Introduction
Rationale
Technology has revolutionized various media forms, including the internet, software, movies, and music, all of which require users to understand the language in which they are presented To address this, many programs, such as Windows and Microsoft Office, offer multiple language options during installation, enhancing their global reach As noted by Paige Williams (2016), Microsoft has recognized that language barriers can hinder product distribution, leading them to include language preferences in every software update For instance, Windows 10 features a language pack supporting 111 languages, with plans for further expansion, ensuring accessibility for users worldwide.
The game industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent decades, with global revenues tripling from $26.3 billion in 2004 to $86.8 billion in 2014, according to Statista This expansion highlights the increasing popularity of video games as a form of entertainment As the industry evolves, new roles such as game localization have become essential, playing a crucial part in ensuring that games are accessible and engaging for diverse audiences worldwide.
The demand for games among players worldwide, especially in Vietnam, presents a lucrative opportunity for game distribution companies Localizing games plays a crucial role in enhancing game quality and ensuring player satisfaction, making it essential for success in this thriving market.
Despite the significant growth of new media, research in audiovisual translation remains limited, as scholars often neglect this evolving field Munday (2016) notes that translation theory has largely overlooked audiovisual translation This gap in research highlights the urgent need for the development of translation theory specifically tailored to new media Consequently, this study aims to address this deficiency and contribute to the understanding of audiovisual translation.
Dota 2 is a globally popular video game, particularly in Vietnam, where approximately 170,000 accounts are registered Since 2016, it has maintained an average of over 600,000 active players monthly (Steamcharts, 2016), highlighting its immense popularity Additionally, Dota 2 boasts a strong supportive community and is known for hosting "The International 6," which features the highest prize pool in esports history at $21 million USD.
Dota 2 has achieved a remarkable milestone with a prize pool of $19 million generated from player purchases of in-game cosmetic items, a record unmatched by any other game The Dota 2 community in Vietnam is thriving, as evidenced by the "Dota 2 Community VN" Facebook group, which boasts over 43,000 active members and frequently garners thousands of likes and comments on posts.
3 gain their opinions and assessments on the translation Therefore, Dota 2 translated version and research into its translation proves to be valuable to Vietnamese Dota 2 community in future projects.
Aims and objectives of the study
This research addresses existing gaps in the understanding of game localization, focusing on the translation aspect as a product By examining the translation of Dota 2, a game developed by Valve, the study specifically analyzes the descriptions of heroes' skills, which is detailed further in the scope of the research.
Dota 2 has quite a lot of information that needs translating, most of which are game specific items To name some of Dota 2 in-game specific items, there are item’s description, cosmetic item’s description, hero’s name, HP (health point), MP (mana point), attributes (Strength, Agility, Intelligence), announcement, mini-map, basic action description (move, attack) The world of Dota 2 is so broad as this game is updated on monthly basis Translating all the information at the same pace with the updates is not easy to be done For that reason, taking the whole up-to-date information into researching is not possible as well Therefore, due to limited scale of this study, I only focused on the translation of hero’s skill’s description (latest version of 2015) as it is the longest part translated into Vietnamese and is also one of the most important parts a player needs to understand before he can play properly
This study investigates the strategies employed by the translator in their translation work and examines how Vietnamese players perceive this translation The research focuses on two key questions regarding the effectiveness of the translation strategies and the players' responses to the translated content.
1) What are the English-Vietnamese translation strategies applied in the part of “Heroes’ skills” in Dota 2 game distributed in Vietnam by translator-slash-player
2) To what extent are Vietnamese game players satisfied with the Vietnamese translation of the “Heroes’ skills”?
This article aims to validate the main hypothesis that "the Vietnamese translation of Dota 2, utilizing specific translation procedures by Dr Trune, has satisfied the majority of Vietnamese players." To achieve this, the first research question will explore the translation procedures employed, while the second question will assess the satisfaction levels of Dota 2 players in Vietnam Additionally, two supplementary hypotheses emerged during the questionnaire development, with their findings discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Significance of the study
This research enhances translation studies in new media, particularly in game localization, and serves as a valuable reference for researchers interested in audiovisual translation, especially in video games Additionally, it aims to elevate the quality of Vietnamese translations for Dota 2 and other future games.
Methodology of the study
The research utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to effectively address the research questions This mixed-methods approach provided valuable insights into the topic For Question 1, document observation was employed, while Question 2 was addressed through the use of questionnaires.
