature,” so wouldn’t you say she was born that way2?
I LOVE YOU NINTENDO
Translation notes:
1 Not written as a quote in the OP, but the phrase is borrowed from what Heather says about Lucia.
2 “born that way” is admittedly a pretty loaded phrase in English, but it’s a pretty accurate match to “生まれつき” — “by nature” or more literally “by birth”.)
Penname: A Sexy Male Thief
Age: 16 Gender: Male
Question
This is a bit of a spoiler, but in your latest work you can have a female thief named Heather join up with you, right?
From Heather’s interactions with Nephenee, Ilyana, and “absolutely wonderful”1 Lucia, she seems to be very fond of girls, but what the heck made her that way?
Does she simply dislike men, or was she traumatized against them and because of that worries incessantly, sleeplessly, and is so troubled that she cannot interact with them normally?
Since I used Heather as my number one unit through the very last chapter, I cannot help but worry greatly about this.
So I ask of you, please, won’t you enlighten me? orz.
Answer
She herself asserts that “such is her nature,” so wouldn’t you say she was born that way2?
I LOVE YOU NINTENDO
Translation notes:
1 Not written as a quote in the OP, but the phrase is borrowed from what Heather says about Lucia.
2 “born that way” is admittedly a pretty loaded phrase in English, but it’s a pretty accurate match to “生まれつき” — “by nature” or more literally “by birth”.)
RD 3-3 "Strategist"
Dec. 16th, 2012 06:22 pmPartly because I'm curious, and partly because the one thing I can always seem to find the motivation to do is translation.
( Strategist )
Fun fact: No one addresses Soren by name in this entire conversation.
SHH, HE'LL HEAR YOU--
( Strategist )
Fun fact: No one addresses Soren by name in this entire conversation.
SHH, HE'LL HEAR YOU--
Ike/Soren A
Dec. 12th, 2012 09:07 pmYou know what I realized? I realized I never did a nice translation of Ike/Soren A. (Actually while doing this I had vivid flashbacks to doing this translation before, but eh this take is probably better anyway.)
WELL THEN.
(Obviously I should do this the night before a math exam I haven't studied enough for.)
( Ike/Soren A )
WELL THEN.
(Obviously I should do this the night before a math exam I haven't studied enough for.)
( Ike/Soren A )
Some stuff about laguz story mechanics.
Sep. 9th, 2012 08:55 pmSo I finished that long-held-out no-resets FE9 Hard run, and wondered for the umpteenth time what "narisokonai" (all hiragana) was supposed to mean. So it occurred to me that I could check the RD glossary in Japanese.
What it says is quite interesting.
なりそこない(ナリソコナイ)
旧デイン国王の生物実験によって本来の性質を歪められたラグズを指す。 「化身」するとずっと元に戻らず常に高い戦闘力を維持できる。 しかしその代償として短命になる他精神が破壊されて凶暴化する。 特別な薬を用いることで使役できる。 実験途中に生まれた失敗作であることから、この名称で呼ばれる。
Coming from a biological experiment of the former Daein king, this term refers to laguz whose original nature has been warped. When they "transform"*, they can constantly maintain a high level of battle performance without returning to their original state. However, as compensation, they become short-lived, and their hearts are destroyed and changed to be brutal. They can be enslaved by the use of a special drug. Because of the fact that they were failures born from the middle of an experiment, they are named thusly.
So I'm guessing narisokonai is broken up something like, nari from become (noun form) and sokonai from to fail in doing (as in an experiment; noun form).
*Transform = "Keshin" - This is a term in itself in the glossary, which is explained further in its entry:
化身(ケシン)
ラグズ特有の能力。 一定の間"気"を高めることによって姿を変えること。 "化身"中は戦闘に関係するあらゆる能力が上昇する。
The characteristic ability of the laguz. It refers to how, after a fixed time, coming forth from raising their "ki," they change their shape. While "transformed," every ability related to battle is improved.
And yeah, "ki" here is the same as chi/qi/whatever, mystical Asian energy force thing.
It's interesting that laguz transformation is apparently done and maintained by powering up DBZ-style, instead of the "flipping a switch" style of transformation I had assumed. It makes more sense with why they have to morph back, too.
What it says is quite interesting.
