What's The Deal With D&D Translations?

Over the last year or so, the question of translations of D&D 5E into foreign languages has arisen from time to time. Sites like Hobby Japan have stated that WotC indicated that no D&D translations would be permitted, although very recently that site was apparently given permission to do translate the Basic Rules (more on that below), and today a petition was created by a German fan asking for translated books.

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This was Hobby Japan's announcement back in July 2014.

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT "D&D NEXT"
Thank you very much for your continued patronage of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

Since January of 2013, we have been engaging in promotional activities, primarily through "Table Game Channel", on the assumption of making the transtion from D&D 4th Edition to D&D Next. However, Wizards of the Coast, the publisher of D&D, has decided to sell only English versions of D&D Next, and not put out a license for translations. This applies not only to Japan, but all non-English language regions.
As a result, we cannot release a Japanese version of D&D Next.
We deeply apologize that we can meet the expectations of everyone who was looking forward to a Japanese version of D&D Next.

As a company, we will wait for an opportunity to do the translation, taking in account the possiblity that Wizards of the Coast may change their policy, but we must announce here that for the time being, there is no plan to publish Japanese versions of D&D Next merchandise.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank everyone who has supported the Japanese versions of D&D over the 10 years since the Japanese release of D&D 3rd Edition.

Eiji Nakabayashi
Game Development Department
Hobby Japan, Inc.
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WotC's Chris Perkins shortly thereafter clarified this, by saying "We want to adopt a plan that makes it possible for us to deliver new releases in multiple languages at the same time. That requires a lot of work on our end, and also likely ties into digital publishing."

Last week, Masaki Yanagida in Japan dropped me a note with the latest translation news from Japan.

As we know, Wizards of the Coast has not granted a translation license of the D&D 5th for other than English, yet. But Japanese D&D gamers obtained permission to publish the Basic Rules for D&D (Japanese version) on the Hobby Japan's D&D Suport page.

This translation made by volunteer who played D&D at D&D Adventure League (JapanRegion). Our regional coordinator and HJ's Staffs requested this permission to the WotC, and they gave it.

Player's rules comes first (PDF), and Dungeon Masters rules are in preparation now.

Some geek news sites picked up this news. And announced that, there is no plan to release a Japanese version of D&D 5th, but volunteer has translated free rules which is published at WotC site. So you can get this translation for free at HJ's D&D Site. Comments on this news shows that, not only active gamers but also retired gamers are
interested in this New D&D.

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/newsclip/20150930_723372.html

http://www.4gamer.net/games/319/G031949/20151001001/

If D&D5th translated and sell legally, more Japanese gamers will return gameshop,play the D&D, and purchase the D&D. We hope the WotC to grant translation license of D&D for local publisher.

I think, this accomplishment will encourage all other non-English gamers demanding for translated D&D.
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And just today, Info Kiem from Germany started a petition on Change.org, asking WotC to translate D&D into other languages.

With 5th Edition, Wizards of the Coast has dropped all partnerships with local publishers and stopped all foreign-language editions of the game. It may not be reflected by the sales numbers, but D&D needs a proper localization. Most dedicated players may still buy the English rulebooks, but there are always players at the table, especially younger ones, that need a translation. Other RPGs are translated, all previous editions of D&D were, why not this one? If we rally up support here, maybe we can change somebody's mind at Wizards of the Coast.

Translate the 5th Edition rulebooks!
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[Flexor the Mighty!]

Reading a translated book is like standing with your back to a painting while someone describes it to you. Still better than nothing if that's your only way to access it, though.

For a novel yes, for rules manuals I'd say its probably different.

 

[Cristian Andreu]

Una mala localización puede hacer más mal que bien. En particular yo solo pude aprender con los libros en inglés la invasión de textos de tantos lados produce mucha confusion. Y bueno, la verdad me gustaria tener una buena localización para poder enseñar a nuevas personas. Pero no creo que haya tanto público en mi país, el rol se considera lo más frikki de lo friki, y tiene una gran mística... pero Call of Ctulhu y Vampiro son los juegos en la conciencia colectiva, recuerdo que hace no mucho -como tres años, no he vuelto a ir a una convención- estabamos jugando cuando una chava se acercó a preguntar sobre el juego, pero se fue con disgusto apenas mencionamos calabozos y dragones

Una localización tendría que ser verdaderamente espantosa para ser peor que no tener opción alguna de traducción, y ni siquiera la primera versión de AD&D (la que te comentaba que incluía genialidades como "Arco-X" para traducir "Crossbow") era tan mala como para no ser mejor que nada.

