[Last updated 2024.10.11]
This is a guide to spot errors and changes that can be found in the script for the U.S. official translation of Xenogears (Disc 2). Because of some awkward translation and localization choices, fans of Xenogears have in the past built entire theories and speculations based on some of these errors until they were pointed out by people who played the original Japanese version. This guide remains incomplete. [See also the guide for Disc 1 of the game.]
Names and Terms:
(Note that I will not include badly romanized names like "Kalen" instead of "Karen", "Karn" instead of "Kahn", or "Barthlomei" instead of "Bartholomei/Bartholomew." While in Xenogears: Perfect Works many names are spelled in English (or 'Engrish') like that, Japanese designers are not always the best at English and no western fan should have to read them like that.)
'Alpha Weltall' (battle at Mahanon) - The japanese game says 'O.R. Weltall'.
'True Weltall' (battle at Bethlehem) - The japanese game says 'Original Weltall'.
('O.R.' is simply short for 'Original' as listed in Perfect Works. It is not two different Gears and unlikely the case of one missing a relic, which has been discussed alot.)
'Anima Relic' - The Japanese words says 'Vessel of Anima', same as Xenosaga.
'Anonelbe' - This is a misspelling of 'Ahnenerbe', a German word meaning "Ancestral Heritage".
'Antitype' - The Japanese word says 'Counter-existence'.
'Aquvy' - In Perfect Works it is 'Acvi'.
'Aveh' - This is a misspelling of 'Av', the name of the fifth month of the Hebrew Calendar.
'Balboa' - Big Joe's full name is revealed to be "Joey Balboa" in reference to Rocky Balboa of the Rocky films. However, in Japanese the full name is "Joe Rikiishi" in reference to boxer Toru Rikiishi of the Joe of Tomorrow manga. Though since Toru Rikiishi is unknown outside of Japan, this name change is appropriate for a Western audience.
'Bledavik' - This is a misspelling of 'Breidablik', one of the halls of Asgard, home of Baldr.
'Broyer' - Could be a misspelling of 'Breuer' (after Josef Breuer)
'Citan' - A misspelling of 'Shitan', named after Japanese wood "shitan" (rosewood), which is often used in Japan for Bonsai display stands.
'Days of Destruction' - The Japanese words say 'Days of Collapse'.
'Doc' - Fei's nickname of Citan. The Japanese words say 'Sensei' which is more akin to "teacher" or "master."
'Elhaym' - Spelled 'Elehayym' in the Japanese version. 'Elly' is spelled 'Ellie' in Perfect Works.
'Emeralda' - Spelled 'Emerada' in the Japanese version, although I think Emeralda is fine since she was named for having emerald colored hair.
'Ethos, The' - The japanese word says 'The Church'.
'Etrenank' - This is a misspelling of 'Etemenanki', the name of a ziggurat dedicated to Marduk in the city of Babylon of the 6th century BCE. The name means "temple of the foundation of heaven and earth" and is thought to have influenced the biblical story of the Tower of Babel.
Franz - Franz (the dolphin demi-human) was called 'Vans' in the japanese version (romanized as 'Banth' in PW's sketches). The NA localization team switched his name with the character 'Vance', who was originally called Franz.
'Gaetia Key' - The Japanese words say 'Lesser Goetia Key', a references to The Lesser Key of Solomon, an anonymous 17th-century grimoire, which is also known as The Goetia.
'Gebler' - This is a misspelling of 'Geburah', the fifth of the Sephirot of the tree of life in Hebrew, meaning "strength" or "power".
'Golgoda' - This is a misspelling of 'Golgotha', the place where Jesus was crucified.
'Grahf' - This is a misspelling of 'Graf' which may be a reference to Graf Dürckheim, a German diplomat, psychotherapist and Zen Master who worked with Nazis (in the story Graf works with Solaris) and who learned and taught Zen in Japan. 'Graf' is also German for "Lord".
'Helmholz' - This is a misspelling of 'Helmholtz', a reference to the German physician and physicist Hermann von Helmholtz who also inspired the name for the character Helmholtz Watson in Brave New World - a novel by Aldous Huxley, written as a revolt against the idea of futuristic "Utopia," something similar to Solaris in Xenogears.
'Ignas' - This is a misspelling of 'Ignis', Latin for "fire".
'Kadomony' - This is a misspelling of 'Kadmoni', a reference to Adam ha-Kadmoni, the first human, with Kadmoni meaning "Primordial". (Adam Kadmon means "Primal Man").
'Kahran' - This is a misspelling of 'Carlin'. 'Kahr' should be 'Carl' and is possibly a name reference to Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung.
'Kelvena' - This name (sometimes spelled 'Kelvina' in the game) is a misspelling of 'Cherubina'. The Elements are named after the highest order of Angels in Christian hierarchy; Seraphim, Cherubim, Throne, and Dominions. Cherubina is named after 'Cherubim', which is second only to Seraphim in the hierarchy. They have four faces: one of a man, one of an ox, one of a lion, and one of an eagle.
'Krelian' - This name is a misspelling of 'Karellen', named after Tetsuya Takahashi's favorite character from the book Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke.
'Mahanon' - This is a misspelling of 'Machanon', the 4th heaven, which is where, according to Enoch, the Garden of Eden is housed. The Eldridge ship, specifically the central block 'Machanon', is an allusion to the biblical paradise.
'Merkava' - This is a misspelling of 'Merkabah', a Hebrew word meaning "chariot", and referring to the throne-chariot of God mentioned in Old Testament.
'Miang' - Her name was pronounced/spelled 'Mian' in japanese but is romanized as 'Myyah' in Perfect Works, intended to partly mirror "Elehayym".
'Nortune' - This is a misspelling of 'Noatun', from Norse mythology.
'Omnigear' - The japanese word says 'Gear-Bara'. "Bara" is a Hebrew word meaning "to create/manufacture something out of nothing". Normal gears are designated "-Asah" in Perfect Works, meaning "to create/manufacture something out of existing materials". It is a reference to Omnigears being the gears of 'genesis'.
'Opiomorph' - This is a misspelling of 'Opiomorphus'.
'Rattan' and 'Mugwort' - They were called 'Kenren' and 'Tenpou' in the Japanese version. Kenren and Tenpou are also the names of a pair of characters from the manga Saiyuki that started running in 1996. Possibly someone on the Xenogears team was a fan.
'Razael' - This is a misspelling of 'Raziel', an archangel within the teachings of Jewish mysticism (of the Kabbalah of Judaism) who is the "Keeper of Secrets" and the "Angel of Mysteries". The famous Sefer Raziel HaMalach ("Book of Raziel the Angel") attributed to this figure is said to contain all secret knowledge, and is considered to be a book of magic. He stands close by God's throne, and therefore hears and writes down everything that is said and discussed. He purportedly gave the book to Adam and Eve after they ate from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which resulted in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, so the two could find their way back "home" and better understand their God. The Raziel computer in the game is thus a fitting metaphor.
'Renk' - This is possibly a misspelling of 'Rank' (to keep in with the theme of the Gebler being named after scientists and psychologists): Otto Rank was an Austrian psychoanalyst, writer, teacher, and therapist, and one of Sigmund Freud's closest colleagues for 20 years. Another possibility is that his name was meant to be "Rink" or "Rynk" meaning "strong man" in Scottish.
'Ricdeau' - This is a misspelling of 'Rikudou', an actual Japanese surname, congruent with the Japanese given name "Hyuga".
'-Seraph- Angel' - The japanese game says 'Aeon', the Gnostic term for Angel.
'Thames' - This is a misspelling of 'Tamuz', the name of the fourth month of the Hebrew Calendar.
'Tolone' - This is a misspelling of 'Throne', a name from the highest order of Angels in Christian hierarchy; 'Thrones/Ophanim' is ranked bellow Seraphim and Cherubim but still part of the First Sphere in the hierarchy. They are living symbols of God's justice and authority, and have as one of their symbols the throne.
'Urobolus' - This is a misspelling of 'Ouroboros' or 'Uroborus', a Greek word meaning "tail-devouring snake".
