Unit Speech

[sephodwyrm]

The short movie on gamespot had the Zweihanders saying their name in some German accent of Zweihander (yes I know that's German).

It seems that they'll be doing things that MTW1 had done: Arabic for Arab factions and French for the French...and probably German for the Germans?

[cudakite]

dout it



i wish though

[Obershutze]

It'd be cool.

[therussian]

It seems that they'll be doing things that MTW1 had done: Arabic for Arab factions and French for the French...and probably German for the Germans?

I'm pretty sure it was Latin for Catholic countries, Arabic for Muslims, and Russian for Orthodox (though I guess Byzantium would be Latin)

Check out the sound files and you'll see.

[sephodwyrm]

Do people in the Middle Ages really speak Latin all the time???

I only thought that the only people doing it were the Romans...

[juufa72]

Do people in the Middle Ages really speak Latin all the time???

I only thought that the only people doing it were the Romans...

Correct me if I am wrong but:

German states spoke germanish (old german)
French = french
English = think Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales
Latin = clergy and official documentation.

[Obershutze]

Did the Italians in the Medieval period spoke latin or Italian?

[lightbringer418]

Zweihanders is the official name for that unit on the website. So perhaps the historicaly accurate units will have names in the language that they were called. But im sure all voicework and speeches or whatever will be in english.

[Cluny the Scourge]

They'd hardly translate everything into Medieval English and Medieval French, which don't even sound remotely like the modern languages.

[Lord Tomyris]

CA stated that they did think about doing this, but decided to go with the English language to help assist the player.

[Boudicca]

Medieval languages have shifted very strongly up to today. If you read for example old spanish or french texts, like the Codigo de las siete Partidas in spain or the Coutumes de Beauvaisis in France you will find them being much closer to latin ideals. However, they are certainly already distinct languages at the time.

I have read some german texts from about the 13th and 14th century - that is the time where latin starts to become more rare in the official documents of the holy roman empire. It is very difficult to understand and read at first an will take a time to adapt for a modern man. And - at least in Germany - there was no "common language" for all. The wording strongly depends on who wrote the document.

[Elmar]

CA stated that they did think about doing this, but decided to go with the English language to help assist the player.

I can't help but feel CA just insinuated that we are all morons.

Options, CA! Options!!!!

[Beiss]

I can't help but feel CA just insinuated that we are all morons.

Options, CA! Options!!!!

I think the real reason is they're lazy.

Look at the trailer. The turkish cannoner screams "Fire!". The cavalry in the in-game movie yell "charge!" Whyyyy...?

Like I've said previously in other threads, I wish they will at least make it easy for modders to allow for different units (even in the same faction) to speak different languages. The fact that everyone spoke English in RTW was a horrible atmosphere killer. It's like someone would have started playing synth music in the middle of a siege or something. Actually, it's even worse than that.

There are some problems regarding this, though - English poor people (peasants and the like) spoke some kind of English in 1080 - the nobility spoke French. Hm. Also, English changed quite a bit from 1080 to 1500, when the game is supposed to end. I suppose an average of the two, or the kind of English spoken in about 1300 would do the job. The important thing isn't that everything's exactly accurate, or that the languages are spoken in exactly the right way - what's important is that it's credible and that it has the right atmosphere. Even MTW did this better than RTW, and in STW, the units spoke Japanese, if you wanted them to, right? To me, every faction having its own language is as important as having their own way of clothing, their own architectural style and their own unit setup. English for all factions kills a lot of the fun, especially if it's like it was in RTW where the "barbarians" spoke with coarse, retarded voices and the Romans were the only ones to speak English properly.

[TenkiSoratoti]

Latin would have been better, the terrible voice acting is hidden behind that.

I don't want 'Unit... DOUBLE TIME' in some *&^)(&% annoying, totally out of place accent.

[Scarlett Letterman]

The fact that everyone spoke English in RTW was a horrible atmosphere killer.

This is the argument. Its not mere cosmetics, it gives immersion, atmosphere. Hopefully itll be moddable.

[iKossu]

It seems that they'll be doing things that MTW1 had done: Arabic for Arab factions and French for the French...and probably German for the Germans?

I hope so too but I also doubt it. I've always thought that, in RTW, it's funny that every faction speaks English. But on the other hand it's pure cosmetics and, therefore, has no real effect on the game itself.

[Atterdag]

Did the Italians in the Medieval period spoke latin or Italian?

That depended on what part of the country you came from.
Mostly it was 'Italian' with different dialects. Eg. Cremoneese dialect.

I personally think, that they'll do one version of the speech for each culture, like in Rome.
But again I hope that each nation will have it's own.

[John I Tzimisces]

Anyone who mattered in the middle ages spoke latin. I suppose, that would include those who commanded armies. Though I imagine it'd only be used in a military sense west of byzantium.

[Beiss]

Since many of us are speaking other languages than latin nowadays, however, it's obvious that most of the actual people didn't speak latin. Nobility had influence, but they also got overthrown and replaced every so often, especially during the middle ages. They likely didn't learn to speak it in the army, either. Latin was also used in any church-related activities until Luther, I think. Anyway, English was not universal at this time and saying that making the units in the game speak English for the sake of assisting the player is just a sad excuse for not hiring decent voice actors. Hearing the units yell "charge!" when I charge isn't assisting me, it's more like... annoying.

[Sitarus Originalus PM-30+]

welll i agree it would be cool if they could make germans speak german and french french etc... but i highly doubt CA is working on it.