This, a quest item from Final Fantasy XIV, is one of the most peculiar localisation examples I have ever seen. I wanted to post a screenshot as evidence, but for the sake of convenience I have typed up the text.
Japanese | English |
---|---|
フンベルクト宛ての小包 | Hunberct's Package |
シルフ族の商人から送られたフンベルクト宛ての小包 |
A new package for Hunberct Longhaft (not that he was dissatisfied with his current one).
|
逢いたい背中
| Stroking the Haft |
The translation of the quest item seems like a standard translation. Literally, the Japanese reads, "A package addressed to Hunberukuto." The translation of the item description is where the localisation takes a strange turn into the territory of sexual innuendo that is entirely absent from the Japanese. The Japanese reads, "A package for Hunberukuto sent from a merchant of the Sylph clan." However, the English cuts out any mention of the merchant from the Sylyh clan, and instead adds in a sexual pun based on the word "package". Similarly, a literal translation of the name of the quest attached to this item is, "A back (i.e. the part of the human body) I'd like to meet." Perplexing. This might be a Japanese joke or reference that I am failing to understand. The English however deviates to make a pun about male masturbation that I don't think I needs any further explanation! I would love to know how this text ended up in the game. Given that Final Fantasy XV is an MMORPG with a tremendous amount of quest and accompanying text, I can't imagine that the translation for minor sub-quests are handled too strictly. I wonder though if the localisation team was given a specific directive to handle the localisation in such a manner, of whether the above text is an example is of a translator just having some fun. Since I don't the specific details of this quest (i.e. if there is a sexual-spin to the proceedings), I'm unable to comment on whether I think this translation is a good fit, but I can say that it certainly is quite bizarre!
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