'Vance' - Vance was named "Franz" in the original japanese version. Why the name was given to the dolphin on the Yggdrasil in the NA translation is unknown. The name could be a reference to Frantz Omar Fanon, a West Indian psycholanalyst/philosopher.
'Yabeh' - When visiting Razael, the 'Deus' system is referred to by this name. 'Yabeh' is a misspelling of Yahweh, the name of the Old Testament God. Originally "Yahweh" was the name for Deus, as explained by Richard Honeywood (in charge of Xenogears's localization), but due to Honeywood's concern that the name could upset fundamental Christians, the name was changed to "Deus" - the latin for "god" - in the japanese version as well as the english version. However, it seems Honeywood left in this one reference to Yahweh in respect of the authors original intent. This is also supported by the fact that 'Yahweh' (Yabeh) does appear written in katakana on Deus's sketches in Perfect Works.
'Zohar Modifier' - The Japanese game says 'Phenomenon Phase Shift Engine Zohar' or 'Phenomenon Modification Engine Zohar'. It can also be translated as 'Event Changing Engine Zohar', 'Phenomenon Alteration Engine Zohar', or even 'Matter (Thing) Shift Engine Zohar.'
Game script:
Note: The chapter titles here are taken from three sources: the script book Xenogears Memorial Album: THOUSANDS OF DAGGERS, where they are written in English; the original Japanese game translated by a Reddit user; and finally the U.S. version of the game.
Disc 2:
Chapter 56:
shot down (Thousands of Daggers)
Shot down!! Vanish in a great swath of trees (Japanese game)
Shot Down! (North American game)
Chapter 57:
tear off the marks (Thousands of Daggers)
Commence the counterattack!! Eliminate the Limiters (Japanese game)
Break The Seal (North American game)
Chapter 58:
let the stars know... (Thousands of Daggers)
Planet, recognize our spirit vessels — Part one (Japanese game)
Soul Vessel (North American game)
Chapter 59:
...our vessels of souls (Thousands of Daggers)
Planet, recognize our spirit vessels — Part two (Japanese game)
The Stars Know (North American game)
Chapter 60:
assassinate the emperor (Thousands of Daggers)
The assassination of the Emperor — Mahanon emerges!! (Japanese game)
Above Mahanon (North American game)
Chapter 61:
going back to the paradise of gods (Thousands of Daggers)
Those in exile — Return to God's Paradise (Japanese game)
Paradise (North American game)
Chapter 62:
the lost and promised land (Thousands of Daggers)
The lost Promised Land (Japanese game)
Promised Land (North American game)
Chapter 63:
fortress of the death (Thousands of Daggers)
[Unknown] (Japanese game) [死の要塞で待つ (Waiting in the Stronghold of Death) in Thousands of Daggers]
Waiting Death (North American game)
Chapter 64:
the Melcover of sorrow (Thousands of Daggers)
It calls you — Merkabah, of sorrow (Japanese game)
Merkava Calls (North American game)
Chapter 65:
memento of dreams (Thousands of Daggers)
Far off in the distant past — Memento of a dream... (Japanese game)
Dreams... (North American game)
Chapter 66:
fallen stars (Thousands of Daggers)
Fallen planet — There is a voice beckoning to awaken (Japanese game)
Fallen Star (North American game)
Chapter 67:
stimulation of Xenogears (Thousands of Daggers)
[Unknown] (Japanese game) [覚醒ゼノギアス!!! (Awakening, Xenogears!!) in Thousands of Daggers]
Xenogears Wakes (North American game)
Chapter 68:
the one that is the first and the last (Thousands of Daggers)
The one known as the beginning and the end of everything (Japanese game)
First And Last (North American game)
Chapter 56: shot down (U.S. ver: Shot Down!)
Translation clarification from "An Eye for the Infinite" website:
Gazel: What do you mean... he's still alive...!?
(Blue 3): What!? Then he is alive......
Krelian: "Yes."
Karellen: "Yes."
Gazel: Ridiculous. Didn't Ramsus shoot him down?
(Red 4): Unbelievable. Didn't Ramsus shoot him down?
Krelian: "She was also on the Gear that Ramsus shot down. I won't have her die."
Karellen: "She was riding in the gear he shot down. Her death would be unfortunate."
[Translator's note: When Karellen says kanojo (=she) that only ever means one person: Elehaym. Incidentally, in colloquial Japanese, kanojo has an additional meaning of girlfriend.]
Gazel: But, there is already a 'mother'... Although she may be the 'Antitype', as long as the current mother exists...
(Blue 3): We already have a "mother", do we not...? Even if she is the "counter-existence", As long as we have the present "mother"......
Krelian: "As far as I see it, that is not complete."
Karellen: "I cannot call that completion."
Gazel: Quite picky aren't you...? Didn't you say you threw away all human emotions?
(Red 2): You are quite concerned with this...... Didn't you cast off your human emotions?
Krelian: "I don't care what you think. Anyway... As far as he is concerned, I will put Ramsus onto him. Any objections? Where is he presently?"
Karellen: "This is pointless...... I will send Ramsus after him. Are there any objections? Do you know his current location?"
Gazel: Etrenank is destroyed, but part of the memory cube is still active. We should still be able to locate individuals.
(Blue 4): Though Etemenanki is destroyed, part of the memory cube's functions are still active. It can still specify the locations of individuals.
Gazel: Wait a moment... He has left the crash site and is heading towards Ignas.
(Blue 1): Wait a moment...... He has left the crash site, and is en-route to Ignis.
Krelian: "I see. So he has left the area... (That means... it is only a matter of time before the seal is broken...)"
Karellen: "I see. He has left that place. (Which means...... it is only a matter of time until the seal is lifted......)"
[Translator's note: Karellen certainly set this up nicely. Sending out Ramsus in order to force Fei to crash near Taura's place, banking on the sage tipping the kids off about the genetic limiters, so that when they undo them, as Karellen wants, it doesn't looks the least bit suspicious. Because that's what he must be talking about here.]
Gazel: Did you say something?
(Red 3): Did you say something?
Krelian: "It's nothing. Just sit there and wait for the good news."
Karellen: "Nothing consequential. Just wait there for some good news."
Gazel: What about retrieving the girl? The key is already beginning to resonate. The time of the resurrection is near.
(Blue 2): What about retrieving the girl? The key is beginning to resonate. The time of god's revival is drawing near.
Krelian: "We can get the girl anytime. It doesn't have to be now... Let's take our time..."
Karellen: "We can retrieve the girl at any time. Even if it is not now...... Sooner or later......"
Chapter 57: tear off the marks (U.S. ver: Break The Seal)
Translation clarification from "An Eye for the Infinite" website:
Gazel: So, they are naturally germinating because the resurrection of god is near...
(Red 1): A spontaneous germination because the revival of god has drawn near.....
Gazel: Those who will become the body of our servant... I never knew so many would exist, even without using the key...
(Blue 4): Those to become the flesh of our servants...... That so many would exist without our using the key......
[Translator's note: This all ties in to the multifaceted M Project, dedicated to transforming the general populace into the parts required so that Deus can again take to the stars. Thusly, the Wels mutants are an intermediary stage in the creation the Malahk host.
The Ministry gives themselves too much credit by assuming that the mutations are happening just because it's almost time. They don't know it's all the work of Karellen and his nanomachines.]
Gazel: But, some of them still have not yet begun to germinate...
(Red 3): But, as yet there are those who have not germinated......
Gazel: Are they not destined to be the flesh of god?
(Red 2): They may be destined to be the body of god.
Gazel: Or, perhaps those are the enemies of god...
(Blue 2): Or perhaps, they are enemies of god......
Gazel: Let us reactivate the strategic points of the Soylent...
(Blue 1): Let us reactivate the Soylent centers in key locations.
Gazel: At any rate, they are just incomplete mutants. They are useless now in their half-finished form.
(Red 3): At any rate, their mutation is incomplete. They will not be of use as they are.
Gazel: God's apostles. There cannot be any harm in having too many of them...
(Blue 3): The disciples of god. There can never be too many......
Quote:
Elly: "The people who mutated into what were called Wels... or the true form of humans... gathered at these facilities."
(Elly: "People who had mutated into Wels... things referred to as... the real form of humans, had gathered within this facility.")