Organization of the study
This paper consists of five following chapters:
Chapter 1 (Introduction) states briefly all the main points of the study, including the rationale, aims and objectives, scope and data collection, data analysis methods.
Literature Review
Overview of game localization
As game graphics, content, and sound effects continue to evolve, game localization has become essential for reaching players worldwide This has led to the emergence of various localization efforts, including localization testing, agile localization for game updates, and system integration, all of which contribute to a seamless gaming experience across different languages and cultures.
Game localization is a multifaceted process that extends beyond mere translation, as highlighted by Merino (2006), who noted the use of distinct soundtracks tailored for the American market compared to the Japanese market to enhance appeal In addition to soundtracks, various game elements such as images, character models, items, and cosmetic features can be localized by incorporating the cultural customs, traditions, and iconic settings of the target countries.
Game localization involves translating text and dubbing from one language to another specifically for video games, highlighting its unique role in adapting content for diverse audiences This process not only ensures that the game's narrative and dialogue resonate with players but also enhances the overall gaming experience by making it accessible to a wider demographic.
Audiovisual translation, which includes subtitles and dubbing, is a key aspect of translating media content This research specifically examines translated texts without considering the original source texts, dubbing, or subtitles in any language related to Dota.
2 Therefore, the audiovisual part of Dota 2 is not discussed and mentioned any further in this research.
Methodology
Results and discussions
Research question 1
The document demonstrates a strong commitment to faithful translation, which, as defined by Newmark (1988), seeks to accurately convey the original's contextual meaning while adhering to the grammatical structures of the target language This means that the target text should maintain an equivalent level of meaning and closely reflect the content of the source text Several pieces of evidence supporting this approach are provided in the document.
Sprays high-pressure acid across a target area
Enemy units who step across the contaminated terrain take damage per second and have their armor reduced
Phun axit nồng độ cao trong khu vực đã chọn sẽ gây sát thương theo thời gian cho các đơn vị địch di chuyển qua đó và làm giảm giáp của chúng.
Axe taunts nearby enemy units, forcing them to attack him, while he gains bonus armor during the duration
Axe khiêu khích những kẻ địch đứng gần, buộc chúng phải tấn công hắn, trong khi đó hắn được thêm lượng giáp trong thời gian tác dụng
Bounty Hunter plans his next hit, passively adding a critical strike and maim to his next attack
Bounty Hunter chuẩn bị cho phát đánh kế tiếp, tạo ra phát đánh chí mạng và làm chậm kẻ địch trong phát đánh kế tiếp
Table 1 Examples of faithful translation
The translation from English to Vietnamese predominantly adheres to a faithful approach, ensuring that no additional information is introduced or omitted from the source text This method maintains the original meaning while aligning with Vietnamese grammatical structures, making it the primary technique utilized throughout the document.
The analysis of the synthesized document on Heroes’ skills reveals that certain translation procedures stand out, particularly transference, literal translation, reduction/expansion, and functional equivalent.
Transference is a translation method that retains the original wording of the source text in the target text, resulting in "loan words." Typically, this technique is applied to 100% proper names and certain common game-specific terms The following details elaborate on the use of transference for proper names.
Proper names can be classified into two categories: those without meaning and those with meaning Names without meaning are derived from popular sources such as stories, lore, movies, myths, and ancient literary works, making them untranslatable into Vietnamese Examples of this classification are provided in the accompanying table.
Io has the ability to teleport itself and any connected ally to any chosen location Once the spell duration ends, both Io and the tethered ally will automatically return to their initial positions Additionally, players can double-click to teleport directly to their team's base fountain.
Dịch chuyển Io và đồng minh được nối tới một vị trí bất kỳ
Sau khi kỹ năng hết hạn, Io và bất kỳ đồng minh nào được kết nối sẽ trở về vị trí ban đầu Để di chuyển đến hồ máu của đội mình, hãy nhấn đúp.
“Io is the name of a priestess of Hera in Greek Mythology She was seduced by Zeus and subsequently incurred Hera's wrath
Io is also the name of one of four Galilean moons of Jupiter, which was named after the same character in Greek Mythology.”
Huskar Huskar 's injuries feed his power, giving increased attack speed and magic damage resistance based on missing health
Huskar cung cấp cho hắn năng lượng, tăng thêm tốc đánh và kháng sát thương phép dựa vào lượng máu đã mất
“His name might be derived from Huáscar Inca, a leader of the Inca Empire in the 16th century.”
