Final Fantasy VIII - Localisation Review (1)

This is the first entry in a series of posts looking at the localisation of the beginning segment of the game, Final Fantasy VIII. Thanks for reading!

---

		English
Squall 1	北ブロックの西にあるのが学生食堂だ。ここの売店のパンは競争が激しい。確実に手に入れるには並ぶしかないな	West of the North Block is the cafeteria. There's always a big rush for the hot dogs. You better get used to waiting in line.

1. The biggest issue the translator had to deal with here was how to translate "pan" (パン), the popular food in the cafeteria. A Japanese to English dictionary defines pan as "bread; pastries (e.g. croissants); pastry-based products." A Google Image search for this word confirms that accuracy of this definition, as shown below by one of the top hits. However, this is fairly difficult to translate into English. For one thing, the word encompasses multiple items, which although is a natural reference term in Japanese, I feel doesn't sit as smoothly in English as, "pastries" or "danishes." Moreover, from my years living in Japan, I think pan holds a different status in Japan than Western countries. Let's just say I can't imagine many people in the West would be have experienced a cafeteria where students run to get danishes. Conversely, a hot dog is a food item that would easily be accepted as having such status, and it stills falls into the pan category (as the picture below shows), which is why I think this is great localisation work. Of course there is the issue that Final Fantasy VIII is not specifically set in Japan or a Western country, but I feel that the use of pan is simply a bit of Japanese culture slipping into their game's writing, rather than intentional, specific world building.

---

	Japanese	English
Squall 2	後は東ブロックだな。ここは訓練施設になっている。唯一、夜間でも使用できる施設だ。訓練といっても、中には本物のモンスターが放してあるから 甘く見てると、命を落とす事になる。気をつけるんだな。	Now the East Block. This is the training center. It’s the only facility open during the night. It's used for training, and they have real monsters running loose here. If you don't take it seriously, you may end up dead. Just be careful.

2. The third sentence of the English contains a very slightly different nuance to the Japanese, which reads, "Although it's a training facility, there are have real monsters running loose inside." The difference lies in how the two parts of the sentence are connected. The translation uses "and", a neutral conjunction, whereas the Japanese contains a contrasting conjunction (e.g. "although"). It's a tiny issue, but nonetheless I think there is no reason for the English to contain a different conjunctive. The fourth sentence is also different in that it lacks the modal verb "may" that is present in the English. Squall simply says, "You'll end up dead." This Japanese makes Squall's way of speak seem blunter, which is more appropriate given his characterisation in the game.

---

	Japanese	English
Quistis 3	私とここに来ると、いつもの実力を出せない生徒、多いのよね。私の魅力ってやつかしら？	You now, the boys often choke on this test when I come with them. I guess my charm makes them nervous.

3. The Japanese literally reads, "Many students who come here with me aren't able to perform to their usual standard. It guess it's my allure?" The Japanese doesn't specifically mention the gender of these students, but given the second sentence (which in the Japanese doesn't mention them becoming nervous), it seems likely that she is referring to male students. Indeed, if the intention was for Quistis to speak in a somewhat alluring manner, I like the literal translation I provided because it contains sexual innuendo. However, I applaud the translator for taking the meaning of "いつもの実力を出せない生徒" (students unable to show their usual ability) and concisely and naturally conveying this through the word, "choke." Great work!

---

	Japanese	English
Cid 4	みなさん、お久しぶりです。学園長のシドです。この試験にはＡ班からＤ班まで総勢１２名が参加しますが……。	It's been a while, everyone. How's everyone doing? This exam will involve 12 members from Squads A through D...
Cid 5	[...] 生と死、勝利と敗北、名誉と屈辱すべてが隣り合わせの世界。君たちのほとんどが、まだ知らない世界というわけですね。どうです？おじけづいた人はいませんか？	Life and death, victory and defeat, honor and disgrace... Each of these go hand in hand. There's only one way or the other. How 'bout it? Are you still up for it?
Cid 6	我らバラム・ガーデンが誇る精鋭傭兵部隊ＳｅｅＤ。彼らを見習い、指示に従って試験を乗り切ってください。我こそはＳｅｅＤにふさわしいと存分にアピールするのです。さあ、行きなさい。	The pride of Balamb Garden! The elite mercenary force, SeeD! Learn from them, obey their commands and accomplish the mission. Prove yourselves worthy of becoming a member of SeeD. Best of luck.

4. The second sentence of the English is entirely different from the Japanese, which reads, "I am headmaster Cid." Obviously this had to be cut, as it would seem very strange in English for a headmaster identifying himself in a manner that sounds like he is introducing himself for the first time. I think this a cultural issue. I think that at the high school ceremonies I have attended in Japan, the principal may have begun a speech by self-identifying like Cid in Final Fantasy VIII. I don't think the addition of, "How's everyone doing?" was necessary, but it does make the headmaster seem more personable, which fits with his overall characterisation.

5. The first Japanese sentence literally reads, "It's a world where life and death, victory and defeat, honour and disgrace exist side-by-side each other." This mention of the "world" is important as he uses this again in the second sentence of the Japanese, which is absent from the English. It reads, "It's a world still unknown to most of you, isn't it?" The English line, "There's only one way or the other" is absent from the Japanese, and is an unnecessary addition. Even if it was needed, I think it is possible to convey the same sentiment by the use of "side-by-side" in a prior sentence. Finally, the last sentence of the Japanese reads, "Has anyone got cold feet/lost their nerve?" However, I like the game's translation here because it conveys what Cid is saying in a more direct manner, which I feel is more natural for the occasion.

6. The last line of Cid's speech in Japanese reads, "Now get going!" I think this is a perfectly natural way for a headmaster to end such a speech in English. However, Cid wishing the students good luck lines up with the previous perceived localisation direction designed to make Cid seem like a friendlier figure. Moreover, I suppose that is a more common way to end such a speech.

---

Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the above points or Final Fantasy VIII's localisation as a whole, so please comment if you've got something to say. 

If you enjoyed this post, I bet you'll like the next post in this series: 
http://www.localireview.com/2015/04/ff8-2.html