Bizarre D&D Translations

[Illuminae]

Not exactly. The base sense of "spring," which is seen in the name of the feat, is to jump. The names of the season and the mechanical device derive from this. A good translation would be probably something that literally means "jumping" or "leaping" attack (saltanda?), though maybe "lunge" would better describe what it really does. The best thing is to pick whatever word is conventionally used to describe jumping when it's associated with an attack in Portuguese. In English "pounce" has a similar meaning too. Like I said, translation requires a high degree of skill in both languages - even many fluent non-native English speakers would misinterpret "spring" here, though I think most educated native speakers would get it. BTW, if you want to use spring to mean "resuming form" you usually have to add "back" to it, like "The slinky springs back into shape after you squish it." If you just say "the slinky springs", it sounds like the slinky is engaged in a predatory ambush.

Sorry but you misinterpretated my words.

Not exactly. The base sense of "spring," which is seen in the name of the feat, is to jump

No, my friend, you´re wrong. And that´s not only a matter of language as you will see.

The word JUMP itself, and its correspondent in portuguese ALSO DERIVE FORM THE IDEA I TRIED TO WROTE, HARD TASK, SINCE THOSE VERBS WERE CREATED TO MEAN SOMETHING EXACTLY AND I WAS TRYING TO EXPRESS THAT IDEA (damn caps lock) without using them.

It seems to me that you didn´t get the concept of what I wrote for SPRING, or I didnt succed at my task.

You didn´t get to the core idea, and THAT is what I was trying to do: describe the idea that originated SPRING, the starting phase of JUMPING, and the transition a flower suffers when it BLOOMS.

The concept of Spring is PRIOR to the concept of JUMP.

he names of the season and the mechanical device derive from this.

No, they derive from whatever Im trying to describe.

JUMP is caused by an SPRINGING movement, thas why thyre related, but it means more than that, it means (basicaly, I m trying to describe jump now the way I did to spring) something being propelled by that springing movement (ex: by the feet, when a human jumps), and leaving a surface.

Its hard to explain this kind of thing.
If you look at an english dictionary you´ll see jump (as you already said) is related to the meaning of spring, as well as the meaning I wrote.

Quoting dictionary.com:

* To arise from a source; develop.
* A source, origin, or beginning.
* To release from a checked or inoperative position
6. Any active power; that by which action, or motion, is produced or propagated; cause; origin; motive.

Just try to imagine the common factor from all these meanings, thats what Im trying to write here.

A good translation would be probably something that literally means "jumping" or "leaping" attack (saltanda?)

No, as I think that is not the idea of the maneuver. The idea of it is to run quickly and suddenly to attack, otehrwise they would have used the words LEAP or JUMP in the name of the feat, to be clearer (and they don´t saound stupid in english).

More like this meaning for spring, again, from dictionary.com

2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot

And jumping surely doesn´t do any good protecting you when combined with an attack, altough creating a powerful one (12 years martial arts experience).

though maybe "lunge" would better describe what it really does

Agreed.

Thats more like it, I should have proofread your post, but Im sleepy.

BTW, if you want to use spring to mean "resuming form" you usually have to add "back" to it, like "The slinky springs back into shape after you squish it." If you just say "the slinky springs", it sounds like the slinky is engaged in a predatory ambush.

No, I didn´t want that. Thanks anyway.

 

[Illuminae]

By teh way, tarchon, do you know a little portuguese?

just curious, cause you wrote saltanda, and Saltar is the verb in portuguese (well, Pular is used more).

Or do you speak spanish?

 

[Cador]

This is not about translation errors, merely about some English that doesn't work very well in Danish:

The Forgotten Realms' goddess of love is called Sune, which may sound like a romantic, female fantasy name to English speakers. But in Danish, the name Sune is a fairly common boy name. So to Danish ears, the Forgotten Realms has a goddess of love, beauty and passion, by the name of George or Richard, or a similar common name.

I don't think any of my players' characters have ever considered worshipping her. Following George, the goddess of love, would be a bit, well... queer.

 

[Zappo]

The only thing I dislike about the Italian translation is that "Rogue" is translated as if it were "Thief".

