Translating Thief games... need help. - by bukary
bukary on 7/8/2006 at 08:18
I am preparing an official translation of Thief GOLD and Thief 2 into Polish. I'd like to use this topic to ask some questions about these games and any linguistic problems I might run into. I'll be very grateful for any help.
1) Why Basso? Why "the Boxman"? I know what "Basso" means (a basss singer), but does it have any meaning? And what about "Boxman"? Basso is a firelighter. It has anything to do with matchbox? Or perhaps "box" means "a blow with the hand" here and Basso is very strong, or something?
2) Overlord's Fancy. Do you think "fancy" means "imagination" or "caprice" in this context?
3) Sunnyfair. "Fair" stands for "beloved woman" or "market" here?
4) I'm translating all gambling pits' names into Polish. But does Dreckboun has any meaning?
5) Why EXACTLY is "Cragscleft" called "Cragscleft"? Because it is inside of a mountain?
6) "Cutty" might mean "short" and "not very tall"?
7)
Quote:
...And the manfools piled rock on rocks and raised a treesie roof, hammers saws tear the skin of goodsie wood... ...and laughs at the Woodsie Lord. ...And when learns the Lord of this, He sends His beastesses to the manfools... ...who attacks and hammers saws their useless fleshes, and build him a house of they rotting skins.
What does "hammers saws" mean here? And "hammers saws tear" Are these all verbs? If so, why no commas? Why no "s" after "tear"?
8)
Quote:
Blindness is the manfools theys gathers up treasures and greeders themselves on gold rocks and fetters The Woodsie One wreaks thems with lilacs and nettles and gathers theys bones for His porridge and feathers.
What does it mean that Trickster gathers bones for feathers?
9)
Quote:
Danced we in joys and triumphs. With us the Woodsie Lord danced the stringsie foolsie man Rose the storms in shouty glee, the darkness in feary glooms, the fires in happy greed. Danced we away, and fed the sad stringsie manfool to their devourings for our thanks.
What does "stringsie foolsie man" mean here? And could anyone explain the meaning of the last sentence to me?
10)
Quote:
Since you left us, you've been a stone rolling downhill. Now you must aim this remarkable momentum. It is past time for the balance to shift.
Does "momentum" refer to the 'movement' of Garrett down the hill? Does it mean something like "now you must move in the right direction", or "now you must properly control your movement"?
11)
Quote:
Keeper: Very well. I will speak my piece plainly. You have accomplished that which was written, and YES...you've done it well. But there is no place for you with us any longer. Yet you will have a great need of us, and soon.
Garrett: I don't think so. I'm through with heroics.
"I'm through with heroics" means "I'm through with being a hero"?
12)
Quote:
One resides with Brother Mason. One is behind the Skull of St. Yora. One is in the kitchen, by the oven. One is behind the rack which loosens men's tongues. One is behind the Keystone Tree. The locks must be released within the span of five minutes; when all of the locks are released, the Talisman Cage can be opened. Then, he who removes the Talisman must first recite the Prayer of the Wallbuilder.
Why is the tree called "Keystone"? Because of its shape?
13)
Quote:
The priests shall no longer doubt their decision to give me allowance to convert the unused storage room in the winter tunnels into an alchemy laboratory.
Why "winter" tunnels? Were they used during winter time in the cloister?
14)
Quote:
1,000 Gerwitz contract
(quote from Dowininders)
Does it mean that it is a contract to kill Gerwitz, or a contract that some Gerwitz has to fulfill?
15)
Quote:
Pay tributes at Magrin's quarters, in the southeast Arches.
Why "Arches"? Because the sewers are arc-shaped?
16)
Quote:
- Hide key to Donal's Master Safe behind the secret panel in my room
What is this secret panel? Is it in the wall? I played this mission, but I can't find it. Does anyone has a screenshot of it?
17)
Quote:
Tooks they your dealer Tarquis in their clutches night past, and two patrons as well, named of Lisalle and Ryen, skupped up as they left
Lisalle, Ryen - these are femine names?
