Log in

View Full Version : problematic dialects



cna'an
02-26-2007, 09:54
Hello,

First I have to say: this is a great mod, a lot of respect and gratitude to the team.

I have noticed that the terms being used for units and buildings etc. in QartHadsat and Saba are pretty funny. I understand it is suppose to be as close as possible to the actual languages they spoke, but, as a Hebrew speaker, it is not. The terms used in the mod by QartHadsat are broken modern Hebrew, and those of Saba are mix of modern Hebrew and some Arabic. The Phoenicians spoke Punic which was developed from the ancient Phoenician language. It is closely related to Hebrew, but not the same, certainly not modern hebrew with funny syntax. In Saba they spoke some form of old southern Arabic, wich is also close to Hebrew but different. The strange mix of Hebrew and Arabic in the use now doesn't make the job.
My opinion is that if it is impossible to reconstruct the original spoken dialects for a faction, it is useless to work so hard to create something alike, wich turn out to be inaccurate and funny. I guess it is the same for some other factions, though I don't know. Maybe it is better in this case to simply name the units, buildings etc. in English.

Anyway, it is just a minor issue wich does not effect the greatness of the game.

Empty
02-26-2007, 12:50
Yes, basically You are right. There are strange (not funny) vowels, even several rude mistakes in syllable-forming concerning Qart Hadasht. But it is not completely 100% wrong. Besides it is not a diploma project and I don't think total correctness in phonetics is needed. These terms used for units and buildings is EB's special thrill and they shouldn't be removed in my oppinion. Philologists that deal with Phoenician/Canaanite lang. will surely notice the let's say discrepancies. But I don't think such attention should be paid to it.
Cheers:beam:

Teleklos Archelaou
02-26-2007, 15:54
Well, that's your opinon mate. If we can't get it 100% accurate, or even 70% accurate, or even 30% accurate, we still will try our best, and I believe the opinion you hold would be a very small minority one. Absolutely zero mod team members would agree.

Kull
02-26-2007, 20:24
Hello,

First I have to say: this is a great mod, a lot of respect and gratitude to the team.

I have noticed that the terms being used for units and buildings etc. in QartHadsat and Saba are pretty funny. I understand it is suppose to be as close as possible to the actual languages they spoke, but, as a Hebrew speaker, it is not. The terms used in the mod by QartHadsat are broken modern Hebrew, and those of Saba are mix of modern Hebrew and some Arabic. The Phoenicians spoke Punic which was developed from the ancient Phoenician language. It is closely related to Hebrew, but not the same, certainly not modern hebrew with funny syntax. In Saba they spoke some form of old southern Arabic, wich is also close to Hebrew but different. The strange mix of Hebrew and Arabic in the use now doesn't make the job.
My opinion is that if it is impossible to reconstruct the original spoken dialects for a faction, it is useless to work so hard to create something alike, wich turn out to be inaccurate and funny. I guess it is the same for some other factions, though I don't know. Maybe it is better in this case to simply name the units, buildings etc. in English.

Anyway, it is just a minor issue wich does not effect the greatness of the game.

I know you mean well, but when a post basically says, "what you have is wrong", and offers exactly zero examples to prove your point....and worse, no offer to help....

Then why, exactly, should we listen to it? :inquisitive:

cna'an
02-28-2007, 10:03
Well, what I wrote was my own personal opinion of course, and if nobody accepts it, thats fine, after all I have no rights here..
I wish I could help on this subject, but I can't, I'm not an ancient philologist.
Anyway, as I said, it's only a minor issue.


:cheerleader: