I’ve been wondering for a long time about the accuracy of this translation. I finally got around to checking out the original version of the interview. Since I don’t speak Korean, I used Google Translate to get an alternate translation of the relevant part.
Q. It’s a story about Bfaa, but the Horde is evil and Earl [Alliance!] is becoming good. What’s the difference between Silva[nas] and Garrosh?
A. This is our mistake, we first released the content of Teldrassil and Lordaeron in order to make the game popular during Blackcon [Blizzcon?], which helped make Silva and Horde evil. Three animations will be released before Bfaa like Legion. We’ll cover a variety of characters here. In the case of Jaina, for example, her unusual side will come out. On the other hand, the normal side of the Horde will come out. Also, Anduin’s attack on Lordaeron is not something to be done for justice. Honestly, this is great to show the dignity of the king. The chief does not necessarily represent the camp.
And then I had an IM conversation with a coworker who’s originally from Korea. He looked at both the Korean original and the Google translation. Below is a lightly edited transcript of our chat.
Me: So, can I ask about the implications of some of it?
When it says, “This is our mistake” … they don’t really mean “mistake,” right? I mean, they’re not really saying they were wrong to do this?
Maybe it’s more like “That’s my fault”–but really meaning “You can blame me if you don’t like it,” not “I did a bad thing”?
Him: It’s more like “This is our fault.” It sounds like “We are responsible for this.”
Me: Thanks, that’s what I thought.
What about “which helped make Sylvanas and the Horde evil”?
That bit doesn’t quite make sense to me.
Him: The person who is saying this not blaming Sylvanas and Horde.
Me: Hmm, interesting.
Like “We forced them to do it” or like “This isn’t actually true”?
Or maybe you can’t tell, sorry
It’s just that this whole sentence is weird
Him: It sounds like “We should not release the conversation between Teldrassil and Lordaeron in advance.”
Me: Ahh, I see!
More like “It will make more sense when you see the whole story”?
Him: Yes.
The person is not targeting or blaming certain people. The person keeps saying “This is our fault”
“We should not have done it” - This is the point.
Me: Okay. (I bet he’s not really sorry, though, because it definitely got people to ask a lot of questions and talk about the game!! )
One last question: when they talk about Jaina’s “unusual side” and the “normal side of the Horde” …
That’s “unusual in a bad way,” right?
And “normal” as in … relatable?
Him: Actually, it is more like abnormal way is more close
Me: That makes sense.
Him: I still have no idea about this entire conversation. I know it’s all about the game.
Me: Well, I can explain some of it if you want
Him: You don’t have to. I know it will be a long story. [LOL!! ]
Me: Well, here’s the short version
I don’t know how much you know about World of Warcraft, but there are two sides, the Alliance and the Horde. They’re not supposed to be “the good guys and the bad guys”–they’re just supposed to be different and have different philosophies.
Him: I don’t know WOW at all.
Me: But just before that interview, the Horde (led by Sylvanas) did something really bad, and the questioner was worried that this meant the Horde was becoming “the bad guys.”
So when it says “the normal side of the Horde will come out,” I assume they mean that to be a good thing.
I mean, a bigger compliment than just “normal,” which sounds pretty neutral in English.
“What’s he like?” “Oh, he’s normal”–not a huge compliment
Him: So, you are Horde ?
Me: I have played both sides.
But ever since this story, I don’t enjoy playing Horde anymore.
Him: Right. It is not a compliment in Korean too. Normal is just normal.
[snipped a little bit where I showed him the other translation from MMO Champion]
Him: This is not accurate. The statement is more indirect, but this is so direct.
Me: So you think the Google Translate version is better?
Him: Yes. much better. I see some mistranslations too. especially, this one Q. So Sylvanas is the bad guy, Anduin is the good guy? Horde is Evil, Alliance is good? What is different Sylvanas from Garrosh?
This is really mess up translation. LOL
Me: Yeah, I see that the first sentence there has no real equivalent
Okay, just to finish up, anything else that jumps out at you, or did we cover everything?
Him: I think that’s pretty much it
Me: Great, thank you very much!