Rubick Rubick 's mastery of the arcane protects nearby allies against weaker
Sự hiểu biết phép thuật của
Rubick bảo vệ đồng minh xung quanh khỏi các ma thuật
Hungarian inventor who designed the "Magic
Table 2 Examples of proper names without meaning
Translating certain names into Vietnamese can be challenging, as their meanings may not directly transfer However, alternative methods like naturalization can be employed, similar to how translators of Greek mythology adapted the name Medusa into Vietnamese.
“Mê-đu-sa” or “Mê-đu-zơ”) By utilizing transference procedure, the translator has made no changes to these proper names in the translated text
Out of 112 hero names, only 19 are untranslatable, representing 16.96% of the total These names include Chen, Clinkz, Clockwerk, Huskar, Io, Jakiro, Kunkka, Leshrac, Lina, Lich, Medusa, Meepo, Mirana, Riki, Rubick, Slark, Slardar, Pudge, and Zeus.
The majority of names, comprising 83.04% of the total, are meaningful, with 95 names available for translation In this context, proper names are associated with magical abilities, providing characters with enhanced magic resistance and strengthening their own defenses.
Cube" (now more commonly called as the
"Rubik's Cube"), a popular combination puzzle.”
Medusa Creates a shield that absorbs 60% of the incoming damage in exchange for Medusa 's mana
Medusa tạo một tấm khiên từ mana hấp thụ 60% sát thương từ kẻ địch
Medusa was a monster, one of the Gorgon sisters and daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaea (Earth) and Oceanus (Ocean)
The number 24 exhibits diverse grammatical functions, serving as a noun, compound noun, or adjective, with names that often embody the essence of the heroes they represent Interestingly, while many of these names are derived from English, some originate from Latin and Hebrew, showcasing a rich linguistic variety Examples are provided in the accompanying table.
Hero’s name (as Noun) Hero’s name Original meaning Vietnamese meaning*
Doom Death, destruction Sự chết chóc, sự diệt vong, sự hủy diệt Lion A large powerful animal of cat family Sư tử
Luna Moon (in Latin, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Romanian)
Pugna Fight, dispute, or conflict (in Latin) Trận chiến, mâu thuẫn, tranh chấp
Hero’s name (as Compound Noun) Hero’s name Original meaning Vietnamese meaning*
Shadow Fiend An evil spirit surrounded by shadow Hồn ma bóng tối
Storm Spirit The spirit of storm Linh hồn bão tố
Commander of a legion Chỉ huy quân đoàn
Keeper of the Light Người giữ ánh sáng
Hero’s name (as Adjective) Hero’s name Original meaning Vietnamese meaning*
Tiny Small Bé nhỏ, tí hon
Magnus Great (in Latin) Vĩ đại
*Vietnamese literal translation out of context carried out by me, based on Lac Viet Eng-Vie dictionary
Table 3 Examples of proper names with meaning
The names listed in case (2) possess meanings that can be translated into other languages, including Vietnamese Notably, compound nouns make up the majority of these names, while only two are classified as adjectives Regardless of whether the proper names are nouns or adjectives, the translator employed the same transference procedure as in case (1).
In case (1), the translator retained unchanged names due to their lack of meaning and translatability In case (2), even translatable proper names were kept the same in the translated text, suggesting the translator intentionally utilized transference This technique extends beyond proper names to include other translatable game-specific terms.
Game-specific terminology often serves as jargon that can be difficult for non-players to understand In the context of Dota 2, numerous terms exemplify this specialized language.
Research question 2
Once all variables are entered, they are categorized into two groups as outlined in Chapter 3: Group A, which consists of all sentences starting with "a," and Group B, comprising all other sentences The results of a paired-samples T-test conducted on these groups are presented below.
Mean N Std Deviation Std Error Mean
A paired-samples t-test revealed a significant difference in satisfaction levels between two groups of Dota 2 players Group A, using the Vietnamese version of the translator, had a mean score of 3.1149 (SD=0.89), while Group B, utilizing a different translation procedure, scored 2.0749 (SD=0.79) The statistical analysis indicated a notable disparity in scores, emphasizing the effectiveness of the Vietnamese Dota 2 translator.
