Request Could You Explain This?

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by SquadCammander354, Jan 20, 2020.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. SquadCammander354

    SquadCammander354 『Early Life Crisis』〖Stormy's Bro〗『Lord of Storms』

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    21,192
    Reading List:
    Link
    I've noticed that in a lot of Chinese novels, just the word "kill" alone is said to have an "immense impact" on the opposition.

    What I'm wondering is this: why not add "them" or another noun after the verb? Is this a language thing that can't be explained due to there being no existing parallel with the difference in characters? Or is it because the character itself has multiple meanings or translations?

    This may sound nitpicky, but take this example and think about, "His airship rose to the sky.

    About 10 miles away from the battlefield, he could already hear battle cries of “KILL” all over.

    Countless lights of different colors flew everywhere, hitting the horde of demons.

    The demons came screaming, rushing at the cultivators without any regard for their own lives."

    Now that scene is awesome, but the words used by the combatants is just odd. If they're facing a horde of enemies, wouldn't it be better for all them to be shouting, "KILL THEM," rather than just the one word?

    Now some may say that the enemies are so obvious (same with the situation), why even bother to call out that? Well, even if it doesn't make too much sense for the common soldiers to be yelling the same word, for story purposes; it's a nice touch; albeit an odd one that could've been translated better by most groups.
     
  2. otaku31

    otaku31 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2015
    Messages:
    6,603
    Likes Received:
    26,150
    Reading List:
    Link
    Just "KILL!" feels more emphatic.
     
    Ruyue, Westeller, kenar and 7 others like this.
  3. canaria23

    canaria23 『  』

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2015
    Messages:
    9,488
    Likes Received:
    10,955
    Reading List:
    Link
    Translators being lazy
     
    SquadCammander354 likes this.
  4. elengee

    elengee Daoist Ninefaps

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2016
    Messages:
    13,488
    Likes Received:
    25,896
    Reading List:
    Link
  5. SquadCammander354

    SquadCammander354 『Early Life Crisis』〖Stormy's Bro〗『Lord of Storms』

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    21,192
    Reading List:
    Link
    So if you would my friends, and I look at you, which would be scarier?

    "Kill" or "I'm gonns fucking kill you and feed you to the fucking dogs!"

    Yeah, tch, "KILL" definitely seems more personal! :blobsmilehappyeyes:
     
  6. Kutaifa

    Kutaifa Pokémon trainer

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    717
    Likes Received:
    828
    Reading List:
    Link
    It is a bad case of localisation.
     
    SquadCammander354 likes this.
  7. SquadCammander354

    SquadCammander354 『Early Life Crisis』〖Stormy's Bro〗『Lord of Storms』

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    21,192
    Reading List:
    Link
    Do delve further? ( '-' )
     
  8. Siceraria

    Siceraria Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,132
    Likes Received:
    3,345
    Reading List:
    Link
    I heard some similar argument before in this famous scene back-translated from China... but it was the reverse opinion.

    Do you prefer NOOOOOOOOOOO or DOOO NOTTTT WANTTTTTT?
     
    blues86, kyzer, Loni4ever and 3 others like this.
  9. SquadCammander354

    SquadCammander354 『Early Life Crisis』〖Stormy's Bro〗『Lord of Storms』

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    21,192
    Reading List:
    Link
    Also @otaku31, you could just say "Die"! Actually...wouldn't that be better? :blobunsure:
     
  10. Deleted member 155674

    Deleted member 155674 Guest

    Reading List:
    Link
    Probably one of those psychology things, to play tricks on the mind, shorter words with whole effect
     
  11. Effugium

    Effugium [Investigator], Praise Shigure-sama

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,094
    Likes Received:
    11,393
    Reading List:
    Link
    I think just saying kill is colder whereas the latter feels more angry :/
     
    blues86, otaku31, Zomula and 2 others like this.
  12. SquadCammander354

    SquadCammander354 『Early Life Crisis』〖Stormy's Bro〗『Lord of Storms』

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    21,192
    Reading List:
    Link
    You know what, we have another word for that reason, it starts with "d" and ends with "die".

    Lazy translators~ Oh well, not like it impacts the story too much.
    °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
     
    Deleted member 155674 likes this.
  13. Tilgarial

    Tilgarial [Chaos Tiger] [Paradox] [ded][Houseplant]

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2018
    Messages:
    1,643
    Likes Received:
    41,425
    Reading List:
    Link
    So, here is what i can think of:
    A. Fighting is phyiscal exertion, and requires quite a bit of breath and concentration.
    ever ran till exhaustion and then tried yelling a sentence while continuing? yah, a word is easier. can be worked into your breathing cycle far better
    B. I think a simple "kill" insinuates a slaughter much better than a "kill them". While technically, kill them would imply that you are targeting the enitre enemy army, for a single foot soldier it would probably subconciously feel more targeted at a smaller area, like a unit or such, which would possibly not even involve said soldier all that much, allowing for him/her to seek power/stability in the rest of the army and/or feel not as threatened.
    Whereas a simple "kill" wouldnt feel targeted, and since it's the enemy army, they would all know that they are the receiver of that shout
    (Point B is either psychology stuff, or overthinking something simple xD)
    C. In general, such shout are supposed to be united as much as possible for maximum impact. the more words, the harder it is to shout it at the same time, the more fractured it will seem, the weaker the impact.
     
  14. tirirism

    tirirism He who dealt it

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2017
    Messages:
    573
    Likes Received:
    576
    Reading List:
    Link
    It may not sound as "normal" in English but I think it's more accurate that way. In my language too, if you go into battle, you say "KILL!" It's the equivalent of saying "ATTACK!" rather than what a literal translation would imply.
     
    blues86, haweii, sekach and 2 others like this.
  15. SquadCammander354

    SquadCammander354 『Early Life Crisis』〖Stormy's Bro〗『Lord of Storms』

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    21,192
    Reading List:
    Link
    So, take a look at this quote.
     
  16. Effugium

    Effugium [Investigator], Praise Shigure-sama

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,094
    Likes Received:
    11,393
    Reading List:
    Link
    The same with die. Whenever i read a character say "Kill!", What i imagined in my head is someone shouting with a cold expression and when the character say "Die!", I imagined the character has an angry expression :hmm:
     
    Ophis_Trihexa likes this.
  17. SquadCammander354

    SquadCammander354 『Early Life Crisis』〖Stormy's Bro〗『Lord of Storms』

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,588
    Likes Received:
    21,192
    Reading List:
    Link
    But is it so hard to say die? ("ಠ_ರೃ)
    Okay, well that makes sense as it's a different language. OwO)b
     
  18. Effugium

    Effugium [Investigator], Praise Shigure-sama

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,094
    Likes Received:
    11,393
    Reading List:
    Link
    The same feeling as above. Maybe it's because I've heard someone saying kill in mandarin before, that's why i don't really mind. I feel like kill is better :/
     
    SquadCammander354 likes this.
  19. otaku31

    otaku31 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2015
    Messages:
    6,603
    Likes Received:
    26,150
    Reading List:
    Link
    "Kill" also serves the purpose of of invigorating/motivating your army, like @tirirism pointed out. "Die" is only one way, i.e., directed solely at the enemy. That's what I think, anyway. :blobsweat:
     
  20. canaria23

    canaria23 『  』

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2015
    Messages:
    9,488
    Likes Received:
    10,955
    Reading List:
    Link
    Yashasuiin!
     
    SquadCammander354 likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.