En cualquier caso, mi punto no es tanto el que haya que conformarse con una mala traducción, sinó que me parece que el riesgo de que eso ocurra es sustancialmente menor al que sugieres. 3e, 3.5, Pathfinder y 4e todas fueron traducidas bastante bien, por ejemplo. No veo razón para pensar que 5e sería diferente, en particular si consideramos que muchos de los problemas que ocurrieron con las traducciones de AD&D probablemente se dieron por que no había realmente una base sobre la cual operar; quienes hicieron esas primeras localizaciones tuvieron que ingeniárselas para adaptar términos que incluso en inglés ya eran extraños y para los cuales no había un parámetro de referencia. A estas alturas, eso ya no es un tema, dado que los términos se han universalizado lo suficiente, incluso permitiendo pequeñas alteraciones que siguen siendo perfectamente comprensibles (como el que Pathfinder use "Categoría de Armadura" en lugar de "Clase"), pues el significado e interpretación se han vuelto consistentes.

Pero no creo que haya tanto público en mi país, el rol se considera lo más frikki de lo friki, y tiene una gran mística... pero Call of Ctulhu y Vampiro son los juegos en la conciencia colectiva, recuerdo que hace no mucho -como tres años, no he vuelto a ir a una convención- estabamos jugando cuando una chava se acercó a preguntar sobre el juego, pero se fue con disgusto apenas mencionamos calabozos y dragones

Aquí en Chile D&D y Pathfinder son por lejos los juegos de rol más jugados; se supone que Mundo de Tinieblas (en sus diferentes versiones y variantes) está después, pero en años recientes da la impresión que cosas como FATE han comenzado a hacerse espacio. En cualquier convención, tienda o centro de juegos, 8 de cada 10 mesas probablemente van a ser de alguna variante de D&D. 5e, empero, sigue sin enganchar demasiado, precisamente por que no hay manuales en castellano.

 

[MoonSong]

My understanding is there is a truly superb Spanish edition (Spain) based initially on Basic/Expert an expanded since then into essentially it's own version of D&D. I think it's called "Aventuras en La Marca del Este". There was a Kickstarter to create an English translation.

[Also, I didn't know CoC and Vampire were big in Mexico]

Well, that is Spain, the game might as well be The Dark Eye, it just can't be found in here, and before joining these forums I had never heard of it.

Una localización tendría que ser verdaderamente espantosa para ser peor que no tener opción alguna de traducción, y ni siquiera la primera versión de AD&D (la que te comentaba que incluía genialidades como "Arco-X" para traducir "Crossbow") era tan mala como para no ser mejor que nada.

En cualquier caso, mi punto no es tanto el que haya que conformarse con una mala traducción, sinó que me parece que el riesgo de que eso ocurra es sustancialmente menor al que sugieres. 3e, 3.5, Pathfinder y 4e todas fueron traducidas bastante bien, por ejemplo. No veo razón para pensar que 5e sería diferente, en particular si consideramos que muchos de los problemas que ocurrieron con las traducciones de AD&D probablemente se dieron por que no había realmente una base sobre la cual operar; quienes hicieron esas primeras localizaciones tuvieron que ingeniárselas para adaptar términos que incluso en inglés ya eran extraños y para los cuales no había un parámetro de referencia. A estas alturas, eso ya no es un tema, dado que los términos se han universalizado lo suficiente, incluso permitiendo pequeñas alteraciones que siguen siendo perfectamente comprensibles (como el que Pathfinder use "Categoría de Armadura" en lugar de "Clase"), pues el significado e interpretación se han vuelto consistentes.




Aquí en Chile D&D y Pathfinder son por lejos los juegos de rol más jugados; se supone que Mundo de Tinieblas (en sus diferentes versiones y variantes) está después, pero en años recientes da la impresión que cosas como FATE han comenzado a hacerse espacio. En cualquier convención, tienda o centro de juegos, 8 de cada 10 mesas probablemente van a ser de alguna variante de D&D. 5e, empero, sigue sin enganchar demasiado, precisamente por que no hay manuales en castellano.