なりそこない(ナリソコナイ)
旧デイン国王の生物実験によって本来の性質を歪められたラグズを指す。 「化身」するとずっと元に戻らず常に高い戦闘力を維持できる。 しかしその代償として短命になる他精神が破壊されて凶暴化する。 特別な薬を用いることで使役できる。 実験途中に生まれた失敗作であることから、この名称で呼ばれる。
Coming from a biological experiment of the former Daein king, this term refers to laguz whose original nature has been warped. When they "transform"*, they can constantly maintain a high level of battle performance without returning to their original state. However, as compensation, they become short-lived, and their hearts are destroyed and changed to be brutal. They can be enslaved by the use of a special drug. Because of the fact that they were failures born from the middle of an experiment, they are named thusly.
So I'm guessing narisokonai is broken up something like, nari from become (noun form) and sokonai from to fail in doing (as in an experiment; noun form).
*Transform = "Keshin" - This is a term in itself in the glossary, which is explained further in its entry:
化身(ケシン)
ラグズ特有の能力。 一定の間"気"を高めることによって姿を変えること。 "化身"中は戦闘に関係するあらゆる能力が上昇する。
The characteristic ability of the laguz. It refers to how, after a fixed time, coming forth from raising their "ki," they change their shape. While "transformed," every ability related to battle is improved.
And yeah, "ki" here is the same as chi/qi/whatever, mystical Asian energy force thing.
It's interesting that laguz transformation is apparently done and maintained by powering up DBZ-style, instead of the "flipping a switch" style of transformation I had assumed. It makes more sense with why they have to morph back, too.
Translation: Gods' End
Jul. 23rd, 2012 01:47 amThe English version of this cutscene is very different from the Japanese. Serenes Forest has a translation that's much closer, although it's still a little more liberal than I personally prefer. So here, have this.
( Massive RD Spoilers )
( Massive RD Spoilers )
Soren's 20th Anniversary Artbook Entry
Jan. 16th, 2012 12:27 amBecause I like him more than Kyza and Zihark and I did it for those two, so why not. Nothing earth-shattering, just the usual cuteness.
Picture of the artbook entry.
セネリオ
傭兵団の若き参謀
傭兵団の参謀で、その知略は一国の軍師にも引
けをとらない。アイクに対する絶対の忠誠を誓っ
ており、彼以外に本心を見せることはない。
実は、デイン国王アシュナードとその寵姫アム
リタ(竜鱗族)の息子なのだが、セネリオ本人は、
そのことを知らない。
if .....
アイクとの支援関係をAにすると、エピ
ローグでアイクと2人で旅に出る。セネリオ
にとっては、アイクのそばこそが自分の居場
所だったということが。
Soren
The Mercenary Group's Young Staff Officer
As the mercenaries' staff officer, not even a whole country's tacticians outdo such resourcefulness. He holds a vow to direct his absolute loyalty to Ike; he does not display his true feelings to anyone else.
In truth, he is the son of Ashnard, King of Daein, and his favorite mistress Almedha, but Soren himself doesn't know that.
if .....
If his support relationship with Ike is A, in the epilogue, with Ike the two of them leave on a journey. As far as Soren is concerned, Ike's side is the place where he belongs.
Translation Note: I'm not totally sure what that "ga" is doing at the end of the last bit hanging out there. My theory is that 分かる is implied at the end, which would just mean that "he knows that Ike's side is the place where he belongs". I doubt it'd produce a radical difference in meaning.
Picture of the artbook entry.
セネリオ
傭兵団の若き参謀
傭兵団の参謀で、その知略は一国の軍師にも引
けをとらない。アイクに対する絶対の忠誠を誓っ
ており、彼以外に本心を見せることはない。
実は、デイン国王アシュナードとその寵姫アム
リタ(竜鱗族)の息子なのだが、セネリオ本人は、
そのことを知らない。
if .....
アイクとの支援関係をAにすると、エピ
ローグでアイクと2人で旅に出る。セネリオ
にとっては、アイクのそばこそが自分の居場
所だったということが。
Soren
The Mercenary Group's Young Staff Officer
As the mercenaries' staff officer, not even a whole country's tacticians outdo such resourcefulness. He holds a vow to direct his absolute loyalty to Ike; he does not display his true feelings to anyone else.