= 0.00 These results suggest that the original Vietnamese translated version brought more satisfaction to the players than my translated version In other words, the
Paired Differences T df Sig (2- tailed)
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Group A – Group B 1.04003 1.01591 05724 92741 1.15265 18.170 314 000
36 translation methods and procedures (which are presented in document observation results) applied by the translator are appropriate and are more welcome than those used by me
The study examines how language regions (a) and players' experience with Dota 2 (b) influence their satisfaction with the game's translation The accompanying chart illustrates the percentage distribution of participants according to their language regions.
Chart 1 Percentage of participants according to regions
The distribution of Dota 2 players shows that 57.8% are from the North, 30.8% from the South, and only 11.4% from the Middle regions Notably, the number of Northern players is five times greater than that of Middle players and nearly double that of Southern players A one-way ANOVA was conducted to assess the impact of these regional differences on players' perceptions of translation; however, no significant results were found, with p-values exceeding 0.05 This suggests that despite the substantial variation in player distribution across regions, geographic location does not significantly affect Dota 2 players' views on translation.
Case (b) reveals significant insights into the perceptions of players based on their varying levels of game experience Prior to conducting the ANOVA test, the data illustrating the percentage of participants is presented below.
Chart 2 Percentage of participants according to experience
The majority of players, comprising 47.3%, have over 5 years of experience in Dota, while half of the participants fall into this category Players with 6 months to 2 years and 2 to 5 years of experience are roughly equal in number, whereas new players with less than 6 months of experience represent the smallest group at 8.3% The ANOVA test indicates that responses from these four experience groups vary to some degree, revealing significant differences in satisfaction levels among the groups.
*The mean is significant at 0.05 level
There was a significant difference in the scores for Group 1 and Group 3: M
The analysis reveals that players with less than 6 months of experience rated the Vietnamese translation of Group A sentences similarly to those with 6 months to 2 years of experience, while both groups rated it significantly higher than players with over 2 years of experience in Dota 2 This trend indicates that more experienced players tend to give lower scores to the Dota 2 Vietnamese translation Additionally, the satisfaction levels regarding Group B sentences exhibit a similar pattern, as detailed in the accompanying table.
*The mean is significant at 0.05 level
In analyzing Group B, it is evident that players from Group 1 have a significantly different perspective compared to those in the other three groups The average scores reveal that Group 1 rated the translations highest, with a mean of 0.58 (p = 0.002) when compared to Group 2, 0.59 (p = 0.001) against Group 3, and 0.54 (p = 0.001) in relation to Group 4.
Overall, sentences from Group A generally receive higher mean scores compared to those in Group B Notably, sentence 2a has a lower mean score than sentence 2b, which was confirmed by a paired samples t-test yielding a p-value of 0.000 This unexpected outcome will be further explained in the following section.
Conclusion
Summary of main points
This study examines the translation of Dota 2 into Vietnamese, aiming to validate three hypotheses regarding game translation strategies Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, the research involved document observation and the distribution of questionnaires The findings reveal significant insights into effective game translation practices.
The current Vietnamese translation of Dota 2 has garnered approval from a significant portion of players, achieving a satisfaction rate of approximately 60%, based on a survey score of 3 out of 5 This positive response is attributed to the use of various translation techniques, such as transference, literal translation, reduction and expansion, and functional equivalence.
- It is true that players with different viewpoints and familiarity with Dota 2 satisfied with Dota 2 Vietnamese translation at different level
- It is false that players from different regions have different opinions towards Dota 2 Vietnamese translation
Also, the answers to the two research questions have been presented in Chapter 4 of this research.
Contributions of this research
This research benefits game translators, game players, game publishers and researchers in this field greatly
Game translators possess the expertise to identify effective translation strategies for games while avoiding less suitable ones This approach enhances the quality of game translations, ultimately satisfying players who are also the audience for these products As a result, gamers can enjoy high-standard translations, gain quicker access to foreign games, and improve their performance in various gaming experiences.
Game publishers can leverage the findings of this thesis to select the most suitable translations for their games, enhancing player engagement with localized content and boosting profits Additionally, this research offers valuable insights into game translation, localization, and audiovisual translation, serving as a reference for future researchers interested in these areas.
Due to the scale of this research, there are some unavoidable limitations which are illustrated as followed
Due to the inability to contact the translator of Dota 2's Vietnamese version, I was unable to gather insights on their translation choices or obtain their feedback on my research findings This limitation left several questions unanswered, such as whether the translator employed specific strategies intentionally, their level of satisfaction with their work, and the influence of personal experience with the game on their translations.