That, and "Conjuration" -> "Evocazione" while "Evocation" -> "Invocazione". If you use both books in English and Italian (like most people round here do, I think), it becomes a real mess. "Soo, a fireball is Evocazione, right?" "No, it's Invocazione" "Wait, in my book it says Evocation!" ...

 

[Klaus]

I must agree that the Brazilian-Portuguese (as opposed to Portugal-Portuguese) translation of the Core books is dreadful. Not because of the whole translation (I know the guy who did the hard work of translating the text), but rather the translation of the "gamespeak" (which was handed to him by Devir).

I mean, I sat down for 30 minutes and translated almost all of the "gamespeak" terms of the Core Books. Sometimes it seems like they never paused to consider the whole of the game. For instance, in English you have "Expertise" (the feat) and "Expert" (the NPC Class). They are clearly based on the same word. So why not use two related words in Portuguese as well (in this case, "Perícia" and "Perito")?

The worst job is in the PHB. The others are a bit better. But some of the monster names still bug me.

On the whole "Espadão", that's how it was called in 1500s Portugal, much like Buckler was called Broquel. "Montante" was the Portuguese translation for "Claymore".

 

[Madfox]

In Dutch the term 'ranger' would most likely be translated as 'doler', which is in effect a rather formal word for somebody who travels a lot without any clear goal in mind (and it could be used for somebody looking for some purpose in life). Since it is a rather formal use of the word that is not used in daily life it actually sounds quite good. I base that on the translation of Lord of the Rings though, since it would be a waste of money to translate D&D books. There is not one D&D player that I know of that does not speak English well enough to understand the books.

Now I have seen some weird translations in computer games, magic the gathering and from the Red Boxed Set ages ago. The weirdest and funiest was from a computer game (Baldur's Gate I if I remember correctly). "Turn undead" was actually translated in what came down to "to become an undead". I really wonder if clerics and paladins want to become undead that easy Of course, many of the game terms, monster names and spell names sound silly when translated. I am sure though that is more due to habit. I mean the term 'trefpunten' is quite a good translation from 'hit points', but it just sounds rediculous.

Bugbear is a funny creature as far as translations are concerned. I saw it translated as 'licebear'. Orcs are also funny since it is a word made up by Tolkien. In fact the term orc and goblin basically mean the same thing in the Hobbit. A kobold could be named 'kobold', but most Dutch imagine a completely different creature when talking about kobolds (more something akin to evil gnomes). Gnomes are also funny, since the literal translation of gnomes would be a creature more similar to a brownie then a D&D gnome

O well, I am just glad I never have to make a translation since it is not easy.

On a side note - when talking about a greatsword, doesn't the word great means 'big' in this instance? At least with weapons chances are big there are local names for them. In Dutch a greatsword would be a 'twee hander', which is just a abreviation for 2Handed Sword.

 

[Kal Torak]

The only thing I dislike about the Italian translation is that "Rogue" is translated as if it were "Thief".

That, and "Conjuration" -> "Evocazione" while "Evocation" -> "Invocazione". If you use both books in English and Italian (like most people round here do, I think), it becomes a real mess. "Soo, a fireball is Evocazione, right?" "No, it's Invocazione" "Wait, in my book it says Evocation!" ...

oh God, you have reminded me of all my sufferings, the confusion that Evocazione and Invocazione have coused in my gruop is akin to that of a )not very9 small tornado! Also the "Ladro" (thief) for Rogue is a bother, but at least thats just "traditional". But I still belive pulciorso is the worst!

By the by, the classes in italain are:
Barbaro -> Barberian
Bardo -> Bard
Chierico -> Cleric
Druido -> Druid
Guerriero -> Fighter
Ladro -> Rogue
Mago -> Wizard
Monaco -> Monk
Ranger -> Gess
Paladino -> Paladin
Stregone -> Soursorer (Sp? arggggg)

 

[Kal Torak]

Oops, double post! Sorry

 

[Ferret]

The actual translation for Bugbear(Bug from boggy, old english for fear, or something that scares you) is I think afschrikken baissier, yes?(I don't speak many languages, but I can find the right words fast.)

 

[Illuminae]

On the whole "Espadão", that's how it was called in 1500s Portugal.

I SHOULD´VE KNOWN THAT!!!!!!

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Brazilians will understand why i am LMAO.