(07-13-2015, 09:46 AM)Vachir Crimsonborn Wrote: Personally, when my Au Ra is explaining something to an Eorzean, he uses a few Japanese terms. For example:
- "I am trained in the way of the Ninja, what you call 'assassin'."
- "In Doma I saw ninjas using a 'dagger' with extra prongs on to disarm their foes. It was called a 'sai'."
- "Ah, you are proficient in the use of a 'naginata'? I believe you call it a 'lance'."
I can see using those examples as a way of describing how things are different in Doma, but they are different terms for specific things that are in fact different. In this world a Ninja has their own way of doing things that set them apart from rogues and an assassin could be used to describe any sort of trained killer whether they use a dagger or just simply poison someones drink. A sai is a small metal weapon and that is where the similarities with a dagger just about end since they are not bladed and are used to mosty to disarm or punch through an opponent. Same goes with the naginata compared to a lance. While both might be considered polearms they are very different since one has a blade and the other has just a pointed tip.Â
Since my Au Ra uses a naginata she would be quick to correct someone who made a statement like the one you used as an example since it would be like saying "Ah, you are proficient with the use of a 'katana'? I believe you call it a 'rapier'.". Two different weapon from two different parts of the world used in two different ways based on the weapon's strengths.
The way I rationalize the different terms for things is not because there are two completely different languages, but because there are two completely different cultures. Take some form the US and someone from the UK for example. We both use cars and speak english. But whereas I go to a gas station and put gasoline in my car, the people from across the pond go to a petrol station and put petrol in their car. I store things in the trunk of my car and they put theirs in the boot. I leave my car in a parking garage and they leave theirs in a car park and these examples are actually comparing apples to apples.
So by all means have different terms for things and even use idioms that would sound foreign to people who are originally from your character's new found home, but until we have lore, I feel all that pretending there is another language will do is alienate people and could make you look silly if lore later says specifically no such language exists in canon.
