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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[Ramaster]

I have the 4e basic books in Spanish (I'm from Argentina) and the translation is quite bad.

Some background: I studied English Translation at the university.

BUT, the Pathfinder one is quite good! So is the 2nd and 3rd edition translation.

I also agree that a mediocre translation is better than no one at all.

Also, I don't want to be THAT guy, but are we allowed to write in Spanish on Enworld? I thought that was against the rules of the forum.

 

[TakeoBR]

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...

Well, some people prefer the originals, but I think there is demand for a translated version here in Brazil. In my gaming group there's some people that only speak portuguese and are waiting anxiously for a portuguese version of the game.
I fear that if WotC doesn't translate their core books to other languages we'll see many unauthorized translations made by fans.

 

[Mirtek]

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.

That's why you need experienced local publishers who are in the business for decades and know their trade. The kind of partners Wotc had a stable host of in the biggest european countries until early 4e.

 

[MoonSong]

I have the 4e basic books in Spanish (I'm from Argentina) and the translation is quite bad.

Some background: I studied English Translation at the university.

BUT, the Pathfinder one is quite good! So is the 2nd and 3rd edition translation.

I also agree that a mediocre translation is better than no one at all.

Also, I don't want to be THAT guy, but are we allowed to write in Spanish on Enworld? I thought that was against the rules of the forum.

I don't know, really. From time to time I have used some German here and there, this thread is the first time I ever used Spanish here. And it was to answer to Spanish used At least I tried to use some English. So no, no idea.

 

[Pieter-Jan Maesen]

I don't understand why they don't crowdsource the translation work. Many fans would love to help them.

 

[Jester David]

I imagine it's a time and money issue.

The D&D team wants as much money as possible. If they authorize translations like they were, WotC gets a small licencing fee and the other company translates the books and makes all the sales, collecting all the money. If WotC pays for the translations themselves and sells the books they get all the money. It's a small financial investment for a larger payoff.

However, it still requires that initial investment, which might be hard to work into a tight expense budget.
And it still requires managing the person making the translations, which is hard when you're short staffed. I imagine someone's job at WotC is "look into hiring translators" but they can only give it a tiny amount of time each day and they haven't made enough progress to really get anything done. So the process is just in a holding pattern. Like so many other licences or tools.

 

[Bolares]

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...

I kind of desagree with you here, it may be the case for your group, but a lot of people doesn't grasp english like we do, specially for kids or people in a lower social/financial level.

In the subject of the Basic Rules translation, I think that they will allow the translation for a competent company if they are asked about it, here in Brazil we have it translated (the basic rules) for almost a year now, and the DM rules are in the final steps of translation.

 

[Pieter-Jan Maesen]

I imagine it's a time and money issue.

The D&D team wants as much money as possible. If they authorize translations like they were, WotC gets a small licencing fee and the other company translates the books and makes all the sales, collecting all the money. If WotC pays for the translations themselves and sells the books they get all the money. It's a small financial investment for a larger payoff.

However, it still requires that initial investment, which might be hard to work into a tight expense budget.
And it still requires managing the person making the translations, which is hard when you're short staffed. I imagine someone's job at WotC is "look into hiring translators" but they can only give it a tiny amount of time each day and they haven't made enough progress to really get anything done. So the process is just in a holding pattern. Like so many other licences or tools.

I understand. Even though it does mean that in three years time, I will have to translate everything to Dutch myself so my kids and their friends can play.

 

[MoonSong]

I was just thinking on something. You know that brands and trademarks are only protected for a certain time, and some countries require the owner to actively use it and defend it. Well, how long has it been since the last licensed D&D book was released on countries like Spain, Brazil, Argentina Germany? more than 2? about 4? Because chances are the translated names are up for grabs (So no Dungeons and Dragons, but "Kerkers und Drachen" and "Mazmorras y Dragones" could be) so all it would take would be for a dedicated fan to write down a version of the game from the ground up with the same mechanics -that you can't copyright- and a quick visit to the local patents and brands registry and tada, local version all legal.

 

[edutrevi]

I kind of desagree with you here, it may be the case for your group, but a lot of people doesn't grasp english like we do, specially for kids or people in a lower social/financial level.

In the subject of the Basic Rules translation, I think that they will allow the translation for a competent company if they are asked about it, here in Brazil we have it translated (the basic rules) for almost a year now, and the DM rules are in the final steps of translation.

I just talked about my group. But I think the translation for the country would be extremely positive.
I totally agree with the translation!