Translation? Fail!

[visible_sariel]

There are... suddenly quite a lot of unintelligible languages in here.

Not that a universal translator, or for that matter the still-inexplicable, presumed translation field working on the bar and grounds, make this fact inaudible, but a certain amount of bleedthrough or confusion is one thing. This... seems to be entirely another.

Doesn't it just figure that today is the day Sariel both finds a working door in her quarters and leaves her communicator (and its embedded universal translator) behind when dimension-hopping? What? She was drying her hair, and the bar ambushed her on the way out of the bathroom.

Cue one thoroughly bewildered, bemused Starfleet ensign in civilian clothes standing at Bar, trying to pick familiar words out of the general - please forgive this one - Babel. Babble. Bunch of people talking. You know. Her tea's cooling, but hasn't yet gone cold.

((OOC: I had to get in on this before it ended. Sariel is fluent in English and Kweyol, Saint Lucia's French patois. the latter is if not mutually intelligible with, then at least reasonably intelligible with, other French Creole languages, though if someone speaks European or, say, Moroccan French or Quebecois, they'll likely have a harder time. The mun's got English and Spanish, so I'm not even going to try and do justice to Kweyol itself, but I'll indicate when/if there's a switch to it.))

Tiny confuzzled tag: Translation fail.

Comments

[iprotectyou]

"[Someone broke the] fish," a giant of a man approaching the bar with a staff slung over his shoulders says in Jedhan, grinning.

"[Hi! I'm Baze Malbus,]" he says, pointing to himself.

"[Who] might you [be?]"

(OOC: Hi! Baze speaks Jedhan and Basic, which sound like Mandarin Chinese and English, respectively, but clearly aren't. He's speaking Jedhan right now, but because of the fish returning to their previous positions in the walls, some of his words come through as English. He does, however, know the word fish in English! I hope that's all right!)

[visible_sariel]

Uh-oh.

"I'm sorry," Sariel says carefully, if not a little uncertainly in English, "I don't understand--the fish? {The fish in the lake, or the fish in the fireplace? And, was it Malbus?}" The second half is Kweyol, consciously, which may or may not help the situation. Some small risks are worth taking. "Sariel Rager."

She leaves off the usual rank, but not the gesture to herself. Pardon any mangling of your second name, Baze.

[iprotectyou]

"[Malbus, yes,]" Baze says, rapping his knuckles against his armored chest. He nods exactly once.

"[Pleasure to meet] you, Sariel. [May the] Force [of others be with] you! [The] fish [that are in the] walls [translate for us, but Loki summoned them all to a specific spot in the] lake."

[visible_sariel]

At least part of that, thank you Babelfish, gets through. Sorry, Baze. Once an explorer, always an explorer. "The fish... in the walls? I've never heard of anything like that before! I was under the impression there was technology involved... unless these are metaphorical fish?"

She doubts they're metaphorical fish. Bleeping Milliways, you could say. But she had to try.

We did say only part of it got through, though, didn't we? "It's a pleasure to meet you too, but I'm afraid I--force of others? Someone else's command?"

That phrasing might tell, civilian sweater or no. Then again, it might not.

[iprotectyou]

"[No, no,] 'Force [of others' is just an expression,]" Baze says, raising his hand and letting the other one balance his staff against his shoulders.

"[The] Force [is an energy field that] binds [and surrounds all things. It has nothing to do with] commands."

[visible_sariel]

Sariel... looks utterly bewildered. "{The substance of the universe...?}" That's Kweyol again and half to herself, maybe for Baze's benefit, maybe just for her own in trying to puzzle things out. Then back to English, and at normal volume. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

File this one under 'when classics collide', eh?

When in doubt, get back to a level deck. "How long has this--" one hand lifts, gestures at the general confusion, drops again, "--been going on?"

[iprotectyou]

Yeaaaaah, it's not really the right time to explain the Force, what with the translation spell gone wonky. Maybe later.

"[About a week,]" Baze says, beaming.

"[Loki summoned the] fish [to the] lake, [even the ones in the] walls. [It's been a lot of fun learning new languages! I can tell you're speaking English sometimes, but is that a different one?]"

He knows he's repeating himself, but hopefully something will get through. Right?

[visible_sariel]

Yeah, save that particular explanation for later. Safer for everyone's brains.

As for things getting through, it's a hope fulfilled. "A week? Oh no... And did you say someone summoned the fish? Magic *again*? I should be surprised, but by this point, I'm far less so than I probably should be." Sigh.

Pause. "Speaking... oh, yes, I'm speaking English some of the time. It sounds as if you are as well, but not always? {My other language is Kweyol}." That last sentence is repeated in English for good measure. Some value of good measure. Ahem.

[iprotectyou]

"[Kweyol is a] beautiful [language,]" Baze says, adjusting his grip on his staff.

"[I'm speaking] Jedhan, [from the moon] Jedha, [but I think the remaining] fish [are translating some of my] words [into] English. [I know the word] fish, [though!] Fish!"

[childofrebellion]

(OOC: Yay for Sariel, Cassian speaks Galactic Basic which is similar to English but not and Festian, which again like Spanish. Let me know how much understanding you'd like.]

Cassian's also at the Bar, he's been oddly enjoying the confusion, it makes Milliways feel like the cantinas he knows. Though there have also been times that he'd love a protocol droid to help.

He recognizes the look of someone listening and belives he remembers speaking with her so says in Festian, "[The translation is broken.]"

[visible_sariel]

Does he mean her? Sariel glances over, and--hmm. One word sounded familiar, at least, and if that second was... It's worth a try. "{Translation?}" That's Kweyol, which may or may not confuse things even further. "{Is the translation matrix malfunctioning in here?}"

She would get technical, for a given value of technical.

((OOC: Yay, Fi!))

[childofrebellion]

He nods and gestures at her, yes, he's speaking to her and makes a gesture between their two mouths,

"[A spell messed up how the translation works.]"

[visible_sariel]

Aha, she was right. "{How the translation...}" Pause. Then, "{Did you say a spell? Oh no, magic *again*? Please tell me it's not permanent?}"

That's the voice of someone who's been involved in her share of bar weirdness. Also the voice of dismay, for the record.

[childofrebellion]

Cassian can hear a question in her voice and tries to think of what she might be asking, "[Its been going on about a week.]"

[visible_sariel]

That's an answer, she's fairly sure... "How long? A week? I'm not sure--"

English, for better or worse, this time.

[childofrebellion]

Now she's speaking something closer to Basic and he switches to that, "[Yes, I don't know when it started.]"

[visible_sariel]

That's an audible switch, and Sariel sticks to English this time. "A week. I should be surprised, but by this point, I'm far less so than I ought to be. Milliways..." The last word's a sigh, and a definite for getting through, even if nothing else makes sense. "Does anyone have an idea how long it will last?

[childofrebellion]

"[Kriffing Milliways though this isn't as bad as it could be, but odd. No one I've met does,]"

He has an accent in Basic, Festian is his first language and sips his caf.