Bueno imagina tener que jugar con una mezcla de traducciones españolas y chilenas de calidad muy variable. Demasiada confusion. Tal vez Fate si sea lo más popular aqui tal vez no. Realmente tiene como diez años que no se de juego público, todo sucede a nivel domestico -se de un par de tiendas que manejan encounters, pero no he podido ir a ninguna sesión y estan mas o menos lejos de donde vivo y de noche entre semana, olvidalo-. Todo se fue al diablo cuando el grupo de rol que organizaba juegos en las convenciones se desintegró. Como sea no tengo forma de saber realmetne cual es la version más jugada, cuando hay libros de D&D a la venta estos se agotan rápido pero lo mismo pasa con Vampiro. La verdad hasta donde sé los wargames son mucho más visibles que los rpgs y Magic y Yugioh y mitos estan en donde sea, pero para conseguir libros de D&D hay que usar Amazon o buscar las tiendas especificas o esperar que de repente un distribuidor grande se decida a traer una docena al país. Pero en sí cuando hablas de rol Vampiro es lo primero que viene a la mente de las personas, o nada en absoluto -es gracioso porque siempre he sido un poquito darkie, y cuando ha salido el tema a colación siempre recibo un "oh, lo sabía" con la mirada. Asumen de immediato que debo de jugar vampiro no se imaginan que realmente juego D&D

 

[dd.stevenson]

Reading a translated book is like standing with your back to a painting while someone describes it to you. Still better than nothing if that's your only way to access it, though.

I dunno--it depends on the particulars of the original work. I'd say the tone in the 5E manual is unremarkable enough that it could be translated into other Latinate languages without much loss--the only standout prose I can remember is the bit about trans elves being made in their god's image, but that wasn't part of a consistent tone.

Gygaxian prose, on the other hand...

 

[Lord_Blacksteel]

Regardless of difficulty D&D was being translated at least as far back as the 80's because TSR used to brag about it. It's easier now than it was then. I seriously doubt that the actual work of doing a translation is what's holding them up. This sounds more like a Hasbro-level decision. As someone mentioned above they are international and doing it through the corporate process can complicate things at the very least. That simultaneous release plan sounds like an element of a larger effort. That means WOTC local can't just send it to a translation service and get it done and out the door.

 

[Tyranthraxus]

i find it funny that there is an Australian Flag in the graphic above. The national language of Australian is English. There is no need for a localisation here.

 

[Morrus]

i find it funny that there is an Australian Flag in the graphic above. The national language of Australian is English. There is no need for a localisation here.

There are also UK, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, and USA flags.

 

[Jan van Leyden]

Regardless of difficulty D&D was being translated at least as far back as the 80's because TSR used to brag about it. It's easier now than it was then. I seriously doubt that the actual work of doing a translation is what's holding them up. This sounds more like a Hasbro-level decision. As someone mentioned above they are international and doing it through the corporate process can complicate things at the very least. That simultaneous release plan sounds like an element of a larger effort. That means WOTC local can't just send it to a translation service and get it done and out the door.

The translation itself is the smallest part; handling it in a professional way is where the problems arise. Even before you can send your text to a translator, you have to work on the terminology.

A lot of terms in rulebooks have to be defined in the target language beforehand. You don't want to have a translator, on whose experience with D&D you never can be sure, to translate a game-term like Armor Class. He might select a term he's satisfied with and you're stuck with it. Hence you take pains to extract a list of game terms, translate them or have them translated with care, discussing until you're sure it fits. This list is handed to the actual translator who has to use it. Of course you have to check that as well.

You need a translation manager inhouse, who knows the texts very well - i.e. knows D&D - and can at least read and understand the target language to check the results. And you wouldn't want to publish a translation which you couldn't check beforehand.

 

[Shasarak]

i find it funny that there is an Australian Flag in the graphic above. The national language of Australian is English. There is no need for a localisation here.

Maybe a simplified version with more pictures? =;0)

 

[edutrevi]

I'm from Brazil [Brasil] here we speak portuguese [português] and even if they release a translation, we will continue to play with the original english books...