Foreign Languages used IC'ly

[Wafflecone]

Can I still roll a goosestepping Damarran with a huge mustache? JA MEIN HERR! *clicks heels, salute*

[Draon17]

I'm with Howland here all the way. I love speaking what little french I know, but when I saw people using it IC it bothered me a bit.

Although there are certain phrases that have become part of the english lexicon, RSVP, C'est la vie, raison d'être. Some of these we use for the novelty, or perhaps the phrase first introduced to english speakers in another language (could be we didn't say "that's life" until we heard the french do it, I have no clue). Raison d'etre is listed as an english phrase (when missing the accent mark) and while the words are french the first recorded usage of the phrase in English dates back to 1864. This sort of complicates the issue, because these examples have an established place in our language (where as "oui" means yes in french, and if we want to say yes, we just say yes unless we want to go "ha ha francais!" (which isn't to say I don't do that IRL)).

Also does the server use the NPC voice set that says "Bonjour, hello." anywhere?

[MalkavianMilkBalls]

Mostly Agree

I largely agree with the basis that many people don't understand the languages when used. My only problem is that canonically we sometimes see that Forgotten Realms cultures reflect rl cultures.

I'll point prominently to Kara'Tur being heavily influenced by japanese culture. A prime example for this is in Baldur's Gate 2, the character Yoshimo will use japanese phrases ranging from "Thank goodness" (Yokatta) to "I understand" (Wakarimasu). That aside, it is commonly accepted that the katana in the forgotten realms setting is derived from Kara'Tur.

The point of all that being that while I agree that we shouldn't be holding long drawn out conversations, I *do* think that characters speaking different languages is part of rping.

While most people speak common there are many who have other languages and it has been established that many languages mirror or draw from irl ones. It seems to me that we need to build some langauge base for the server. Something that has some guide to elvish, dwarfish, and other established forgotten realms languages, that way these lapses outside of common aren't so jarring.

[Disco]

Finaly! No more silly words we can not understand. I suguest we also put a ban on elven. Who in their right mind understand elven!?

P.S No offence intended.

[Howlando]

I'll point prominently to Kara'Tur being heavily influenced by japanese culture. A prime example for this is in Baldur's Gate 2, the character Yoshimo will use japanese phrases ranging from "Thank goodness" (Yokatta) to "I understand" (Wakarimasu). That aside, it is commonly accepted that the katana in the forgotten realms setting is derived from Kara'Tur.

The base item "Katana" in efu is typically used as some kind of exotic calimshan or even netherese blade-type, nothing to do with Kara'tur and not something to be called a "katana" IC'ly.

I have never found Japanese used IC'ly to be anything but cringe-worthy, personally...

[Aethereal]

I use Elven IG. But only with elves and if I do use it with non elves I include an IC correction or notification of what it means. Its mostly for flavour though and shouldn't be overused as to annoy folks!

[Haromaro]

I use Elven IG. But only with elves and if I do use it with non elves I include an IC correction or notification of what it means. Its mostly for flavour though and shouldn't be overused as to annoy folks!

The big difference between elven and French/Japanese is that elven is an established language in the setting. Even then, excessive use of such can become grating. I feel like flavor is fine so long as it coincides with the setting, which Japanese and French do not. Even worse is the fact that the words being used are translations of extremely common, easy to pronounce English (common) words, which makes absolutely no sense. Really, I might as well be playing a half-orc who slams a closed fist against his chest and shouts "Lok'tar ogar!" in greeting to everyone; it's the same concept.

It bothers some people while others don't mind it, but I think the integral issue here is that there's a pretty vocal majority that feel seeing real life foreign languages is jarring. The server always asks us "how will x that you do cause y to make other players happy?" and the fact of the matter is that foreign languages ruin immersion more than it helps the fun factor of the game. If you want flavor, do some research on where your character comes from, maybe find a few common phrases or terms your character might take a preference for. Something as simple as the difference between "shopping cart" and "buggy" would do fine. Personally, I thought some of the things that sprung up from the DM's discouraging the use of the F-bomb were pretty spiffy.

[MalkavianMilkBalls]

Whatever you call the weapons on the server or where ever you base them seems a bit off the point of language. The point made was that there is at least some evidence of real world language and culture being mixed with purely fictional ones.

While I'll be the first to agree that anyone attempting Japanese without an understanding of spelling and grammar is painful, to deny it's viability over any other language seems wrong. In truth though, isn't it true that *any* language spoken poorly is painful, common included? I think rather than banning languages based in the forgotten realms, it should be second in getting people who *do* attempt them, to do it well.

[Garem]

Kara Tur is not based on Japan. =( It's based on this planet's biggest continent. =( =( And they were really lazy/uncreative about making them, because the similarities are loldiculous. Really, WotC wasn't even trying to make them unique.

[Howlando]

I'm aware that Kara'tur is the continent, and agree that a main issue with it is that WOTC just didn't do a good job with it.

Seriously.... KORYO for Korea?

TABOT?

[Big Orc Man]

Free Tabot!

It is pretty lazy.  Usually they at least renamed a nation beyond moving a couple letters.

[Drakill Tannan]

(...) I feel like flavor is fine so long as it coincides with the setting, which Japanese and French do not. (...)

French fits perfectly when you take a good look at the numinous order. Honestly, when i think numinous order french cruzaders is the first thing that comes to mind.

Spanish makes the PC sound exotic imo. Though i wish people would use it correctly.

Japanese... i personally hate it. It irritates me. But that's just me.

Honestlly i think it's about "accents" more than speaking the language. A few words wich meaning everyone knows, like "Bonjour", "Señor", etc. Don't seem to harm no one more than "Vedui" does. This mostly so that players know your character uses the accent of that language, rather than speaking it often.

imo

[LAwfulGoodThief]

Kara Tur is not based on Japan. =( It's based on this planet's biggest continent. =( =( And they were really lazy/uncreative about making them, because the similarities are ridiculous. Really, WotC wasn't even trying to make them unique.

You can't blame WOTC. Kara-Tur goes all the way back to Gary Gygax and the 1st edition AD&D Oriental Adventures book. Kozakura and Wa were the two Japanese-themed island nations.

[chezcaliente]

If you have access to some of the third edition splat books for the forgotten realms, I highly recommend them. Almost all of them include a few words from the various faeurunian cultures that the book pertains to.

And even though I know we're not in 4E here on EfU:M, the 4th edition FRCG contains a few words in a glossary that could definitely be used for flavour here I think.

[Decimate_The_Weak]

Accents can improve the atmosphere created around a character as well as make the character itself more flavorful & interesting.

Use accents, but don't use languages that aren't canon to the FR setting. It's "jarring" as some of us have put it & doesn't do a lot of good in terms of flavoring your PC.

As posted previously, with the dwarven accents; "Oi", and things similar make the game more immersive because it gives races & cultures an actual difference in their dialogue.

Accents, not language.