The thing is, this paragraph doesn't really say [that true form of humans] is 100% the case. It says Wels have been referred to, or called, "the true form of humans". By whom and for what purpose? Besides, it's not like this is not the product of programmed mutation triggers performed at Genesis nor anything.
- trexalfa
Gazel: The germinating of those destined to be the body of the servant of god.
(Blue 1): The germination of those destined to be the flesh of the servants of god.
Gazel: As before, the humans are gathering in Nisan. At this rate...
(Red 3): The people are beginning to gather in Nisan, same as in the past. At this rate......
[Translator's note: It always goes back to the Days of Collapse for these old men, as if nothing important ever happened before it. Well, I guess they thought they had everything wrapped up then, and all of a sudden it fell through with a vengeance. It must've sucked.]
Gazel: Not to fear... This might actually be helpful for us.
(Blue 4): Nay, this may be all the more opportune.
Gazel: The time is near. Should we not prepare for those who are to become the fleshly body of god, and those who will awaken god?
(Red 4): The time is nearly upon us. Should we not prepare those who proclaim the awakening of god: those who will become god's flesh?
Gazel: The time has come to activate the 'Gaetia Key'...
(Blue 3): The time has come to put the "Lesser Goetia Key" into operation.....
Gazel: Wha, what!?
(Red 4): Wh, What!?
Gazel: Cain!?
(Blue 2): Cain!
Emperor Cain: "What more do you intend to do? I can not allow you to use the 'Key'!"
Emperor Cain: "What are you planning to do, going beyond this point? I by no means permitted you to use the 'Key'!"
Gazel: Cain! What are you doing!?
(Red 3): Cain! What are you doing!?
Gazel: Without the resurrection of god, our purpose cannot be fulfilled!
(Red 1): Our goal will not be fulfilled without the revival of god!
Gazel: Or... are you planning on perishing with god, Cain...? Without fulfilling our purpose...
(Blue 2): Or perhaps...... You mean to destroy yourself along with god, Cain...... and make our goal unachievable......
Emperor Cain: "Your purpose...? You were fated to it from your birth. Why haven't you realized that it does not arise from your own free will?"
Emperor Cain: "The goal...... That itself is the chain which has bound us since the genesis. Why do you not realize that it is not something that originates your own will?"
Gazel: I've heard enough...
(Blue 3): You have no ear for reason, it seems......
Gazel: Yes. This is of our own volition...
(Red 2): Yes. This is our will.
Gazel: If you still insist on opposing us...
(Blue 1): And if you say that you are in opposition to it......
Gazel: Guuaaaaaaaaah!
(Red 3): Guooo-!
[Translator's note: A yell of pain.]
Emperor Cain: "Have you forgotten? You are my subordinates! I can destroy you if I so desire."
Emperor Cain: "Have you forgotten that you are subordinate to me? I can eliminate you this very moment."
Gazel: Mnnuuuuuuuhh...
(Blue 4): Nuuu......
[Translator's note: A sound someone makes when struggling futilely.]
Emperor Cain: "We have already done our part. It's time to pass the helm to the next generation. The people will not perish..."
Emperor Cain: "Soon our duty will be complete. The helm will be passed over to a new era. The people will not be destroyed......"
Chapter 58 - 59: let the stars know our vessels of souls (U.S. ver: Soul Vessel - The Stars Know)
Translation clarification from "An Eye for the Infinite" website:
Gazel: He is no longer one of us...
(Red 3): He is no longer like us......
[Translator's note: It's a bit vague, but they're talking about Cain. If I was being strictly literal, I would've had to have put 'That' in place of 'He', which while appropriately derogatory in Japanese, would've made the line even more vague.]
Gazel: Yes. He dares to go against our objectives. Just like the other one...
(Red 1): Indeed. He opposes our objective. The same as him......
Gazel: We can still activate the key...
(Blue ): If he was with us we could activate the key......
Gazel: We must do something about the one who stands in our way... We must eliminate Cain...
(Red 2): We must eliminate those who will become obstacles. We must eliminate Cain.....
Gazel: But, we cannot stand up to his power.
(Blue ): But we cannot defy his power.
Gazel: Only 'Cain' can destroy 'Cain'...
(Red 3): The one who will destroy "Cain" is "Cain" himself.
Gazel: So 'Mother', will you do it for us?
(Blue 1): ......Will you handle this, "mother"?
Miang: "Maybe... Did Krelian say anything?"
Miang: "Let me see...... Has Karellen been saying anything?"
Gazel: Something concerning the potential ability as a countervailing existence... With everything focusing towards a single point...
(Blue 4): He spoke of the possibility of focusing all of his potential as a canceling factor into a single point......
[Translator's note: "He spoke of the possibility of..."
This whole line needed reconstruction to make sense in English. There is no main subject or verb (which is Karellen and what he said), and no obvious statement of who is being talked about (which is Ramsus).]
Miang: "I see... But Kahr is still shaken up by... yesterday's defeat against Fei. We are almost ready. I need just a little bit more time..."
Miang: "I see...... That last defeat by Fei...... has left Kahr quite unstable. Just a little longer...A little more......"
Gazel: Then we'll wait. We'll wait till the time is ripe...
(Blue 1): In that case we will wait. For that time to come......
[Translator's note: There is no other point at which the Ministry acknowledges awareness of the plot to manipulate Ramsus. If not for this, there'd be no proof against them picking on him just for fun.]
Gazel: Worthless...
(Red 1): Trash......
Gazel: Trash...
(Red 3): Trash......
Gazel: Reject...
(Blue 2): Trash......
Gazel: Why even bother existing...?
(Red 2): For what purpose do you exist......?
Gazel: Defect...
(Red 3): Failure......
Gazel: Be gone...
(Blue 4): Be gone......
Gazel: We have no use for you...
(Blue 3): Your usefulness is already ended......
Gazel: Hah! Trash is of more worth to us than you...
(Blue 1): Nay. He is trash, incapable of any use.
Ramsus: "..."
Ramsus: "......"
Miang: "Kahr... Don't worry. I'll always be by your side. No one knows you better than I do. So don't..."
Miang: "Kahr...... Don't worry. I will always be with you. I know you better than anyone else...... So......"
[Translator's note: Miang's speech here is informal and feminine-- clearly, she is out of sub-commander mode.]
Ramsus: "Miang! Is this... Is this all I can do? Is this the extent of my strength and abilities? I couldn't beat him... And in front of that woman, I couldn't even do a thing... Is this the limit of my existence!? My abilities...!?"
Ramsus: "Miang! Is this, is this...... the limit of my power? Am I capable of nothing more than this amount of power? I cannot win against him, and I couldn't do a single thing in the face of that woman...... Is this the limit of my existence!? My abilities......"
[Translator's note: "In the face of that woman..."
Referring to his encounter with his former subordinate, Elehaym, in which he failed to make good on a threat to squish her. (He ought to know better than to go around trying to squish people.)]
Krelian: "... You're the same as Cain. An archetype that surpasses all humans. I made you in the same way. But he is the one who is preventing you from fully releasing your powers. Divided powers... That man was your original form. The primordial superior being... If you could defeat him, then you would be..."
Karellen: "......are identical to Cain's, a being of the genesis who transcends all humans. It was in that image that I created you. He is the one who is preventing the release of your power. Divided power....... That man was your source form, the transcendental being since the time of the genesis...... If only you remove him, you will be......"
Miang: "Yes. Even with your superior constitution, the existence of the original being hinders you. If you could eliminate the divided power, then it would all be yours... Don't you agree, Kahr...?"
Miang: "That's right. While you possess superior qualities, you are deprived because of the existence of the original. If you remove the division of power, it will all be yours. Isn't that so, Kahr......?"
Chapter 60: assassinate the emperor (U.S. ver: Above Mahanon)
Translation clarification from "An Eye for the Infinite" website:
Emperor Cain: "What do you want... Ramsus...?"
Emperor Cain: "Ramsus...... What is it...?"
Ramsus: "You... If you didn't exist... I... That's why... I must... get rid... of you... Only then will I be able to beat him..."
