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Hello everybody and welcome to the first part of my comparative look at the English and French translations of Final Fantasy VIII! And yes, I have decided to call it âTranslarisonâ. Because it's a TRANSLAtion compARISON, you see. BTW, I shall use âTranslarisonâ as a tag if you want to search for these specific posts more easily.
The main reason why I wanted to do this was that, being French, I obviously grew up with the French version of the game but a few years ago, out of curiosity, I played through the game in English after hearing about some minor differences, and discovered that there were a lot more than what I'd been told, to the point that certain characters, scenes and even subplots come across completely differently.
On top of that, I just found some of the different choices in translation conventions very interesting, and possibly quite telling of cultural differences, so comparing the two fascinated me.
I also found it interesting that in some aspects, the French version seems to be based off the original Japanese scripts, yet in others, it seems too close to the English one to be a coincidence. It's weird, to the point if I wonder if the translator(s) used both versions as sources (assuming the English translation was already finished while the French one was being worked on). But then, there are also a lot of things that donât match either (especially when it comes to names), so itâs also interesting to see when the translator took some liberties.
Gonna tell you now, maybe it's just out of nostalgia but overall, I do prefer the French one as the characters generally come out better in my opinion, but there are parts where I like the English one better, and I will of course point those out.
Now, let me explain how I intend to work on this thing. Although this is sort of a Let's Play as I will go through the game and comment on it, it won't be a complete one as I will focus specifically on translation differences and analyse the most interesting ones (as it would get tedious to do so for every line of dialogue where all I'd have to say is âthey pretty much say the thing, except in French), so I will skip around. I may give my opinions on random moments from the game if I feel particularly strongly about them, but like I said, it wonât be the focus. If you do want to know my thoughts on every bit of the game, you can read a more traditional Letâs Play I wrote here: http://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/536741/french-version-final-fantasy-finale
I do intend to be as thorough as possible and highlight stuff from side-quests, but obviously I won't be able to cover everything considering there are parts where you need to split the party up and you can't change it until way later. Hm... maybe I could go through those again with different configurations as bonus content. NOT A PROMISE.
It is also important to note that I am an amateur doing this for fun. I apologize in advance if some of my interpretations are a bit off. I can however guarantee that my schedule will never slip as my schedule is âwhenever I feel like itâ. Keep in mind I'm doing this on my free time and it takes a lot of time to go through it, especially since I have to go through it twice for this.
One last thing before we begin: do not hesitate to ask questions. I just realized I didn't have an âaskâ button active on my blog, so I activate just for this, but of course you can also ask me stuff any other way you'd like. Oh, and feel free to request me looking at specific stuff from the game. As much of a ridiculous fanboy as I am for this game, even I don't remember or know everything about it (which is why it remains so fascinating so many years later!), and I probably won't think of re-visiting locations on my own if they aren't tied to a side-quest.
Right, that's enough blabbering, let's get to the actual game!
Nothing to say about the opening cutscene as it is still in English even in the French version, so letâs head straight for the infirmary. Not much different so far, though I do find this bit interesting. When Quistis arrives, in the English version, she says:
But in the French version, she says:
Which translates to âGood lord! I knew it would end badlyâ. You get the same idea in both versions, that Quistis is used to Squall and Seifer fighting and getting into trouble, I just find it interesting that one version chose to specifically name the characters, whereas the other chose to focus more on Quistis lamenting her studentsâ behaviour. I should also point out that logically, Quistis must have picked up Seifer first, so the French version makes a bit more sense because, well... of course you knew itâd be him, you must already be aware of what happened.
Also, note how the French version doesnât have quotation marks. While I think it looks better without them, I can see why the English version does that as it shows more explicitly that the names arenât part of the dialogue.
The conversation between the two in the hallway is very similar in both versions but there is one thing I find funny:
I really like this dynamic between the two because whereas the charactersâ angst is usually glorified in other FF games, here Quistis is seeing right through him (with her Laser Eyes!) and is having none of his crap. Also, itâs one of the few times the characters are being a bit more rude than in the English one. Not that Quistis is really being mean, but you get the idea.
On an unrelated note, I never noticed it before but as they pass by, thereâs a dude who checks out Quistis and two girls look at Squall and then giggle to themselves. I love little details like that.
Next, we get to the classroom. Still only minor differences, like Quistis saying that âit wonât be a surprise to anyoneâ that the field test is this afternoon whereas the English version has her mention there have been rumours, which kind of implies that they just drop on the kids that theyâre gonna partake in a genuine battle at the last minute.
As any seasoned FF8 player knows, the first thing to do is to pick up our trusty Guardian Forces, Shiva and...
... Golgotha?! Yes, here is the first renaming of the game. Give it a round of applause! Itâs an odd one, seemingly a reference to the hill Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on. I guess itâs because the creature has a vaguely crucifix-like shape when it spreads its wings. I have to admit Quetzalcoatl is more fitting as it is a reptilian-looking flying creature, so itâs close to a winged serpent, but I guess Golgotha is less of a pain to pronounce, and it actually fits with the character limit.
Not much else of note aside from the fact that in the Garden Square forum, Almasy is misspelled as Almassy. And considering how much of an ass Seifer is, it seems fitting. Also, one of the students uses the initials J.I in the English version whereas they use O.S. in the French one, and I donât know why.
I prefer when Squall is slightly less antisocial so I have him give Selphie a short tour of Balamb Garden University. Yes, Balamb Garden University. In what is in my opinion one of the more interesting minor changes, the Gardens are referred to as universities. And although the other two retain their original names, B-Garden is indeed known as Balamb Garden University (and yes, they keep the name in English), or BGU for short.