18)
Quote:
1,491 Cash pits and dealer take: Dreckboun
(from Bafford)
"Dealer" means someone who distrubutes the cards in gambling pit, or just "merchant" (perhaps Tarquis)?
19)
Quote:
8: Tybal, Whorekeep. Died of Flux.
(from Cragscleft)
What is a flux?
20) Watchman's Grave. Are there any information who "Watchman" was?
21)
Quote:
Let the tomb be dug deep into the earth, and filled with all manner of things which are pleasing to serve him in his nether days. Splendor shall follow our beloved monarch to mark his glory. And woe to those who would disturb his sleep! They shall be imperiled from below, from above and from that which is directly before their eyes.
This can be found in the Lost City, near the remains of the Keeper. "From below" - because of lava. "From above" - because of falling trap. But why "before their eyes"? I've beed to this tomb and found only danger from below and from above.
22) Does anyone know what are the origins of the name "Dayport"?
23) Why is Ramirez often called "Master Ramirez". Does "master" mean simply "mister" here? Or is it some name that has anything to do with "Master of Crime" etc.?
24) And one more request... I'd like to translate quotes from Thief production. Unfortunately, I have some serious problems with understanding most of the jokes from "QUOTES.STR" (found in crfs\books in Thief GOLD). If there's anyone with planty of time, I'd be very grateful for short "analysis" and explanation of these quotes... I might copy them here, if it is necessary.
Thanks in advance! :angel:
Ajare on 7/8/2006 at 09:48
Quote Posted by bukary
2) Overlord's Fancy. Do you think "fancy" means "imagination" or "caprice" in this context?
Caprice.
Quote:
3) Sunnyfair. "Fair" stands for "beloved woman" or "market" here?
Market, though (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair) this is perhaps more helpful.
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5) Why EXACTLY is "Cragscleft" called "Cragscleft"? Because it is inside of a mountain?
Because it's a cleft in a crag. Hewn out of a mountain, essentially.
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What does "hammers saws" mean here? And "hammers saws tear" Are these all verbs? If so, why no commas? Why no "s" after "tear"?
I'd say the first 'saw' is a noun and the second a verb. But it's hard to tell, because it's thiefsie speak.
Quote:
Does "momentum" refer to the 'movement' of Garrett down the hill? Does it mean something like "now you must move in the right direction", or "now you must properly control your movement"?
Since Garrett left the Keepers, he's devoted his energies in a generally negative fashion. But he's pretty damn good at what he does. By 'aiming', he needs to 'convert' this expertise into useful/good enterprises. It's slightly clumsily put.
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"I'm through with heroics" means "I'm through with being a hero"?
Basically, yeah.
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Why "winter" tunnels? Were they used during winter time in the cloister?
Probably storage for winter supplies.
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Does it mean that it is a contract to kill Gerwitz, or a contract that some Gerwitz has to fulfill?
Does this come under 'expenses'? If it's money that the Downwinders paid to Gerwitz, then it's probably a bribe. Otherwise, it's probably a job that Gerwitz paid the Downwinders to do.
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Why "Arches"? Because the sewers are arc-shaped?
Most likely.
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Lisalle, Ryen - these are femine names?
Lisalle yes, Ryen hard to tell. I'd say no.
Dysentry.
Quote:
23) Why is Ramirez often called "Master Ramirez". Does "master" mean simply "mister" here?
Depends who calls him 'Master'. If it's servants, then it's because he's their employer. If it's equals or above, then it's just a respectful form of 'mister'.
dlw6 on 7/8/2006 at 10:33
Here's what I can offer that hasn't already been answered:
6. Cutty might just be a violent-sounding name, just like "Garret" sounds similar to "garrotte," a cord or wire weapon used to strangle people by surprise.
7 & 8. Pagan-speak (not counting T3) is like poetry, it doesn't always make literal sense but conveys vague feelings and ideas.
