(07-12-2017, 07:00 AM)Valence Wrote:(07-11-2017, 09:57 PM)Aysun Wrote: The idea of the actual languages existing, Doman and Hingan in particular, is fully supported by the English translation. Therefore, that's what I go with. Because I play the English version, Eorzean seems based in English (see your map, 'no entry' signs, etc - I don't believe those change when you change translation of the game!), and of course, I RP in English.
Of course, they aren't going to redesign all the game textures so that every localization gets their signs translated as well.
I know some oddballs like Blizzard do because they have huge wallets and a strong policy of detail over localization, but that's far from being the rule, and neither in cinema.
Also, if we went by the rule "I play in english so everything said literally or ambiguously in english is therefore true to my lore", I don't know then. A few months ago I started a thread to investigate if the "Gem of Shattoto" as referred to in the english version is one and only or refer to a type of jewel where there is many/several. I had to go dig in the french translation (which is always, always more literal even if cheesy), to see that it's the second option. Had I gone with the rule "the english translation is my only compass, the rest is irrelevant", then I would have taken the opposite conclusion that there is only one damn BLM soulstone in the lore.
Which sounds a bit like saying there is a mistake or something ambiguous in the english loc, but it's true even if in contradiction with the rest. It would be like saying the various typos and contradictory mistakes in the english lorebook should be ignored.
EDIT: if anything, my current take on the matter is similar to the OP. Hingan, Doman, Sea Wolf and whatnot, are all ancient (or less ancient) languages that have faded off progressively to make way to the common tongue. It's a bit like the Galactic Basic in Star Wars to my eyes. And yes, I still believe that Hingan is probably spoken plenly as Hingan in the reclusive islands of Hingashi, out of ijin's ears range though.
The one thing about the lorebook is it's not perfect. Also, not everyone has access to it. Everyone playing the game has access to the lore in the game in the language they are able to play it in. Its the localization team's responsibility to at least get the basic idea across. I don't want to nitpick little lore intricacies anymore, I'm tired and I want to have fun.
There are several things that are more than just typos in the book. There are things that directly contradict lore established in game - one of those things being this. So I default to the game. A player shouldn't have to scour all the language settings to figure out lore well enough to RP.
I'm one little RPer in a sea of RPers all interpreting the lore. Not telling anyone else how to do it, just stating how I do it and why.