Ramsus: "You...... If only you were gone...I would..... That is why...... I will...remove...... you...... In order to win against him............"
Emperor Cain: "What do you think you're doing? Ramsus...!?"
Emperor Cain: "What is the meaning of this, Ramsus......?"
Emperor Cain: "That's absurd! Do you think you can neutralize my power!?"
Emperor Cain: "Impossible! You can counteract my power......!?"
Krelian: "Of course he can. He was made to be able to do so."
Karellen: "Of course. That is the way I created him, after all."
Emperor Cain: "Krelian...!? Surely you're not on their side now!?"
Emperor Cain: "Karellen......!? You have sided with them!?"
Krelian: "Oh, really now... I don't care about a group of old geezers who are so obsessed with clinging onto their dear little lives... ... that they had to resort to turning themselves into data on the SOL-9000 in order to survive. That's not why... Your existence obstructs me from reaching my goal. That's all..."
Karellen: "Surely not. Those old men who so cling to their lives as to willingly be reduced to data in the SOL-9000 matter nothing to me. You will become an obstruction to the realization of my goal. Nothing more."
Emperor Cain: "Haven't you been working for humanity's future... for humans to live longer? That is why I assisted you..."
Emperor Cain: "Were you not working for the people's future-- for the continuation of humanity? That is why I supported......"
[Translator's note: 'Supported' is a guess-word. But from Gazel Talk 2, it is clear that Cain's got Karellen's back.]
Krelian: "Yes, that's right. I try to lead the people in 'my own way'. That hasn't changed in the least."
Karellen: "Yes, that exactly. I am leading the people by "my own means". That has not changed."
[Translator's note: "My own means"...
Also known as the Ark Project or Project Noah.]
Emperor Cain: "Krelian, what's got into you...!?"
Emperor Cain: "Karellen, are you......!?"
Krelian: "Kill him, 'Ramses'!"
Karellen: "Kill him, "Ramses"."
[Translator's note: "Ramses"... Or, in it's entirety, codename 0808191 Ramses.]
Ramsus: "Uuuuaaaahhhhh!!"
Ramsus: "AaaaAAAAH!!"
Gazel: So... Cain is dead?
(Blue 2): Cain has died......
Gazel: Yes.
(Red 4): Yes.
Gazel: The final fate for one bound within everlasting flesh...
(Blue 4): So this is the fate of one so long confined in flesh......
Gazel: If only he had just accepted our logical ideals too...
(Red 2): If only he had logical attributes such as ours......
Gazel: A fitting end for someone who had become dominated by needless flesh. Excellent work, Krelian.
(Blue 1): Because he was dominated by his useless flesh, this was the outcome. Well done, Karellen.
Krelian: "..."
Karellen: "............"
Gazel: Now there is nothing that can stand in the way of us accomplishing our objective.
(Blue 3): With this, there are none to obstruct the accomplishment of our objective.
Gazel: The 'Anima Relics' have been awakened and have aligned with their respective 'Animus'... Dan, Joseph, Gad... have each been aligned with a surface dweller as their 'Animus'...
(Red 1): The "Anima Vessels" have awakened and have obtained "Animus" (those who align). Dan, Joseph, and Gad, which aligned with surface dwellers......
Gazel: Hyuga's Asher, Ramsus' Zebulun, Krelian's Judah, Sophia's Dinah...
(Blue 4): Hyuga's Asher, Ramsus's Zebulun, Karellen's Juda, Sophia's Dinah......
Gazel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Issachar were already aligned 500 years ago...
(Red 1): Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Isachar, which aligned 500 years ago......
Gazel: And finally... Grahf's Naphtali... All of the 'Anima Relics' have now been activated.
(Blue 2): And finally, Grahf's Naphtali...... All of the "Anima Vessels" have been activated.
Gazel: The identity of the -Persona- mask of the 'mother' has also become clear.
(Red 4): The existence of the mother's persona (guise) too has become clear.
Gazel: The time has come.
(Red 1): The time has come.
Gazel: Now is the time to open the door to god's domain to attain the fleshly body and the wisdom of god...
(Blue 4): To obtain god's flesh and wisdom, we now open the door to the kingdom of god......
Gazel: The time of the true awakening... To carry us to new horizons... Yes, the time of the gospel has come...!
(Blue 3): The time of the true awakening...... Carry us to new horizons...... The time of the gospel has come......
Gazel: Now, humans! Extol the awakening of god!
(Blue 1): Come, all you people. Praise the awakening of god.
Chapter 61: going back to the paradise of gods (U.S. ver: Paradise)
Quote:
Fei: "It was the source of divine wisdom... It was 'Razael's Tree'. And the cavern itself was a giant computer called Razael. The wisdom of god, hidden within Razael... We found the unthinkable when we accessed its data. A large unmanned strategic weapon and its battalion of terminal interface weapons, travelling from star system to star system. And a gargantuan mothership used to carry them... The creation of the -Malakh- angel... God's army to reign over the vast universe with... And the construction of a divine ark..."
(ERROR: "The -Malakh- angel" should be "Malakh angels." The original text also compares the mothership - Merkava - to "half an island" in size.)
Japanese: "It was, unmistakably, the source of the wisdom of God, 'Raziel's Tree'. Thus, this hollow space was, itself, that very titanic computer, Raziel. We, having accessed the wisdom of God, the data, hidden within Raziel, came to know of the outrageous information stored therein. An immense, unmanned strategic weapon and its swarm of terminal weapons, crossing from star system to star system. As well as its gigantic mothership, half an island big, used as its transportation. The creation of Malakh, the Angels, an army of God for the purpose of reigning over the macrocosm. The construction of God's ark..."
Chapter 62: the lost and promised land (U.S. ver: Promised Land)
Translation clarification from "An Eye for the Infinite" website:
Gazel: The fleshly body of god has been recovered...
(Blue 1): The body of God is recovered......
Gazel: The Anima and the Animus have all been obtained...
(Red 3): The Anima and Animus have been obtained......
Gazel: All that is left for us to do is change into the Animus, and become one with the mother -Persona-...
(Blue 4): All that remains is to supplant ourselves in the Animus, and merge with the mother's persona (guise)......
Krelian: "... That is incorrect."
Karellen: "......That is incorrect."
Gazel: What? What do you mean, Krelian? What did you just say?
(Blue 3): What? What is the meaning of this, Karellen? What did you say?
Gazel: What are you doing!? Krelian, have you gone totally insane!?
(Blue 2): Wh, what are you doing!? Karellen, have you lost your mind!?
Gazel: What are you doing to the memory banks!?
(Red 2): What are you doing to the memory banks!?
Gazel: Do not touch them! We cannot survive without them...!
(Red 3): Do not touch those! Without them, we will......
Krelian: "You were the only ones who could have activated the key... But now that it has been activated, I no longer need you. I am having you all erased."
Karellen: "The Key couldn't have been operated without you, but now that it is operational, Your existence has no value. I have decided to delete you."
Gazel: How dare you!
(Red 2): What?!
Krelian: "The only obstacle that kept me from my goals was Cain. He was the one person who had total control of the people and thus was my greatest nemesis. But the only person who could terminate Cain was Cain himself. That's why I created... 'a copy of Cain'. Ramsus acted exactly as I predicted... killing Cain. Now, there is no one who can stop 'me'. And I'm not interested in your power or authority. Did you really think you were acting on your own free will? You are all just parts of the system. Created only as weapons of invasion and oppression... You are just terminal interface weapons."
Karellen: "Cain, the only obstruction to the accomplishment of "my" goal, is gone. The absolute authority he wielded over we the "people" was my obstacle. The only one capable of removing Cain was Cain himself. Ramsus, the "copy of Cain" that I created for that purpose, behaved according to my expectations, and eliminated Cain. Now no one can stop me. Furthermore, I have no interest in the power to rule which you pursue. Did you believe you were self-determining? You are things, bound to the system. Ultimately, you are nothing more than a terminal interface, designed as a weapon of aggression and domination."
[Translator's note: "The absolute authority he wielded ..."
This sentence was a task. I have modified it to be less redundant. Originally, annoyingly similar to the one preceding it, with Cain as the subject.
"Did you believe you were self-determining..."
