Page 1 of 2

English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 03 Apr 2015, 03:38
by Ben
It's common knowledge around here that KaM wasn't developed by English 1st language people. The names of some strings in the game reflect this. In the Remake, some of these were "fixed" and others weren't. For example, Iron armament was changed to iron armor whereas swordfighter wasn't changed to swordsman. Here is a topic to where we can discuss if additional changes should be made in the English translation :)

Already Changed:
  • Iron Armament -> Iron armor
  • Vehicle Workshop -> Siege Workshop
  • Ficherman's -> Fisherman's
Proposed:
  • Corn - > Wheat
  • Metallurgist's -> Gold Smelter
  • Woodcutter (citizen) -> Lumberjack or Woodcutter's -> Woodcutter's Hut
  • Fisherman's -> Fisherman's Hut
  • Axe/Swordfighter -> Axe/Swordsman
  • Lance Carrier -> Spearman

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 03 Apr 2015, 03:47
by Ben
Let me know if I missed any that are already implemented :)

I already added several that I've heard over the years. I also added some of the "ambiguous" words.
For example, why is the "gold smelter" called a metallurgist's? A metallurgist could refer to a copper smelter, iron smelter (especially confusing since there is a iron smelter in KaM), etc. From my "research" most players call it a gold smelter anyway. I think it should be changed ;)
Woodcutter and fisherman's are another strange ones. For all other citizens, their names are different from their profession (except for the aforementioned confusing metallurgist!). A "woodcutter" works at a "woodcutters." Why? It's quite confusing. If, for example, I tell someone on teamspeak who has only moderate English knowledge, they can't tell the difference between "train a woodcutter" and "make a woodcutter." I would like to see the citizen being called a lumberjack, but the building could be renamed to woodcutter's hut. Fisherman could use this change, too.
Corn can stay the name, I only put it in there for completion. Corn traditionally applied to many grains, so it is relevant.

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 03 Apr 2015, 12:57
by Tiank
Yup, I agree about Gold Smelter, it sounds better that way, easier to write as well ;).

About others, I think that Lance Carrier should stay as it is. Just sounds better imo.

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 03 Apr 2015, 13:26
by thunder
I agree to should stay at Lance Carrier.:)
There are some reasons:)
1st Spearman give possibility for language trolling
2nd The Lancer is just a carrier unit, and not a real fighter. True?:)
3rd just a carrier
4rd just a carrier
5th just a carrier
6th does the spearmen have any shield? As in the AoE?
7th just a carrier
8th just a carrier
9th just a carrier
10th just a carrier with lance so just left this acient name as it now;P

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 04 Apr 2015, 06:15
by Lewin
I like the strange English in KaM like axefighter and lance carrier. I assumed it was an attempt to make the game sound more like Old English (similar to the language in the briefings like "thou shouldst"). We discussed this when the 1.60 SR3 patch was being made for KaM TPR and decided not to change them. I don't think we'll change them in KaM Remake either.

Changing fisherman's/woodcutter's hut doesn't bother me though.

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 04 Apr 2015, 09:06
by T*AnTi-V!RuZz
^ +1.

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 04 Apr 2015, 14:23
by Krom
Agreeing with Lewin

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 04 Apr 2015, 17:13
by Ben
I don't care either way about changing the "carriers/fighters" to "men," personally.

However, what do Lewin and Krom think about the gold smelter? That's the most important change in my opinion :)

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 05 Apr 2015, 06:33
by Krom
Makes sense, but is it worth changing, we all got used to it over 16 years ;-)

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 05 Apr 2015, 11:47
by sado1
Nobody says Metallurgist's. Everyone says iron/goldsmelter. I sometimes say Metallurgist's on streams, when I'm lacking a proper word (so I just open the building and read the name off... yes, really...), but that's an exception I guess :P I'd say the Gold Smelter is a better choice.

I always thought Corn is the dumbest name in KaM, but now that Ben says it used to mean grains in general, I guess it's fine... I'd normally say "wheat" should be the name, however some people will have a problem pronouncing it correctly too, and I think they'd simply stick to Corn.

Woodcutter is an especially annoying one, when speaking about woodcutters and woodcutters' (I'm not even sure I typed it correctly here). I vote for Lumberjack - it will be much easier to use.

All the others, I don't really care. Fisherman huts are not used - or their placement isn't as important for the entire economy - as much as woodcutter huts, therefore they are not mentioned in discussions as much. Etc.

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 05 Apr 2015, 16:03
by Ben
Nice to see someone agree with me one some aspects :)
Makes sense, but is it worth changing, we all got used to it over 16 years ;-)
I definitely think it is worth changing. And remember there are still new people coming to this game. We should polish what we can to make it more enjoyable ;)

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 05 Apr 2015, 16:16
by Tiank
We should Polish what we can to make it more enjoyable
Fixed that for you ;)

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 05 Apr 2015, 16:56
by Krom
Whats the Polish for gold smeltery? We should use that ;-)

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 25 Sep 2018, 03:29
by tonc5
Nobody says Metallurgist's. Everyone says iron/goldsmelter. I sometimes say Metallurgist's on streams, when I'm lacking a proper word (so I just open the building and read the name off... yes, really...), but that's an exception I guess :P I'd say the Gold Smelter is a better choice.

I always thought Corn is the dumbest name in KaM, but now that Ben says it used to mean grains in general, I guess it's fine... I'd normally say "wheat" should be the name, however some people will have a problem pronouncing it correctly too, and I think they'd simply stick to Corn.

Woodcutter is an especially annoying one, when speaking about woodcutters and woodcutters' (I'm not even sure I typed it correctly here). I vote for Lumberjack - it will be much easier to use.

All the others, I don't really care. Fisherman huts are not used - or their placement isn't as important for the entire economy - as much as woodcutter huts, therefore they are not mentioned in discussions as much. Etc.
Meh. I typically say metallurgists. But that is probably because I like that word. The wording for woodcutters to woodcutter used to rub off on me. In my early days of playing kam (the original TSK not even TPR) I also used to refer to the sawmill as the carpenters.

Re: English -> Modern English

PostPosted: 26 Sep 2018, 15:17
by Ben
I forgot that I made this topic! Nice to see that I agree with Ben-of-the-past (mostly!).

Anyway, the use of metallurgist in KaM is a crime. Metallurgist = one who works with metal. So the metallurgist citizen working in the iron smelter and gold smelter = very appropriate use of the word. Calling a gold smelter a metallurgist = bad. It's annoyingly ambiguous! We need a movement to change the name of the building to gold smelter.