This research is limited in scope, focusing solely on the translation of "Hero's skills' descriptions" in Dota 2 Given the extensive amount of content requiring translation within the game, the findings and responses to the research questions are applicable only to this specific aspect.
This research focuses exclusively on the Vietnamese translation of Dota 2 Incorporating translations from other languages, such as Chinese, Korean, and Russian, could enhance the global relevance of the findings Players from various countries may have diverse perspectives on the translation strategies and procedures used in gaming.
This research specifically examines Dota 2, an English-language multiplayer strategy game It highlights that games from various genres and in different languages, when localized for the Vietnamese market, may require distinct translation strategies to effectively engage players.
45 type of players All in all, the researcher results would be more reliable if it could cover all these limitations
Game translation is an emerging field within translation research, presenting numerous opportunities for further exploration Future studies could examine the impact of visual and audio elements on translation quality, assess player satisfaction with game dubbing and voice-over, and investigate additional areas of game localization highlighted in the Literature Review.
To ensure the success of future studies, researchers should employ a variety of effective research methods Utilizing interviews and questionnaires is recommended, as the interactive nature of games involves both players and translators Additionally, addressing the previously mentioned limitations is essential for achieving reliable and accurate results.
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Miêu tả kĩ năng nhân vật Dota 2
- In đậm = không có trong bản gốc - In đậ m nghiêng = gi ữ nguyên b ả n g ố c
(Bold = not included in source text) ( Bold Itatlic = transference)
- Sắp xếp theo thứ tự ABC – Catergorized by alphabetic order
Bản gốc Bản dịch Ghi chú
Abaddon releases a coil of deathly mist that can damage an enemy unit or heal a friendly unit at the cost of some of Abaddon's health
Abaddon phóng ra một vòng sương mù chết chóc, có thể gây sát thương cho mục tiêu hoặc hồi máu cho đồng đội Tiêu hao máu của Abaddon
Summons dark energies to envelop an allied unit, forming a protective shield that absorbs a predetermined amount of damage before it expires Upon the shield's destruction, it releases a burst of energy, inflicting damage equal to the absorbed amount in the surrounding area.
Removes certain types of negative buffs and stuns on cast
Triệu hồi nguồn năng lượng bóng tối xung quanh một đồng minh, tạo lá chắn hấp thụ sát thương nhất định Khi lá chắn bị phá hủy, nó sẽ nổ và gây sát thương tương ứng với lượng sát thương đã hấp thụ trong khu vực xung quanh Đồng thời, lá chắn cũng giải trừ choáng và một số buff có hại.
Abaddon inflicts a chilling curse on his enemies with each strike, slowing them down This effect grants all allied units attacking the cursed enemy a temporary boost in both movement and attack speed.
Abaddon sử dụng lời nguyền băng giá để tấn công kẻ địch, khiến chúng phải chạy trốn và bị giảm tốc độ tấn công trong một thời gian nhất định Đồng thời, tất cả các đơn vị tấn công kẻ địch sẽ được tăng tốc độ di chuyển và tốc độ đánh trong khoảng thời gian đó.
When activated, all damage dealt to you will heal instead of harm
Most negative buffs will also be removed If the ability is not on cooldown, it will automatically activate if your health falls below
Khi kích hoạt, tất cả sát thương mà Abaddon nhận sẽ được chuyển thành hồi máu, đồng thời phần lớn buff có hại sẽ bị giải trừ Kỹ năng này tự động kích hoạt khi lượng máu của Abaddon giảm xuống dưới 400, miễn là nó không đang trong thời gian cooldown.
Sprays high-pressure acid across a target area Enemy units who step across the contaminated terrain take damage per second and have their armor reduced
Phun axit nồng độ cao trong khu vực đã chọn sẽ gây sát thương theo thời gian cho đơn vị địch di chuyển qua đó và làm giảm giáp của chúng.
The Alchemist creates a volatile concoction that can be thrown at enemy heroes, causing area damage and stunning them upon explosion The potency of the brew increases with the brewing time, maximizing its damage and stun duration at 5 seconds However, if not thrown within 5.5 seconds, the concoction will detonate, affecting the Alchemist instead.
Alchemist tạo ra một dung dịch bất ổn định, có thể ném vào mặt