This 'self-determining' is an important word, I think, and I didn't get all the nuances. It refers to the capability of making one's own decisions. I treated tsumori (=intent) like it's used in the expression nanisama tsumori?, or, 'who the hell do you think you are'?]
Gazel: We... can... become... god! And... you're...
(Blue 1): We......we will...... become god! D......do not......
Krelian: "God? Who said you'd be god? What impertinence! We are 'humans'. We were created to be terminal interfaces of god. It is the same for you, who were once humans. 'Man cannot become god.' ... We can only entrust ourselves to god."
Karellen: "God? Who said that you would become god? You say such presumptuous things. We are human. Even for you, who were created to be the terminal interface of god, that is the same. "Man cannot become god." All that we can do, is entrust ourselves to god."
Gazel: Ri... diculous... Going... a... gainst the... Mother...
(Blue 1): Re......DICulous...... INCON......sis...tent with...the mother'S...... wiLL............
[Translator's note: "Ri......DICulous..." My own work creeps me out here. ^_^ I'm just trying to capture some of the unsettling variations in script with variations in caps in my translations. The implications appear to be that the remaining minister is fighting to express himself with what little data is left to him.]
Krelian: "I have not gone against her. This is the will of the 'other mother'."
Karellen: "It isn't inconsistent. It is the will of the other."
[Translator's note: "It is the will of the other..."
There is an omitted kanojo here. The Karellen/Kanojo rule is of course in effect.]
Gazel: You... think... you... can... elim... inate... us... and... still...... revi... ve... god...?
(Blue 1): DO......you THINK...... ......you can...... revive......GOD...... without......us......
Krelian: "It can be done. Your genes were scattered in order to keep the world alive after the 'Fall' in the days of destruction. Those genes live on today within the humans. The -Anima- vessels... and the recipients of their alignment, the -Animus-... and also the -Persona-... By combining these with my nanomachines, humans will become living beings very much the equivalent of you. Actually, they may far surpass you in becoming worthy terminal interfaces for god. So you are no longer of any use to me. -Deus-, the physical manifestation of god, only wants results... The means are insignificant to him... So this is my 'Ark Plan'... My -Project Noah-!"
Karellen: "I can. Your genes, which were dispersed to sustain the world after the days of collapse, live on among the people. The Anima (vessels), the Animus (those who align)...... And the persona...... Those, combined with my nanomachines, will make the people equivalent to you. No, even further, they will be capable of becoming a proper interface to god. Your existence has no value now. Deus (god) only wants results. The means do not matter. This is my "Ark Plan". Or in other words, Project Noah."
Gazel: K... re... li...
(Blue 1): KAre......L......le......
Krelian: "May all your worries cease. Rest in peace... ancestors of mortal man!"
Karellen: "With this, all that would afflict you with worry will cease. Rest in peace one footstep before us, ancestors of man......"
Krelian: "Now, it is just you and I... Sophia!"
Karellen: "Now, I go to you...... Sophia...... Now......"
[Translator's note: 'Go' is a guess verb. I got a sense of motion out of the phrase, but it's still a little bit of Japanese vagueness for you.]
Chapter 63: fortress of the death (U.S. ver: Waiting Death)
Quote:
Karen: "Yes... probably already born somewhere."
"... The final one!"
(No error, but wanted to confirm. Also, there is no exclamation mark after "final one".)
Ee. Kowaraku wa doko ka ni umareteiruhazu. Saigo no ne.
"My curiosity is regarding the line "... The final one!" which has always confused me, because I don't see why Elly would be the final antitype, something that directly contradicts Grahf's later arguments."
- Fan
"Translation is correct. I've checked, and Karen used the word 'saigo'. Saigo means 'final'. Would it not mean the final reincarnation?"
- Yenie
"I always just assumed that after Miang accomplished her goal of reviving Deus, the Contact and Antitype wouldn't be born again since they would have returned to Deus."
- B K
Chapter 64: The Melcover of sorrow (U.S. ver: Merkava Calls)
Quote:
Elly: "You could say... you escaped that destiny by existing through multiple generations..."
"I think 'multiple generations' is ok. "Dai" in this case is 'generation' for sure. It means 'by generations passing by...' lit.: 'by generations piling up'."
- Infsen
Quote:
Citan: "Elly! Why did it have to be you? If Miang is a part for Deus, why did it not happen earlier...?
Krelian: "It's still not enough for her just to have awakened. Although she may be Miang, she still isn't the 'true Miang'."
Citan: "The 'true Miang'...?"
Elly: "Let's go, Krelian. All that is left to do is to vanquish this planet's civilization and return it to how it was. Then I can complete my unification with the final fragment of Deus... the 'Zohar Modifier'... The power reactor that fell upon this planet and became our genesis, and now, our apocalypse..."
Citan: "The eradication of civilization!? What is the purpose of doing that!?"
Elly: "Who knows...? The creations of god will someday be a hindrance. That is why they must be eliminated. I am just programmed to act in this way..."
Krelian: "Come... It is time for the awakening of the true 'mother'."
(ERROR: Alot of it.)
"Okay, I'm a bit iffy with the translation... it somehow didn't match what SE did.
Krelian: Her awakening is incomplete. Even if she is Miang, she is still not 'her'. (True Miang, perhaps?)
Citan: Her...?
(Krelian used the word 'kanojo sono mono de wa nai' to refer to Miang who had just awakened in Elly's body. The literal translation of that would be 'the girl who isn't [that thing/being/person]'. Using context clues (the Japanese just love to be very vague), it means 'imperfect Miang'.)
Elly: Let's go, Krelian. After this, this planet's civilization will be erased and will return to its original state. The final fragment, other than the original, the one that fell into that power reactor... the "Event Changing Engine Zohar". I will accomplish it by becoming one with it.
(Miang will accomplish the rebirth of the planet by becoming one with the Zohar, or something to that effect. The "let's go, Krelian' line... I'm so unsure with that one. It doesn't match the localized version. orz
"Zohar Modifier" = this was very tricky. It reads as 'jishouhenikikan Zohar'. Literal translation is Event Changing Engine/Agency/Organization. Let's go with Event Changing Engine. XD)
Citan: Civilization's eradication?! What do you mean by that?!
Elly: Who knows...? Sooner or later, the beings that created god will become an obstacle. That's why they must be eradicated. As for me, I'm simply programmed to act this way...
Krelian: Come... it's time for the awakening of the real "mother"."
- Yenie
"(kanojo sonomono) doesn't just mean "her" but "she herself" or something along those lines."
- hakanakumono
"It's a little tough to convert "kanojo sonomono" to English, but contextually I believe it means "her true self"."
- Sky Render
"Krelian: "Her awakening is still incomplete. Although she is Myang, she is also "not herself". (meaning, not the essense of her)"
- Jinx
"I looked up the original line Karellen uses to talk about the "True Myyah" and well, it's not really an issue with translation, but rather with context. The translation guide implies Karellen is talking about Elly-Myyah regarding her "incomplete awakening". Context I think however implies he's just talking about the Myyah that just died though, because Shitan asks him why this didn't happen earlier, if Myyah was a part of Deus. Karellen simply answered "That's because her awakening is incomplete". He specifically ends the sentence with のだ, a sentence ends that indicates he's explaining something he's been asked about. He is not ignoring Shitan's question. There's some translations in there that kinda twist the context by introducing a "still" that's not present anywhere in the Japanese text."
- trexalfa
Chapter 65: memento of dreams (U.S. ver: Dreams...)
Quote:
Citan: "Legendary Power?"
Zephyr: "God's resting place, Mahanon, ...the source of divine wisdom, 'Razael'... and the 'Anima Relics' which were created by that very wisdom... Besides these... there is one more legend."
Citan: "And that is?"
Zephyr: "'Zohar'..."
Citan: "Zohar!? That has the same name as the 'Zohar Modifier'!... ...the power reactor that Miang spoke of, saying it was the infinite energy source of god -Deus-... What she claimed is also the source of our Ether powers and the driving force of all our Gears."
(ERROR: 'Zohar Modifier' is supposed to be "phenomenon alteration system".)
Citan: denshou no ryoku?
