Translations

**keravnos** · 03-03-2007, 01:14

Originally Posted by GodEmperorLeto

Twofold question.

When translating commands and names into the original languages, I'd assume you wouldn't use Attic or Doric, but rather, Koine Greek. Am I correct?

Second, how much work went into the translation? I mean, the sort of work done seems to have been very specific and not the sort of translation work you would be assigned in, say, Latin 450: Cicero, on your standard university campus.

I can only speak for the Greek part of it, as I have been active on this part. Ancient Greek Attike was used NOT Koine Greek. Reason? Well, the date the mod starts, at 272 BC Koine wasn't yet formed. Earlier date/time I think we can be actually speaking of Koine was 130 BC and onwards. Thus our voicemod was the way it was.

On the other question, yes it was very specific. I based my text on Xenophon's books about the 10.000 mercs who reached Babylon and then returned to Greece (well, most of them returned, at least). If you take the time and read the ancient greek text it reads much like someone who closed his eyes years after the fact and remembered what happened. I used all verbs and expressions I could find that were suitable. Even some colloquialisms of the time.

2 examples...

"ΕΚΚΥΜΑΙΝΕΤΕ" that means roughly "attack like the wave hits the shore". It wasn't a word that I was going to use, but basing the battle commands on Xenophon has authenticity written all over it. This is what the commanders yelled to the 10.000 when they were going to attack the Persian line. (In the first big battle where Cyrus the Younger was killed, the battle of Cunaxa.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophon

"ΔΡΟΜΩΙ ΘΕΙΤΕ" that literally means " (run) quickly run" , yes "run" is appearing twice. It is basically wrong but in colloquial greek of the time it means "run like hell" or "ran fast quickly!". This is the kind of detail and authenticity that you CAN'T get from a dictionary, and this is the very reason why I believe IF there is surviving battle accounts of the era or close the voicemod should be based on it.

The following is the original text from Wikisource (I just love those wiki guys!-All that knowledge a click away-Internet the way it was supposed to be!) If you can read Ancient Greek it is a very nice way to read some Xenophon on the road, (no need to carry around books with you, just log on and read). For the others if you are so inclined, there it is...

http://el.wikisource.org/wiki/%CE%9A...F%82_%CE%91%27

Work to be done.... Include Tellos Athenaios' excellent battle sentences and also battle events (If I hear "maiii lord" one more time I will cringe!

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 03-03-2007, 02:13

Can you tell me what the word means that can be read on the greek unit banners in battle? I think its GEZOI - what does that mean?

**keravnos** · 03-03-2007, 02:14

Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

Can you tell me what the word means that can be read on the greek unit banners in battle? I think its GEZOI - what does that mean?

Actually it is "ΠΕΖΟΙ" and it means "infantry"

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 03-03-2007, 02:34

Originally Posted by keravnos

Actually it is "ΠΕΖΟΙ" and it means "infantry"

Thank you Keravnos. I have only very little knowledge, if any, of the greek language and alphabet. In the game, as you can see in the screenshot, it looks rather like what I thought was a "gamma". So thank you for the correction.

**keravnos** · 03-03-2007, 03:03

That is one of the ways in which "Π" was written in ancient greek. An asymmetrical "Π", with one leg lower than the other. Give the lower leg a twirl and it becomes a "P", much like Romani did.