Learn Strategies to Translate Names in Indonesian Game Localization

In Indonesian game localization, translating names is a nuanced task that demands a thorough understanding of both source and target cultures. It’s essential to make sure names appeal to local players, while retaining its original essence.

Meanwhile, translating names is crucial in defining the identity of characters and places within a game. They carry cultural, historical, and emotional significance, influencing players’ perceptions and connections with the game world. Effective name translation could enhance immersion and relatability, making the game more engaging for Indonesian players. Continue reading to discover more about its strategies!

Phonetic Translation

Phonetic translation focuses on translating names based on their sound in the original language. This approach aims to keep the pronunciation as close as possible to the original, ensuring the translated names maintain their phonetic integrity. Here’s an in-depth look at how phonetic translation operates, its benefits, and some examples.

Understanding Phonetic Translation

Phonetic translation involves adapting the sounds of a name from the source language to the target language. It emphasizes preserving the original phonetic structure rather than translating the meaning or adapting the cultural context. This approach is especially useful for unique names or those with significant phonetic qualities.

Advantages of Phonetic Translation

Using phonetic translation in Indonesian game localization to translate names provide several benefits, as follows: Preserves Original Sound. This method keeps the pronunciation similar, maintaining the original identity and feel of the name.

Maintains Brand Recognition. For well-known characters or brands, phonetic translation helps retain recognition among global audiences.

Consistency. It ensures consistent naming conventions across different languages, making it easier for players familiar with the original names.

Examples of Phonetic Translation

To translate names, translators can follow these examples.

Charles. This name might be translated to “Syarles” in Indonesian, retaining the original sound.

Alexander. This name might be translated to “Aleksander” in Indonesian, preserving the pronunciation while adapting the spelling to fit Indonesian phonetics.

Michael. This name might be translated to “Mikael” in Indonesian, maintaining the original phonetic structure.

Sophia. This name might be translated to “Sofia” in Indonesian, ensuring the name sounds similar in both languages.

Besides, the scope to translate names can be quite diverse. For place names, the localizers should apply phonetic translation to maintain the original feel of the game. For instance, a place called “Brighton” might become “Braiton” in Indonesian. Meanwhile, unique terms, such as “Zorak” could remain “Zorak” in Indonesian to ensure consistency and familiarity.

Considerations for Phonetic Translation

To maintain phonetic translation for Indonesian game localization, translators should observe these considerations.

Pronunciation Ease. This is to ensure the translated name is easy for Indonesian speakers to pronounce. Complex sounds not common in Indonesian should be simplified without losing the original essence.

Phonetic Rules. Adapt the name to fit Indonesian phonetic rules and spelling conventions. This might involve slight modifications to the spelling while preserving the sound.

Cultural Sensitivity. Verify that the phonetic translation does not result in unintended negative meanings or connotations in Indonesian culture.

Literal Translation

Literal translation in Indonesian game localization often presents considerable difficulties. The primary problem with a direct translation is its inability to capture cultural subtleties and contextual meanings, which are essential for crafting a relatable and immersive gaming experience for the intended audience.

For example, while a literal translation might accurately convert the words, it can overlook idiomatic expressions, humor, or culturally relevant references, leading to awkward or confusing text that diminishes the gaming experience. Effective translation requires more than mere translation. It involves adapting the game’s content to fit the cultural context of the target audience, which includes altering names, references, and sometimes even gameplay elements to ensure they are meaningful to local players.

Meanwhile, in the Indonesian context, localizers must be familiar with local slang, cultural references, and the varied use of language in different social settings. This cultural insight helps avoid errors that might alienate players and ensures the game feels natural and engaging​. In this case, “Brightwood” could be translated into “Kayu Cerah” to convey the same imagery in target language.

Read also: How Indonesian Mythology Inspires Indie Game Development

Cultural Adaptation

Cultural adaptation in the Indonesian game localization involves more than translating text. It requires adjusting the entire gaming experience to align with Indonesian cultural nuances, references, and norms.

Vocal Aspects of Cultural Adaptation

To translate names, cultural adaptation is such a handy assistance. However, during the process, the localizers should pay attention to these vocal aspects.

Cultural Sensitivity and Context. The localizers need to make sure that jokes, idioms, and cultural references are understandable and relatable to Indonesian players. This could mean altering character names, storylines, or visuals to better fit local cultural contexts​.