[ Legendary power? ]
Zephyr: kami no nemuru chi "Mahanon" ... ... chie no minamoto "Rajieru" ... ... kami no chie ni yotte sourareta "Anima no Utsuwa" ... ... sore igai ni ... ..., mou itsu no denshou ga aru no desu.
[ "Mahanon", the ground where God sleeps ... ... the source of wisdom, "Raziel" ... ... the "Container of Anima" that were created from God's wisdom ... besides these ... another legend exists. ]
Citan: Sore wa?
[ And that is? ]
Zephyr: "Zoharu"...
[ Zohar ]
Citan: Zoharu desutte?! Sore wa, Miang no itteita, kami ... ... Deusu ya ... ...wareware no motte Eeteru ryoku no minamoto to iwareru douryokuru "jishou heni kikan" namae to de wa nai desu ka!
[ Zohar?! Miang called that the power reactor of God ... Deus ... which is also the source of all of our Ether power, "the Phenomenon Alteration System", it isn't the same name is it?! ]
Quote:
Id: "It's time for the true awakening! I will eliminate all those who were full of hypocrisy from the very beginning."
Japanese: "It's time for the true awakening! First, I shall annihilate those riddled with hypocrisy!"
[From Id's line, he's not referring to anyone in specific. He just says あいつら, which is referring, in plural, to some 3rd person he's not currently speaking to (otherwise, he'd have said こいつら). Also, he doesn't say "from the very beginning", he says he'll annihilate those riddled with hypocrisy as his first move. ]
- trexalfa
Quote:
Citan: "Fei!? This must mean this is Weltall's transformed appearance!?"
"Th.. this is.. [You] Fei!? Then.. this is a Transformation of Weltall, you mean?"
or "Th.. this is.. Fei!? You're telling me this is a Transformation of Weltall?"
Citan seems to be reacting to an earlier statement by someone and seems to be making sense of it by himself.. (in front of the cocoon later then).. the tense can be both in Japanese. Or he is reacting to nobody and talks to himself like "this shall mean...?"
- Infsen
Quote:
Khan: "Argh...! Fei...!! Can you hear me? Please take this fist full of memories I am giving you... Become one... with yourself... and with me!"
(ERROR: The line is translated awkwardly.)
C.. Can you hear me, Fei!? Please receive my will by this fist I am striking. And become one!
Interestingly, they are using a different character for the verb "receive/parry/accept/take", a word not normally used. This moves the connotation away from "parry" (fist strike reference) to "take/accept". Grrrmmm... have to watch the scene here, too... the Japanese is vague... this is the best and most neutral thing I can give you... "will" could also be "feelings", even "love", yes it can mean "memory" in some instances too.. does Fei remember sth right after this he didn't before? The last expression refers to Fei's inner conflict I suppose.
- Infsen
I think "love" would make the most sense actually, since it is a father trying to reach his son. And no, Fei doesn't start to remember after this scene so memory just sounds awkward. As does "become one [...] with me." It sounds like that wasn't in the original line.
- Fan
Nope, there is no "with me", at all..... do not know what they were thinking.. Hmm "receive this fist strike of love" is awkward to.. as I said the Japanese is vague.. is doenst say love (ai) literally... so "feelings"? "affection"? Something indirect would suit.
- Infsen
Quote:
Id: "Grahf came seeking the power that exists within me. To return to his own body. You understand now, don't you...? Grahf is...Lacan. We, his descendants who inherited his lingering thoughts and memories from him, know only too well... Divided 500 years ago... He would became a part of us both... Lacan became Grahf. He destroyed everything on the face of the earth. He then mastered how to possess the bodies of others by dwelling in their minds. He was probably enabled to do this after his contact with the 'Existence'. The bodies died but Lacan's spirit continued living by possessing others."
(ERROR: Id does not refer to himself as a "descendant" of Lacan in the original Japanese. He says Lacan "is residual thoughts, one half of us that split off 500 years ago.")
Id: "Grahf was after the power that dwelled within me. In order to return to his own flesh. You understand already, don't you? Grahf is Lacan. He is residual thoughts, one half of us that split off 500 years ago. Lacan, who had become Grahf and completely destroyed this surface, learnt a technique to dwell within men's spirits. Probably something he learned through Contact with the "Existence", perhaps? Though his flesh had perished, Lacan's spirit survived by possessing the bodies of men." [Translation by trexalfa]
[And just to clarify, the use of "men" here is a word choice I made for translation. The original text uses the generic term for human. It doesn't mean Grahf is only capable of possessing those of the masculine sex.]
- trexalfa
Quote:
Id: "He had come that day, to return his soul, at last, to the perfect reincarnation of his physical body... The body of 'Fei'."
(ERROR: This line is not correctly translated, the original Japanese does not specify "perfect reincarnation.")
Id: "And thus, he appeared for the sake of returning to the flesh, to the soul of his once again reincarnated self." [Translation by trexalfa]
Quote:
Lacan: ...What ...is... this... place...? ...My execution site...?
It's correct, it's just that he's not saying "My execution site" he's saying execution site in general. My assumption is that after he comes to and sees the barren land before him, that's just the first thought that comes to his mind.
- Then00bAvenger
Chapter 66: fallen stars (U.S. ver: Fallen Star)
Quote:
--: "I... am... Har... "
(ERROR: 'Har' is not a name, it is a part of the word Zohar.)
The part about "har" is actually a pretty funny and, at the same time, pathetic translation error. XD
At the beginning of the conversation WE's words aren't audible or sound interrupted, so he says:
"Wa...shi wa... har..." (I-.... har...)
Then the words start to be clearly audible:
"Watashi wa Zohar ni yadoru mono" (I am being that resides inside the Zohar)
Har is actually a part of the word Zohar that isn't completely audible.
In fact, during the rest of the conversation, the script [Thousands of Daggers] names WE as Wave Existence, not as Har as [english fan transcripts] does.
- LastFencer
Quote:
Wave Existence: "In actuality, I do not have a physical form. I am an 'Existence' of a higher dimension. A place you cannot perceive... But in terms you understand, it is a world where everything acts as kinds of waves...
It is the source of this four-dimensional universe... The place where time and space is controlled... The fluctuating void... The 'Wave Existence'.
(ERROR: It implies the higher dimension is a place "where time and space is controlled," but the text is actually referring to our universe being governed by those laws.)
Very interesting. The meaning of the sentence, actually a relative clause, has been broken up by the translator misleadingly, I think... I can understand this mistake though since it is common when the particle "no" replaces the subject marker "ga" in a sentence. And is mistakenly taken as genitive.. what it is in most cases...... the sentence simply should be:
It* is the place that became the origin of your four-dimensional universe which is controlled/governed/reigned by space and time.
*the world filled with things that behave like waves in a sense = higher dimension, I guess
So it states the obvious: our universe is controlled by space and time... and the not so obvious: The Wave Existence's home is the origin of our universe. Hmm also I would not neccessarily translate "mu" with "void"... but "non-existence"... I acknowledge that one Chapter of Musashis "Book of Five Rings" has been translated like that.. but I don't feel Takahashi was going for Zen-Buddhism here.. but for "non-existence" as opposed to "existence"... so "fluctuating non-existence" has become "existence"... yeah "void" is non-existence, sure, but... XD ..."muyô" is "useless"... "muzai" is "without guilt".. "mukô" is "without effect".. so it means that "something is not there"... nothing more.
- Infsen
Quote:
Wave Existence: "Long ago, a 'modifier', or a pseudo-perpetual, infinite-energy engine was created. That engine was named 'Zohar'. That reactor was created by an ancient people from another planet to attain what is considered to be the ultimate energy possible within this four-dimensional universe. Eventually, those people used that same engine to create the ultimate inter-planetary invasion weapon, 'Deus'... Zohar was used as its primary source of power."
(ERROR: It says "modifier" instead of "phenomenon alteration" or "phenomenon modification." The people who created Zohar and those that created Deus are also not directly stated to be the same, but it is implied.)