I realize that when you think about it, it doesnât really make sense since they teach children below college age and in fact, considering the max age to apply for SeeD is 20, they wouldnât have that many college-age students, but I like the more academic-sounding name. Come to think of it, Balamb Garden Academy would probably make more sense. Oh well.
Not that much different regarding the map but I wanted to show off the fact that even on pre-rendered stuff, the text usually is translated, which again is a nice attention to detail (although accents are omitted for some reason, which makes me think perhaps the graphics were updated using a non-European keyboard).
Well, time to look around good old Balamb Garden University. First stop, the quad (or campus, in French), for two odd changes. First, thereâs a generic male student who explains that all members of the festival committee have been dispatched around the world. In the English version, he then explains that in spite of Selphieâs enthusiasm, it doesnât seem likely itâs gonna happen:
But in the French version, he instead says that their task is to solve armed and political conflicts:
And on the same screen is one of the weirder changes. In the English version,Selphie asks Squall if heâs interested in what sheâs doing. In the French one, though, she asks if heâs interested in her. But more bizarrely, in the French version, instead of the generic âInterested/not interestedâ choices, the first option is âa little bit (physically)â.
And in both versions, she then tells him that in that case, he should join the festival committee. Naughty French Selphie, using sex-appeal to get new members!
But now, get ready to have your mind blown as we head for the cafeteria and we meet the Disciplinary Committee, because..
.
... French Fujin can actually use her adult words! In fact, pretty much none of the language tics found in the English version have made it to the French one, so Raijin doesnât go âya know?â all the time either and indeed, French Squall doesnât say âWhateverâ either.
And frankly, good riddance as far as Iâm concerned. I assume itâs something the English translator(s) added and I hate it. It might be funny for five minutes, but it completely kills characterization and I hate losing development for the sake of âOH! HE SAID IT! IT KEEPS GETTING FUNNIER AND NOT ANNOYING AT ALL THE MORE YOU DO IT!â
But if you thought THAT was crazy, hold on to your underwear because here comes another bombshell:
BOOM!! Hot dogs have been replaced with pretzels! Or as we like to call it where they actually come from (and yes, I do live in France but my region also has them as a local dish), bretzels. With a B. Apparently, in the original Japanese, it was a special kind of bread instead. No idea how many more localizations there are. Itâs a bit weird that they went with pretzels too, as itâs very specific to some areas of Europe, whereas hot-dogs are also famous here (which lends credence to my theory that the French version was made independently from the English one).
Anyway, take a minute to pick up the shattered pieces of your world and letâs continue. You know these faculty guys with their rice hats? Well for starters, theyâre referred to as âtemplierâ (which means âtemplarâ) in the French version. Also, thereâs one hanging around the library and when you talk to him, in the English version, he calls Squall a âproblem childâ whereas in the French version, he calls him âthe famous Squallâ.
I kind of like the English version a little bit more, if only for how bluntly tactless the guy is being (why, heâs almost as bad as Squall!), and yeah... âproblem childâ is putting it lightly.
Inside the library is another small change that I find amusing. You know this short-haired girl near the draw point?
But enough lolligagging, letâs head for the Fire Cavern, which in French has become the Mines de Soufre, or Sulfur Mines. And here we already have one of the most interesting changes in the game. You know how in the English version, there is this dialogue:
Well, in the French version, it goes like this:
Thatâs right, the French version goes in a completely different direction, almost the exact opposite, in fact. Now, I remember reading that in the Japanese version, Quistis says something very similar to the English one and Squall thinks to himself âyouâre a TEACHERâ, meaning he doesnât approve of how lightly sheâs taking her role, so itâs probably a misinterpretation on the French translatorâs part, but I love that version.
For starters, I think it speaks volume about Quistis. It highlights her insecurities about being a teacher, and students questioning her credibility due to her young age and lack of experience, while being oblivious to the fact that... yeah, being all alone with an attractive woman about their age , whose weapon of choice is a whip, would distract quite a few students. Hell, it seems to suggest she doesnât even realize how absurdly beautiful she is. In every version, she deflects it by saying sheâs only joking, but still, it seems there is more truth to it than she lets on.
But it also gives Squall more personality, showing that for his cold demeanour, heâs not a robot and he isnât insensitive to an attractive womanâs charm,and he even shows a bit of a sense of humour. That shows a surprisingly large amount of layers on both characters for such a small bit of dialogue.
Also, the English version makes Quistis come across as more flirtatious, whereas the French one makes her seem more naive, despite her efforts to look like a tough instructor. And this shows one of the major differences between the English and French versions as the kind of romantic subtext between the two is very much downplayed here.
I like that a lot because while many people like to think that Quistis does have romantic feelings for Squall, or at least used to have some, I always found it very refreshing to have two fictional characters of opposite genders who work together and are just friends.
Thatâs not to say she wouldnât question her feelings and whether or not they truly are platonic at some point, it seems unlikely that it would never come up, but I find the idea that her relationship with Squall is more friendly or sisterly a lot more interesting than yet another romantic sub-plot.
There isnât really anything else to mention for the rest of the test so I think Iâll end this part here. And next time, weâll be taking a look at the assault on Dollet!
I hope you all enjoyed this first part. Please feel free to comment and discuss and once again, do not hesitate to ask questions. Oh and if you liked it, a reblog would be nice to help spread the word. Thank you very much and see you soon!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Did you know this existed?! I just recently learned of it. âThe Door to Hellâ is what they call this collapsed oil/gas drilling operation. For some reason, after the drilling operation caved in in 1971, USSR âscientistsâ in Turkmenistan, thought that it might be better to set the natural gas emissions on fire rather than enter the atmosphere. They thought it would only last a few days. 47 years later, we still have a door to hell. Iâd like to take a look.