Translating GZDoom's text content. Read if you want to help

[printz]

Are the "knee-deep in the dead" and "shores of hell" names based on any literary and pop-culture quotes? I'd like to know so as to find if we have native equivalents.

[Enjay]

I think "Knee-deep..." may just be usage of a reasonably common English idiom, repurposed for Doom. It's not unusual to say you are knee-deep in something to imply that you are very busy with, immersed or totally committed to or otherwise very involved in something: "he's knee-deep in his tax paperwork right now" or "he's so involved with the mafia that he's knee-deep in those murders himself". See also "up to his/your neck in it". I'm not aware of it coming from a particular literary source. Of course, Doom itself is now such a strong cultural reference, that people repurpose the Doom episode title, consciously referencing it.

As for TSOH, it *might* be a nod to...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_the_Shores_of_Hell

However, that's a fairly obscure reference, so maybe not. Or maybe that movie was referencing something? Perhaps it could refer to something in Dante's Inferno - like the river Acheron; which forms the border to hell and would also have shores (i.e. river banks).

[Rachael]

Knee-deep is just a common phrase to describe that you're swamped in something. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/knee-deep+in

The Shores of Hell does not seem to be a pop culture reference to me. There are shores of everything that has a beach or a port.

(edit: ninja'd by Enjay)

[Graf Zahl]

So, regarding the release Undead mentioned, I just made some final changes to the menu to clean it up a little.
That necessitated a few new texts. I also noticed a few places where it still mentions OpenGL, I fixed most of them but cannot do them all.

They are in lines 1857, 1862, 1882. Line 1862 applies to all languages, the other two only for Russian.
In addition, lines 2060-2064 are new and only partially translated, if those could be quickly filled in it'd be great - I'd be willing to postpone the release by a day to get them in.

[Rachael]

What about the German High-Dynamic Range?

I had that translated by a friend who was in Germany during his childhood, and I believe his translation was correct. However, I noticed after I put it there it was removed.

[Graf Zahl]

I chose not to translate it, this is one of those cases where it is generally referenced by the English name over here. Any translation would run the risk that people do not know what it means.

[Rachael]

Ah, I see then.

[printz]

For Episode 4 for Romanian I just went to find the equivalent Bible verses and used the phrases from there. I didn't do direct literal translations from the Doom phrases.

I probably won't do the same for NRFTL, which also seems to be Bible inspired, but less literal, because the expression seems much more common in every day English.

[Gez]

I think "Knee-deep..." may just be usage of a reasonably common English idiom, repurposed for Doom. It's not unusual to say you are knee-deep in something to imply that you are very busy with, immersed or totally committed to or otherwise very involved in something: "he's knee-deep in his tax paperwork right now" or "he's so involved with the mafia that he's knee-deep in those murders himself". See also "up to his/your neck in it".

Similar expressions probably exist in most languages.

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Reminds me of a joke that I could try translating like this: the teacher asked Little Johnny to write a short poem. Johnny reads his piece: "I went through the marsh near Fenwick. I was in water up to my knees." The teacher scolds him that it doesn't rhyme. Johnny replies "it's not my fault, there was a drought!"

However, that's a fairly obscure reference, so maybe not. Or maybe that movie was referencing something? Perhaps it could refer to something in Dante's Inferno - like the river Acheron; which forms the border to hell and would also have shores (i.e. river banks).

I always took it metaphorically, to describe an area that's at the border but there's no definite edge, the border is blurry and shifting, just like the shores of a sea are constantly shifting with the waves. Also brought to my mind the idea of Hell constantly eroding the Deimos base, just like the waves beating against land slowly break it down to sand and carry it away with the backwash.

[Enjay]

I always took it metaphorically, to describe an area that's at the border but there's no definite edge, the border is blurry and shifting, just like the shores of a sea are constantly shifting with the waves. Also brought to my mind the idea of Hell constantly eroding the Deimos base, just like the waves beating against land slowly break it down to sand and carry it away with the backwash.

As did I, but printz's question got me wondering if, even though mostly literal, it had been inspired by some phrase or other that the id guys had heard at some point. It could just have easily have been "The edge of Hell" or "Suspended Above Hell" or whatever. So, something made them think "shores" - but possibly simply just for the reasons that you suggest.

[wolfmanfp]

Hi! I would also like to contribute to the Hungarian translation.

[Graf Zahl]

No problem. You either have to send me your Google mail address or send a request through Google docs to be added as a contributor.

[Enjay]

Purely out of interest, does GZDoom only support languages recognised by... I dunno, an international standard of some sort, or Microsoft or whatever?

Not that I plan on doing it (because it would be ridiculous*) but for example, could my local language/dialect of Doric Scots be supported, if someone decided they wanted to make a translation? (Or Klingon, or whatever niche language people felt the need for.)


*When I say ridiculous, it might look something a bit like this:

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Code: Select all

Eence ye beat th' muckle bad-erses an 
redd oot th' meen base ye're supposed
tae win aren't ye, aren't ye? Far's 
yer fat reward an ticket hame? Fit 
th' Hell is 'is? It's nae mint tae
lowse 'is wye. 

It reeks lik spylt mett bit keeks 
lik th' tint Deimos base.  Looks lik
ye're stelled on Th' Shores o Hell.
Th' anely wye oot is bain.

Tae continue th' DOOM experience, play
Th' Shores o Hell an its amazing 
sequel, Inferno!

I can't say I would ever really speak like that (therefore the above will contain mistakes) but I live and work in a rural area and some people do speak like that on a day-to-day basis.

[Graf Zahl]

The language codes are some standard but please don't ask me which one.
But since there is no validation you might just add a language called xxx and add whatever you like to it, even that gibberish you just posted. :mgreen:

[Kostov]

Not that I plan on doing it (because it would be ridiculous*) but for example, could my local language/dialect of Doric Scots be supported, if someone decided they wanted to make a translation? (Or Klingon, or whatever niche language people felt the need for.)

If you need more letters, you know who to contact.