"Zohar was created in ancient times long forgotten (well duh -- and no, it doesn't say by whom), however the people of ancient times (referring to the T.C 47xx generation) discovered its pseudo-perpetual, phenomenon alteration ability and utilized it to attain the highest output of energy level available in the 4-dimensional universe. Eventually, people created the ultimate weapon, Deus, an interstellar subjugation system. This system was the first entity to make full use of Zohar's energy and it adopted it as its main power reactor."
- int
"In ancient times, a phenomena modification engine, a semi-perpetual infinite energy engine was created. It was given the name "Zohar". It was the attempt by an ancient people from an alien/different planet to obtain the highest energy [source] imaginable in this four-dimensional universe. It was not long before those people made use of this engine to create the ultimate strategic weapon for inter-planetary war, "Deus". Zohar was eventually used as its main power reactor."
- Infsen
Quote:
Wave Existence: "She is bound to the system by another's will to become one with me. In order to release her, it is necessary to destroy that very system that serves as the Deus weapon..."
(This translation is not necessarily wrong, but I wanted to make sure it was accurate.)
"She is bound by the will of the one who wishes to unify with the system and myself. In order to set her free, the system itself that serves as the weapon 'Deus' must be destroyed."
- trexalfa
Quote:
Wave Existence: "To liberate all of us... Use...the...Xe...no...gears ...des...troy...Zohar...
Fei: "Wait! There's more I need to ask you..."
Wave Existence: "The system...is awakening... Ask...her...later..."
(This translation is not wrong, but I wanted to make sure it was accurate.)
Wave Existence: "The release of all... use... the Xeno... gears....Destroy... Zohar...."
Fei: "Wait! There's still something I want to ask..."
Wave Existence: The System... is about to awaken. Afterwards... you might ask her." [Translation by trexalfa]
Chapter 67: stimulation of Xenogears (U.S. ver: Xenogears Wakes)
Quote:
Grahf: "Miang and Elhaym...are not just Deus' mouthpieces. That 'woman' is its main body! Why can't you see that?"
(This translation is not necessarily wrong, but I wanted to make sure it was accurate.)
Japanese: "Both Myyah and Elehayym are not mere mouthpieces of Deus! That woman is its main body! Why don't you understand!"
[Note: Main body can also be translated as "true form".]
- trexalfa
Quote:
Grahf: "Before then, you have to destroy the newly perfected Deus and this Zohar modifier. You're the only one that can destroy the physical barrier that encases god's body."
(The original text seems to say "the newly completed Deus" rather than "the newly perfected Deus.")
Japanese: "In the time until then, you will destroy Deus, who has been completed, and Zohar. You yourself are the piece that's capable of destroying the walls that enclose God's flesh!"
Quote:
Grahf: "As you said, that was Karen. Through many generations Miang is beginning to break free from her bounds. Now that Elhaym has merged with Deus, she has all of her memories back. All the memories from her original birth as the Contact's complement up to her current transmigration. That includes all of the lives she has lived as Miang, and her substitutes, over the centuries. And of course, that includes your mother's memories too."
Fei: "Mother's memories...?"
Grahf: "Fei, cut away all the binds on mankind... You should be able to do that now. Save her and all the other women bound with her!"
(This translation is not necessarily wrong, but I wanted to make sure it was accurate.)
["As you say, that was certainly Karen. Through having repeatedly gone through generations/incarnations, Myyah is being released from her restraints. The current Elehayym, through her unification with Deus, possesses every single memory. The memories of her reincarnations, starting from primordial times, when she was born as the Contact's antithesis, and the memories of every Myyah and those she took over. Yes, even your mother's memories..."
Fei: "Mom's memories?"
Grahf: "Fei. To sever every single curse... if it's the current you, you should be up to the task. Save them."
Note: By "them", Grahf's speaking of women in plural.]
- trexalfa
Quote:
Fei: "Usually, human memories cannot be passed down through the generations. Humans do not normally have the ability to store memories in their introns. But Elly and I... and Miang... are different. Due to our connection with the 'Wave Existence'... That is, due to Zohar's ability to change possible phenomena, we can clearly store data in our introns. In other words, we can leave behind memories to be inherited by our descendants. "
(ERROR: Fei does not actually say "passed down through the generations" but something more along the lines of "recur through multiple generations" or "remain through multiple instances of ourselves." Also, the word "descendants" does not appear in the original Japanese.)
Last sentence in Japanese: "In short, bequeathing memories became possible."
"I think the problem with Honeywood's translation is the interpretation of 代 in a seriously literal way. 代 can serve as a counter, or word to refer to, "generations" in the sense of those who inherit a position. It's not meant to be understood as generations in the genetic sense, in the sense of it referring to one's offspring. Here, it's referring to the multiple instances of the Contact and the Anti Existence, that is, their reincarnations.
Which reminds me that I had already checked these instances of the use 代 in the script, and I'm positive that anytime the English game mentions genetic descendants, it's very likely to be wrong. There's also another time that the expression 代を重ねて (to go through multiple generations) appears in game: it's when Myyah's speaking to the party about how they avoided mutation.
Earlier on, after Etemenanki's destruction, the Gazel Ministry have something to say about Fei's existence: 代を重ねた生命体。
If you notice, it's the same expression Fei uses to talk about the inheritance of memories stored in introns in [those paragraphs]: ふつう、人の記憶は明確な形で代を重ねて存続させることは出来ない。
I've noticed that the Gazel Ministry sentence figures in the Translation guide, and that it reads as "He is a lifeform that recurs through the ages". Though in context, this translation functionally works well enough to reflect what the sentence in JP is trying to say, I think Honeywood's express mention of "multiple generations" hits the nail in ways this re-TL doesn't, but the wording is a bit off due to Western audiences not being familiar at all with the use of 代 in this sense. Any English speaker would be seriously hard pressed to interpret "generation" as anything more than an age related expression. Maybe it's just my own experience with Japanese fiction in general, but I've seen 代 in this context mostly as a counter for different individuals who inherit a position, or even a name or title. "Recurring through the ages" doesn't imply that there's, technically, different individuals filling in "for the Contact" while remaining, at their core, the same existence, but this way of reading the sentence does.
For example, if I were to be very literal, Abel would be the "first generation Contact" (一代目接触者) and, assuming there's no reincarnations in between, Kim would be the "second generation Contact", Lacan would be the "third generation Contact", and so on. Perhaps it's just my experience colouring this and making me jump the gun, but this is the meaning I get from this context.
In his line about memory inheritance, Fei talks about "generations" in the same way the Gazel Ministry did at the end of Disc 1: a generation means each separate incarnation of the Contact, all different lives who fill the same position and inherit the same title, because they are reincarnations of the same guy. Given the context, I would be hard pressed to believe it refers just to the mere passage of time (as translating 代 as "age" would net you), much less that it refers to genes.
Myyah does mention the word "gene", but just in the context of the offspring of the original humans and their inheritance of Animus. When she speaks of the group, in plural (so not just refering to Fei, because あなた達 is the 2nd person in plural), she says that it might be apt to call them "humans who have escaped from that original fate through the accumulation/the repeated action of going through generations". It's again 代を重ねる, the very same expression (just in another tense) that the Gazel Ministry uses to speak of the Contact as a lifeform of "multiple generations".
Might seem like a stretch, but I think this makes sense when read in this way. Too consistent to be a coincidence. As for the descendancy interpretation of the inheritance of memories for Contact and Anti Existence, it's very likely the talk of introns led Honeywood to choose those words.
And I just noticed the line from the Gazel Ministry comes from a conversation in which they are discussing the possibility of the Contact not mutating when the time comes. So it belongs in the same context Myyah says it too way later on. Even if anybody wished to go with the "recurs through the ages" translation present in the Translation Guide, for example, then that still means Myyah says the party avoided mutating through recurring through the ages as well... which really doesn't call back to the notion of genes having anything to do with it.
Fei's dialogue in the scene about inheriting memories in introns does cipher the specialness of the Contact and Anti Existence in the fact that they do something which is normally not possible: retaining memories in a clear and distinct form when repeatedly reincarnating, or at least that's how I'd interpret it in the context of a story in which we know that "generations", as in the many instances of the being known as "the Contact", should be individual reincarnations, not descendants in a biological sense (and Perfect Works does a lot to clear up the confusion). It's not the reincarnation that's special here, just the memory retention.
