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Champion of Kirkwall
1212
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8,026
Sifr
3,737
Aug 25, 2016 20:05:11 GMT
August 2016
sifr
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
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Post by Sifr on Apr 14, 2017 19:54:43 GMT
It's kind of like "The Milky Way" and "Andromeda". I'm mostly sure that Turian's, Quarian's, and Angara did not all decide independently to call these galaxies the same thing. However, where in English we call our home galaxy "The Milky Way", Quarian's might call it "Spirally McSpiralface". But the literal translation of what they are saying is then not important, according to the programming in the VI. It's the meaning. And so when they refer to the galaxy using the Quarian name, English-speaking humans will hear, through the translator, "The Milky Way." Using "Galaxy" as a catch-all term to describe anything other than the Milky Way is a bit inaccurate given it's etymology. The term originally derived from the Greek Galaxias kyklos ("Milky Circle"), used to describe the colour of the band of stars in our night sky. It's why the phrase "Andromeda Galaxy" is technically a misnomer and why "Milky Way Galaxy" winds up being a tautology. (There was no way I could write any of that without it sounding extremely pedantic and nerdy, was there?)  |
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whanzephruseke
N2
The fic must flow.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 61 Likes: 51
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7235
0
51
whanzephruseke
The fic must flow.
61
April 2017
whanzephruseke
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
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Post by whanzephruseke on Apr 15, 2017 5:17:18 GMT
It's kind of like "The Milky Way" and "Andromeda". I'm mostly sure that Turian's, Quarian's, and Angara did not all decide independently to call these galaxies the same thing. However, where in English we call our home galaxy "The Milky Way", Quarian's might call it "Spirally McSpiralface". But the literal translation of what they are saying is then not important, according to the programming in the VI. It's the meaning. And so when they refer to the galaxy using the Quarian name, English-speaking humans will hear, through the translator, "The Milky Way." Using "Galaxy" as a catch-all term to describe anything other than the Milky Way is a bit inaccurate given it's etymology. The term originally derived from the Greek Galaxias kyklos ("Milky Circle"), used to describe the colour of the band of stars in our night sky. It's why the phrase "Andromeda Galaxy" is technically a misnomer and why "Milky Way Galaxy" winds up being a tautology. (There was no way I could write any of that without it sounding extremely pedantic and nerdy, was there?) Actually ... Etymology only tells you the origins of a word or phrase, not its appropriate current usage. Using "galaxy" for anything other than the Milky Way might be incorrect in Greek, but it's correct in English. (I dare you to beat me at nerdy pedantry.  ) As for Vetra's "quid pro quo," there is no indication that anyone other than Ryder hears (or says, in Vetra's case) the line that way. While the phrase is originally from Latin, it is so ingrained in the English lexicon as to have mostly uprooted synonymous native phrases such as "tit for tat," and its meaning of "equal exchange" is not so complicated as to be a uniquely human concept. That said, I don't blame OP for having an initial reaction of "wait, what?" I probably would have done a double take at first if I'd ever taken Jaal out of my party long enough to trigger that banter. |
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209
0
3,640
zipzap2000
Zip has left the building.
2,263
August 2016
zipzap2000
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
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Post by zipzap2000 on Apr 15, 2017 6:26:35 GMT
Using "Galaxy" as a catch-all term to describe anything other than the Milky Way is a bit inaccurate given it's etymology. The term originally derived from the Greek Galaxias kyklos ("Milky Circle"), used to describe the colour of the band of stars in our night sky. It's why the phrase "Andromeda Galaxy" is technically a misnomer and why "Milky Way Galaxy" winds up being a tautology. (There was no way I could write any of that without it sounding extremely pedantic and nerdy, was there?) Actually ... Etymology only tells you the origins of a word or phrase, not its appropriate current usage. Using "galaxy" for anything other than the Milky Way might be incorrect in Greek, but it's correct in English. (I dare you to beat me at nerdy pedantry. ) As for Vetra's "quid pro quo," there is no indication that anyone other than Ryder hears (or says, in Vetra's case) the line that way. While the phrase is originally from Latin, it is so ingrained in the English lexicon as to have mostly uprooted synonymous native phrases such as "tit for tat," and its meaning of "equal exchange" is not so complicated as to be a uniquely human concept. That said, I don't blame OP for having an initial reaction of "wait, what?" I probably would have done a double take at first if I'd ever taken Jaal out of my party long enough to trigger that banter. It's really worth listening to throughout if you get the chance. |
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Kroitz
N3
Posts: 466 Likes: 697
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222
0
697
Kroitz
466
August 2016
kroitz
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Post by Kroitz on Apr 15, 2017 7:24:52 GMT
... And THAT was where I drew the line. I placed the controller on the floor and turned the game off, wandered over and placed the remote on the top of the television and turned it off manually.... *Sips Ryncol* I can believe many things. That ain't one of those. |
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