Gaming Vlog
A game translation by nonprofessional translators
Why should games be localized?
Gaming is generally accepted as one of the hobbies like reading and drawing. Games can help people socialize, bond with family, stimulate their brains, and they can be great stress relievers. So it would be great if people could enjoy foreign games in their speaking language.
Localization VS Translation
Localization: involves complex technological, textual, communicative, and cognitive translation process
Translation
Localization
Differences
Translation: one of the processes of game localization
Translation involves transforming text, while localization transforms the entire product
For more information
Game translation
Non-professional translator
Professional Translator
Mods
Mods: is a modification file that will be merged into the original game. The file content can be translated text by nonprofessional translators.
ex. fix a bug, correct a typo in on-screen text and add a new item
A B O U T STARDEW VALLEY
Stardew Valley is a farming simulation role-playing video game that allows players to experience farming life. It is a computer game that has been popular for its overwhelmingly positive reviews since its release date until the current time. According to Steam (An online game store), 98% of 458,916 players reviewed that they liked this game. This game is well known for its relaxing story and cozy gameplay. Even though the game is quite famous, the game is not announced to be localized into the Thai language
You're moving to the Valley...
"You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley.
Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life!"
Items for analysis
Translation Strategies
proposed by Mona Baker (2008) and Vinay & Darbelnet (1958)
Mona Baker’s translation strategies of non-equivalent words (1992)
focuses on the meaning and expression at the word level. It is classified into 8 techniques as follows:
1. Translation by a more general word: using a more general word or a more specific word
2. Translation by a more neutral or less expressive word: using the neutral word to avoid misunderstanding in the target language
3. Translate by cultural substitution: replacing a culture-specific word that describes a similar concept in target language
4. Translating using a loan word: using a loan word with or without an explanation
5. Translating by paraphrase using a related word: using a different part of speech in the target language
6. Translating paraphrase using an unrelated word: explaining the meaning of a word or concept
7. Translating by omission: omission of a word if its meaning is considered insignificant to the target language
8. Translating by illustration: translation that includes illustration
Vinay and Darbelnet’s Translation Strategies (1958)
The strategies proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet. The analysis framework of strategy consists of 1. Borrowing 2. Calque 3. Literal Translation 4. Transposition 5. Modulation 6. Equivalence 7. Adaptation.
In the analysis of the Thai context of Stardew Valley. The only strategy used is literal translation which is a word-for-word translation. This strategy is the most applied when the translators want the target text as close to the source text as possible.
3 most used strategies in Stardew Valley
1. literal translation
proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet (1958)
Winter root = รากเหมันต์
Bone Sword = ดาบกระดูก
Forest Sword = ดาบแห่งป่า
2. loan word with or without explanation
proposed by Baker (1992)
Aquamarine Shirt = เชิ้ตอความารีน
Tortilla Shirt = เสื้อตอร์ตีย่า
Rapier = ดาบราเพียร์
3. a more general word
proposed by Baker (1992)
Green Turban = ผ้าโพกหัวสีเขียว
Thermal Boots = รองเท้าลุยหิมะ
Wood Club = กระบองไม้
My reflection in translation by non-professional translators
The translators of Stardew Valley are non-professional translators. That means they have no editors or official game publishers to check the accuracy of the translation before it has been launched. That's why there are a few inconsistencies and inaccuracies. However, their effort should be greatly appreciated. Even though the translators of this mod are non-professionals, the downloading number of its mod file (21.9k downloads) proved that it helps the game users to understand the game in Thai. In terms of translation, the main constraint is the word space. These translators can successfully avoid using wordy text, showing that they may consider the limitation of the word space, which is the main obstacle to game translation. This also implies that they also take into account users’ game experience while translating.
The strategies of game translation proved to be a new genre in translation studies, especially in the Thai context, since there is a lack of literature on the study. Future research can be conducted on this topic in other games since games are so popular in Thailand. The collaborative of non-professional translators may be focused on and developed in future studies.
I'm Areeya Rueksiri.
I am a senior English student in the Department of Humanities at Chiang Mai University. This website is part of my communication project for my independent study, which is a course requirement.
Glad You here <3