For an accurate translation, I'd have to give it some thought, because something like "It's a lifeform that has gone through multiple instances of itself" sounds dry and, to an extent, convoluted."
- trexalfa
"The translation I [prefer would be] "going through multiple incarnations". I think it expresses what I meant well enough, and it also works with the examples I brought earlier on: somehow, translating "Abel, 一代目接触者" as "Abel, 1st Incarnation Contact" instead of the more literal "Abel, 1st Generation Contact" doesn't sound like a bad compromise at all. Only problem I can see with this is that (and it should be taken into account) this translation choice is purely contextual, and it ditches literality almost entirely. But I dunno, I think it works, while making things a lot less ambiguous than the original wording."
- trexalfa
Quote:
Fei: "Just as the Wave Existence is bound inside of Zohar... the information is affixed to me, so to speak, by some of the power of the Wave Existence."
"After reading it like 10 times XD I think it should go like...
The same way the Wave Existence is contained/bound by Zohar, this information [memory] affixes a part of the Wave Existence's power to me myself, you could say.
This is the hardest part yet ^^' .. but clearly "information affixes power" in this sentence.. not the other way around.. I'm not sure what the author exactly wants to get across with this double relationship, though.. I guess I have to play the game again?"
- Infsen
Quote:
Citan: "Zohar senses the human consciousness and incarnates the -Seraphs-."
I WOULD SAY: The Aeon Army is created/formed by Zohar sensing the consciousness of human beings.
OR: Zohar senses the consciousness of human beings and then embodies it as the Aeon Army.
OR: The Aeon Army is something created by Zohar sensing the consciousness of human beings and giving it real form.
I like the last one best. "Sense" is a good translation IMHO. the verb "kanjitoru" is a combination of two verbs... "feel" and "take". Well, in fact I think the real Japanese meaning is very close to "sense".
- Infsen
Quote:
Billy: "Human consciousness...?"
Citan: "Zohar itself involves the principle of uncertainty. The observer's perception of Zohar determines the entity it actually becomes. In other words, I believe that those angels are incarnations of the spirits of people... ... The people who have been absorbed by Deus to become parts of it."
Bart: "So what merit is there for them to gain in eliminating all of civilization?"
Maria: "Is it some kind of hatred for those humans who have survived?"
Citan: "Of course not. Those people who were created and assimilated as parts for Deus would not have such intentions. Try to remember what Elly, when she became Miang, said."
Fei: " 'The creations of god will someday be a hindrance... That is why they must be eliminated...' "
I WOULD SAY: Beings [humans] that are able to create a god will someday be a hindrance... That is why they must be eliminated...
"shiuru" is the potentialis of "suru".. so it must be "being able to create"
- Infsen
Citan: "Yes. That is why Merkava is being used to begin the destruction. But... Deus is not following its programming of exterminating all of civilization... The -Seraphs-, which are terminal interface weapons of Deus, are using their bodies composed of... ... nanomachines to absorb massive numbers of people regardless of whether they are dead or alive. It is not discriminating between the mutant and non-mutant people. This is highly peculiar... ... The fact that the people who are meant to be destroyed are being taken in as well... That is the absolute opposite of what it is supposed to be doing."
Fei: "Maybe there aren't enough parts?"
Citan: "That is unlikely. Aside from those bodies that were destined to be parts for it... ... Deus, who has already acquired the abilities of the nanomachines, can just about use any material... ... to construct its body. It is obvious, it has other intentions in mind."
"Those intentions... Krelian has called Deus the mother. If god is the mother, then those motives are coming from the Great Mother... Impending the growth of its child, enveloping it, to bring the child back to the womb to become one with it. That is its motive. Such a program does not exist within its design though. It was probably given this unique will by someone. Either from Elly who has merged with the Deus or..."
(ERROR: Only the "The observer's perception of Zohar determines the entity it actually becomes" line sounded awkward. And the line "The creations of god will someday be a hindrance" is again badly translated...)
Japanese (translated by Jinx):
Citan:
The Aeon army is what manifests when the Zohar senses human consciousness.
Billy:
Human... consciousness...?
Citan:
The Zohar in and of itself contains the Uncertainty Principle. It is the very act of observation by an observer that determines actuality. In other words, those Aeons may be the manifested forms of spirits of the people that Deus ingested as parts.
Bart:
What the hell's the point of those things wiping out all civilization?
Maria:
Do they resent those that survived as people?
Citan:
Not at all. Humans that were created for the purpose of being ingested and becoming parts of Deus have no such intention. Remember the words that Elly spoke after becoming Miang.
Fei:
"Beings capable of creating God will eventually become a hindrance. That is why they are eliminated."
Citan:
Yes. And that is why the Merkava is being used to begin the destruction. However... Deus should be following its programming and destroying the surface so that no civilization remains... but it's not. Deus's terminals, the Aeons, are utilizing bodies comprised of nanomachine colonies and are absorbing a great many people regardless if they're alive or dead. Regardless if they're mutant or not. This is strange... Ingesting humans that should be destroyed and eliminated is an act that is contrary to its original purpose.
Fei:
Maybe there's just not enough parts?
Citan:
That's impossible. Now that Deus has acquired the ability of nanomachines, any kind of material is acceptable for constructing its body, not just those people whose bodies were destined to become its parts. Clearly, there is no reason to think it is anything but an action with a different purpose. This behavior... hmm. Krelian sees Deus as "mother". If Deus is mother, then this is the doing of the Great Mother... Preventing the growth of her child, engulfing it, and returning it to the womb as a part of herself. Such a program does not exist in Deus's design. Perhaps this new trait has sprouted according to someone's will. Either it's from Elly who has synchronized with Deus... or it's...
"Noting, as usual: I tend to be more literal, because sometimes it helps clarify. But unless it's an obvious mistake, the official translation will always be more correct than mine."
- Jinx
Chapter 68: the one that is the first and the last (U.S. ver: First And Last)
Quote:
"Not exactly. Your actual body is but a physical object... It has merely been absorbed into Deus' outer-shell. Only your consciousness is here. Of course, the girl you perceive in front of you is also not a true being. Your consciousness is merely creating her image."
(ERROR: It does not say that Fei is creating Elly's image/consciousness.)
... it does NOT say, that Fei's consciousness creates both images. From the flow of the text, I as reader would assume Elly's image is created by herself. Like Fei's is...
Not exactly. Your real body is still physical ... It has merely been absorbed into Deus' outer-shell. Only your consciousness is here. Of course, the girl you perceive in front of you is also not truly her. Her consciousness is merely constructing this image.
The translator had not learned, that wa/mo mark the topic not only the subject, and that it even may carry over to the next sentence(s)... .
In Jap. sentence 2 and 3 the topic is Fei's real body and his consciousness respectively. In sentence 4 the topic changes to Elli "Kanojo mo" and carries over to sentence 5... since "mo" changes the topic definitely, there is no need to say "her consciousness" in Japanese... but just "consciousness"
Instead of "real body" you could also translate "the real you".. "the true you".. "You as a entity".. a translation with a little more freedom taken... but less awkward
- Infsen
Quote:
Krelian: "The only one who could have forgiven me was God"
(Due to the bad dubbing some have interpreted Krelian as saying "...is gone" instead of "...was God".)
Watashi wo yurushite kureru no ha kami no mi nanda yo: The one who can forgive me is God.
"The line is a bit simple in its sentiments, but at the same time, it sounds desperate. Almost sounds like something [Krelian] would yell whilst crying his eyes out. So, using "The only one who could have forgiven me was God," has a closer "feel" to the original. It's an exclamation, in Japanese."
- CT
Quote:
Krelian: "I go to walk with god, even if there is no place left for me upon my return."
(ERROR: This sentence badly translated.)
Karellen: "I go to walk with God. And, even if I did return... There would be no place for me [in that world/to call home/etc.]."
[ Fei urges Karellen to come back with them and says that he still has time to atone for his sins, but Karellen responds that he has already decided to "walk with god," and he wouldn't have a place to return to even if he did go back (mentally/spiritually, though it could also be literal as well).]
- Lugalbanda