In truth, he is the son of Ashnard, King of Daein, and his favorite mistress Almedha, but Soren himself doesn't know that.
if .....
If his support relationship with Ike is A, in the epilogue, with Ike the two of them leave on a journey. As far as Soren is concerned, Ike's side is the place where he belongs.
Translation Note: I'm not totally sure what that "ga" is doing at the end of the last bit hanging out there. My theory is that 分かる is implied at the end, which would just mean that "he knows that Ike's side is the place where he belongs". I doubt it'd produce a radical difference in meaning.
Not usually my domain, but I was looking through the artbook and the kanji for death caught my eye, so what the hell.
From Zihark/Muarim A:
(Note: The way the conversation is set up is a tiny bit different, which is why the lead-in looks different.)
Originally, I thought the English was a bit odd. Zihark's girlfriend left him based on the pressure? His trauma seemed a little... deeper than that. The Japanese supports are open-ended on the matter, although the tone is quite... fatalistic. Being from Daein, I'd figured she was lynched or something.
Well, thanks to the artbook, I've found out that is pretty much the case.
Picture from the artbook.
シイハーク
義に厚き剣士
デイン生まれの剣士。 ラグズを守るためにラグズ狩
りを行う自警団に潜入した際に、アイクたちと知り合
う。獣牙族の恋人と死に別れており、ラグズに味方す
るのはそのため。デイン=クリミア戦争終結後は、デ
イン解放軍の一員として戦った。
Normally I'd do it line by line so you can tell where things are roughly, but some of these clauses are kind of ridiculous so I didn't bother. Here, have a paragraph.
Zihark
The Swordsman Burning with Righteousness
A swordsman born in Daein. At the time he infiltrated the laguz-hunting vigilantes to protect the laguz, he became acquainted with Ike's group. Separated from his beast tribe lover by death, for this reason he supports the laguz. After the end of the Daein-Crimea War, he fought as one of the Daein Liberation Army.
So yeah. Zihark's girlfriend? She died.
Given the nature of his angst... probably on a laguz hunt, too.
From Zihark/Muarim A:
English | Japanese | My Rough Translation |
It...was too much for her. We couldn't be married, and the pressure was too much for her to stay with me. But I've never loved another woman. To this day, I think that I never shall. | そうだな… 結局、添い遂げることは できなかったが……▼ 俺は今でも… 彼女以外の女性を愛したことはない。▼ | That's right... In the end, to be married for life was impossible, but... Even now, I... I shall never love another woman. |
(Note: The way the conversation is set up is a tiny bit different, which is why the lead-in looks different.)
Originally, I thought the English was a bit odd. Zihark's girlfriend left him based on the pressure? His trauma seemed a little... deeper than that. The Japanese supports are open-ended on the matter, although the tone is quite... fatalistic. Being from Daein, I'd figured she was lynched or something.
Well, thanks to the artbook, I've found out that is pretty much the case.
Picture from the artbook.
シイハーク
義に厚き剣士
デイン生まれの剣士。 ラグズを守るためにラグズ狩
りを行う自警団に潜入した際に、アイクたちと知り合
う。獣牙族の恋人と死に別れており、ラグズに味方す
るのはそのため。デイン=クリミア戦争終結後は、デ
イン解放軍の一員として戦った。
Normally I'd do it line by line so you can tell where things are roughly, but some of these clauses are kind of ridiculous so I didn't bother. Here, have a paragraph.
Zihark
The Swordsman Burning with Righteousness
A swordsman born in Daein. At the time he infiltrated the laguz-hunting vigilantes to protect the laguz, he became acquainted with Ike's group. Separated from his beast tribe lover by death, for this reason he supports the laguz. After the end of the Daein-Crimea War, he fought as one of the Daein Liberation Army.
So yeah. Zihark's girlfriend? She died.
Given the nature of his angst... probably on a laguz hunt, too.
Kyza's Sexual/Gender Identity
Jan. 4th, 2012 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Long story short: It's true. It's all true.
Here's a picture of Kyza's entry in the 20th Anniversary Art Book.
Transcription:
キサ
体は男、心は女?
