Petike the Taffer on 27/9/2013 at 10:57
I am going to attempt the unattempted, even if the results will interest few people. Actually, I have already been working on it for several weeks now...
I am giving the trilogy a localization treatment. Into Slovak.
I have never played the games with the official or unofficial Czech or Polish localization, so that puts me at an advantage. I am not influenced/tempted by existing translations.
Granted, it's a slow, long and careful path. For now, I'm translating basic things, like the briefings, some of the more important dialogues, some of the setting's terminology and lore, etc. I have not tampered with the relevant game files yet. It's too early.
As for my plans on translating cutscenes in the first two games: I'll probably just make an edited version of the videos, with subtitles added. In short, the "Bukary approach" to translating said vids.
I'd like to thank the staff of the Thief wikia for making my effort somewhat easier by producing all those fantastic transcriptions in the resources section. I highly value and admire their efforts. They've done a great job.
I'm currently focusing on translating the first two games. Deadly Shadows will get equal treatment too, but I'm putting it aside for now due to the different structure of the briefings and the level/mission progression. Just to keep the work flow more in line, since the first two games are closer to each other on a technical level.
I'm setting up this thread in order to occassionally discuss some aspects of the translation that I might find perplexing or controversial. Because of this, I'd also like to hear the opinions of other Taffers.
voodoo47 on 27/9/2013 at 11:46
well, good luck - with all the strange phrases and words, you are going to have a tough time making sure nothing gets lost in the translation. let me know if you'll need someone to proofread.
Petike the Taffer on 27/9/2013 at 12:05
Quote Posted by voodoo47
well, good luck - with all the strange phrases and words, you are going to have a tough time making sure nothing gets lost in the translation. let me know if you'll need someone to proofread.
First of all, thank you for the kind words and encouragement. ;) And yes, I appreciate the proofreading offer. Also, if there are any other Slovak taffers around here, feel free to alert them of this thread. I'll appreciate feedback on the translation, disagreements included. I'm not the sort of person that is permanently satisfied with my own work. Every author makes mistakes or bad decisions.
Second, before I even started, I actually focused on translating the more peculiar terms used in the setting. I haven't decided on how to handle "taffer" yet, but I might go down a creative route if I find a plausible and well-sounding solution.
I'll include an overview of some of the already translated terminology in the following post. I'll gradually keep updating the post, as long as it will be possible. Once the first list stops being viable, I'll continue it in a newer post.
Petike the Taffer on 6/3/2014 at 10:02
If no one minds, here's an update: I've been making some good progress with the translation in the last few months. While it's an on-and-off kind of thing, I kept working on it whenever I was bored. Still haven't come up with a good made-up neologism for taffer, though... So I'll probably keep that term as it is. ;)
However, since I'll be fiddling with a switch to Windows 7 during the following weeks, I'm putting my efforts on hold for the time being. But as soon as I have all three games up and running, I'm revisiting the translation process.
I'd also like to give a repeated thanks to all the wonderful contributors at Thief The Dark Wiki, for all the resource lists and transcripts they've made up until now. :thumb: All of these have been a fact-checking godsend to me while I was translating. :cool:
voodoo47 on 6/3/2014 at 13:13
maybe check the czech localisation? wonder what they've used for taffer. maybe you could use "zbojnik", not too accurate, but should be usable enough - leaving taffer untranslated will not look too good, I think.
Petike the Taffer on 6/3/2014 at 14:26
Quote Posted by voodoo47
maybe check the czech localisation? wonder what they've used for taffer. maybe you could use "zbojnik", not too accurate, but should be usable enough - leaving taffer untranslated will not look too good, I think.
No, I've ruled out
zbojník, given how it has more of a connotation of "rascal" these days than the more slur-like quality it had centuries ago. BTW, if you're fluent in Czech or Slovak, I might eventually send you some of my notes. Just so I could get some independent feedback on the translation.
voodoo47 on 6/3/2014 at 16:00
I'm a SK native, so yeah, I'm fluent (and a grammar nazi, actually).
Petike the Taffer on 21/9/2014 at 19:59
Update: Still working on this, but I've had a few months hiatus on the project and I currently plan to reinstall the games to speed up my work on certain bits of the translation.
I'll keep you guys and gals informed, hopefully on a more regular basis.
Petike the Taffer on 3/10/2014 at 16:34
As I've been playing TDM quite a lot lately, I've decided I might have a go at translating the interface and some of the FMs while I'm at it. I'm already a member of the TDM forums, so I might give them an offer soon.
At the moment, I'm otherwise dabbling in localising TMA. TDP still needs some work, but I prefer to work on both, alternately. Makes the whole process a lot less boring.
Petike the Taffer on 23/3/2017 at 06:34
Important update: After having translated about a half of TDP a good while ago, I want to return to translating the trilogy this year. It seems I'll finally have enough time to really get a lot done. (And hopefully, I can get a translation out by the beginning of next year, at the latest.) Wish me luck.
If anyone knows how progress on the inclusion of subtitles via NewDark is going, please let me know. I'd like to use subtitles for my translation of TDP and TMA, as much as possible (for NPCs and so on).