9. Same as #7 & #9, but I'll try. "Danced we away, and fed the sad stringsie manfool to their devourings for our thanks." could be rephrased as "We danced away, and fed the sad foolish man to be devoured [by the storms, darkness, and fires, i.e. the forces of nature] as an offering of thanks [to the Trickster]." In other words, the Trickster somehow enticed a non-pagan into the wildnerness (maybe the guy who'd been cutting down the trees?), the forces of nature killed him, and the pagans were thankful. I don't know what "stringsie" is supposed to mean. It could refer to the victim not being strong enough to survive, but more likely it just sounded scary when they wrote it.
20. Watchman is another name for "city guard" or "city watch." For a thief to put coins on the watchman's grave would be like saluting a fallen enemy and asking for luck the next time the thief has to deal with a live watchman.
22. Dayport: It could be something as simple as a harbor or dock which is only safe to travel in the daytime, either due to navigational hazards (when sailing) or crime (when walking). Place names are funny things -- they make sense when someone creates them, but a few generations later nobody remembers the reason but keep using the name. For example, I'd like to know how the locations in Kentucky, USA, known as "Toad Lick," "Knob Lick," and "Big Bone Lick" got their names.
Good luck,
Don
Vigil on 7/8/2006 at 11:43
Quote:
1) Why Basso? Why "the Boxman"? I know what "Basso" means (a basss singer), but does it have any meaning? And what about "Boxman"? Basso is a firelighter. It has anything to do with matchbox? Or perhaps "box" means "a blow with the hand" here and Basso is very strong, or something?
Basso is just a name, it isn't intended to directly suggest a bass singer - I think the writers just liked the sound of the word. Boxman in this context is thieves' cant for a specialist in 'bypassing' locks. Garrett relies on him in Running Interference to get entrance to the house - it's assumed that Basso is more skilled with locks than Garrett, though Garrett can of course get by.
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4) I'm translating all gambling pits' names into Polish. But does Dreckboun has any meaning?
Nope.
Quote:
7) What does "hammers saws" mean here? And "hammers saws tear" Are these all verbs? If so, why no commas? Why no "s" after "tear"?
This could mean either "their hammers and saws tear (rip) the wood" or "the saws of the Hammerites tear (rip) the wood", depending on how much stock you put in the pagans' skill with apostrophes.
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"Dealer" means someone who distrubutes the cards in gambling pit, or just "merchant" (perhaps Tarquis)?
The former, just as in a casino. Dealer take is the house's winnings from the table.
DarkElf_Mairead on 7/8/2006 at 11:47
Wow I have learned a lot just from this post. I always wondered about Boxman.
dlw6:
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bone_Lick%2C_Kentucky)
"The name of the area, Big Bone, Kentucky, comes from the Pleistocene megafauna fossils found at the park. The mammoths and other creatures are believed to have been drawn to this location by a salt lick."
Couldn't find the other two places. But it probably has something to do with a salt lick too, like French Lick.
jtr7 on 7/8/2006 at 22:16
Hey, bukary! Threads like this will help us help you, so keep 'em coming.:thumb:
I'm sending your questions to the printer so I can work on them at home. If I have anything to add to the answers you will already have received, I'll post them.:cool:
bukary on 8/8/2006 at 10:42
Thanks for all the answers!
And what about this "Keystone Tree" in the Hammer Temple?
DarkElf_Mairead on 8/8/2006 at 12:15
Well Keystone I believe means a stone in a building or bridge that is vital to holding the thing up. If you were to remove that stone, the structure would collapse. I don't know about trees, but there are "keystone species" of animals in ecosystems, where the removal of them seriously upsets the balance. For example, scientists found a little ocean area or something and removed (and later replaced) different species. Nothing interesting happened until a species of starfish was removed, then a species of mussel nearly took over.
bukary on 9/8/2006 at 15:03
So "keystone" would just mean "very important" here? And I thought that it refers to Thief's trees shape...
Another question: what might the name "Shoalsgate" mean? Why is the police station called like this?
DarkElf_Mairead on 9/8/2006 at 17:28
Shoal means either a large group of fish (or people sometimes), or a shallow place in a body of water. Since Shoalgate is near a river, maybe that has something to do with it.