普段は模範的な兵士なのだが、
興奮するとなぜかオカマ口調にな
る。リィレとは、隊長であるライ
を巡ってライバル関係にあり(も
ちろんライにその気はない)。
Here's a fairly literal translation I drew up. I'm using "he" here, but I need to note that there are no gender-specific pronouns used in the Japanese -- I'm using this as a syntactic demand of English only. Also I tried to preserve what goes in what line, but a few things are shifted around because, again, the grammar is fundamentally very different.
Kyza (kisa)
Male body, female heart?
Although usually an exemplary soldier,
when excited, for some reason his speech becomes that of an okama.*
With Lyre, in regards to Commander Ranulf,
he is in a rivalry.
EDIT 6/15/14: Revisiting this, I'm less sure of this line. The dictionary I used indicated that "sono ki" is a euphemism that means homosexual, but now that I have more experience with the language I think it may be indicating his general disinterest in their tiff over him.
*okama: This is a general Japanese cultural term, and to my understanding it can mean anything from an effeminate gay dude to a crossdresser to a transwoman. In my limited understanding, I'd compare its scope with drag queen.
EDIT 6/28/14: ... But as an often-derogatory word that some queen people choose to reclaim, it may be more similar to fag in that sense.
Feel free to get a second opinion on this. I'm 100% confident in the factual aspects of my transcription/translation.
With regard to Kyza's feminine speech... here are some examples from 3-7 "Catfight".
[キサ]
いいえ、是非
あたしに!▼
Kyza uses atashi! (A rather cutesy and definitely feminine word for "I", usually reserved for the likes of Mia and Mist.)
[キサ]
あ、あんた…
人が気にしてることをよくも……▼
ライ隊長!
こんな貧相な猫娘には
不相応な代物だと思うわ!▼
知的で戦闘力に優れるあたしにこそ
相応しいものですよね!?▼
Pure level of emotionality aside, it's worth noting that Kyza's sentence endings are also very feminine -- in particular, the use of wa is considered exclusively feminine.
But before you start celebrating about Tellius being progressive and all that, I feel the need to point out a few things:
- I'm not intimate enough with Japanese culture or LGBT movements to say, but the use of okama definitely strikes me as a non-progressive term.
-
- Devdan's (and Danved's,, if we're keeping track) speech is equally feminine, if not moreso. In the Japanese version, his quirk was sounding like a coy woman. It somehow got translated to sounding mentally impaired. I'm pretty sure it was meant to be played for laughs.
- I'm not convinced Kyza wasn't meant to be played for laughs. I think you're looking at a gag character more than a flagbearer of trans characters in mainstream media.
- And for that matter, joke character or not, let's not forget he wasn't allowed in our mainstream media. Given that the translators were comfortable with the only black character in PoR talking in third person, and nuking the romantic aspect between Ike and Soren in FE9, I somewhat doubt that their motivation was sensitivity regarding gay stereotypes.
Also I think I owe
![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
You were right all along, man. You were right about fabulous Kyza.
EDIT: I translated Cat Fight, for those of you who are more excited by Japanese Kyza than Ike/Soren. :P
RD 3-7 "Cat Fight"
Jan. 4th, 2012 03:49 pmIn which Kyza asks to be called glamorous. (I'm not making this up.)
For those of you unfamiliar with my translation posts, I put a % if the line and that above it are merged. Otherwise you can assume the translation matches up line for line.
Also, some of the wording comes off as a bit awkward in English. I prioritize accuracy in these translations, since I figure that's what people are looking for. If the words I've chosen don't carry a vibe well, I note it.
( Cut for length )
For those of you unfamiliar with my translation posts, I put a % if the line and that above it are merged. Otherwise you can assume the translation matches up line for line.
Also, some of the wording comes off as a bit awkward in English. I prioritize accuracy in these translations, since I figure that's what people are looking for. If the words I've chosen don't carry a vibe well, I note it.
( Cut for length )
PoR Ike/Soren Supports, C and B
Aug. 20th, 2011 09:03 pmNOTE: % at the end of a line means that the above two lines correspond to those two lines in the Japanese taken together, but not each to their corresponding line. (That is, some elements were transposed to make the translation more natural.) %3 is used to indicate that the above three lines are merged.
( C )
( B )
( C )
( B )