Visual and Symbolic Changes: Adjusting visual elements like character designs, symbols, and user interface elements is essential. Certain colors or symbols may have different meanings in Indonesia, and these need to be modified to avoid confusion or offense​.

Incorporating Local Culture. Adding local cultural elements into the game could greatly enhance player engagement. This includes using local slang, referencing well-known local events or figures, and integrating aspects of Indonesian folklore or history into the game’s story​.

Avoiding Stereotypes and Ensuring Authenticity. To avoid cultural missteps, localizers often work with cultural consultants who understand the target culture. This helps in portraying Indonesian culture accurately and respectfully, making the game more relatable to local players​.

Testing with Native Speakers. Conducting in-game testing with Indonesian players helps identify issues related to cultural relevance and linguistic accuracy. Feedback from these tests is essential for refining the localization to better meet the expectations of the target audience​.

Examples of Effective Cultural Adaptation

DreadOut, an Indonesian horror game, integrates local ghost stories and settings familiar to Indonesian players, enhancing the game’s authenticity. Another one is Mobile Legends. This strategy is successful because the localizers customize its content, including character designs and narratives, to appeal to Indonesian players, contributing to its wide popularity in the country​. Moreover, take a look at the specific cultural nuances, a character with royal connotations might be named “Raden” or “Putri” to reflect Indonesian nobility. Or, “Sir William” could be translated into “Tuan William.”

Retention of Original Names

Retaining original names in Indonesian game localization is vital as it aligns with the preferences of many gamers. The players often favor keeping original character names and skills, particularly in competitive contexts, as it preserves a sense of authenticity and connection to the global gaming community. Despite challenges such as character limitations and contextual differences, localizers typically strive to maintain original names to ensure clarity and a competitive edge​. In addition, this strategy includes adding local events, characters, and cultural elements, which boosts player engagement and retention. Indonesian gamers, for instance, appreciate games that feature characters based on local myths or legends, such as Kadita from Mobile Legends, inspired by the Javanese sea goddess​. In other words, this strategy can serve as the branding of iconic names. Therefore, iconic names like “Zelda” remain “Zelda” for the target audience.

Use of Common Indonesian Names

Using common Indonesian names in Indonesian game localization is an effective strategy to improve relatability and immersion for local players. During the process, it involves not only translating language, but also incorporating local cultural elements such as names, traditions, and mythologies. By integrating common Indonesian names and cultural references, developers can create a more engaging and personalized experience for players, ensuring their games are well-received in the Indonesian gaming market​. For instance, the name “John” might be replaced with “Joko,” a common Indonesian name.

Hybrid Approach

A hybrid approach to translate names involves direct translation and cultural adaptation altogether to create a game that resonates with local players while preserving the original content. This method ensures a balance between staying true to the original game and making it culturally relevant and accessible. The hybrid localization strategy is essential in Indonesia due to its diverse gaming community, which appreciates both local content and the original game’s elements. This method ensures the game feels familiar to local players while retaining the original gameplay and story elements that attract a global audience. To achieve successful hybrid localization, game developers and localization companies must deeply understand the local culture, including common practices, holidays, and preferences, while maintaining the core attributes that make the game enjoyable worldwide. For example, “Mike Santoso” could be a localized version of “Mike,” blending familiarity with cultural relevance. Or, Eldoria in fantasy games could be localized as “Hutan Eldoria” for the Indonesian market.

Transliteration

Transliteration to translate names involves converting original names, terms, and phrases into another name, while keeping their pronunciation intact. This method helps maintain the authenticity and cultural significance of the original content. Furthermore, Indonesian gamers often prefer original names for characters and skills since these are more familiar and ensure consistency in a global competitive setting. Transliteration ensures that these names are recognizable and retain their intended meaning and impact across different languages and cultures​.

Moreover, transliteration helps avoid mistranslation issues that could arise from direct translation, such as miscommunication or loss of cultural nuances. It acts as a compromise between full localization and preserving the original content, allowing players to have an immersive gaming experience without language barriers​. For instance, the localizers would keep “Excalibur” as a mythical sword for the target audience.

Nicknames or Simplified Versions

For Indonesian game localization, using nicknames or simplified versions of names is a key strategy to make games more relatable and accessible to local players. This method involves modifying complex or foreign names into more familiar and easily pronounceable versions for the Indonesian audience.

For instance, characters with long or challenging names might receive shorter, simpler nicknames that are easier for Indonesian gamers to recognize and remember. This helps maintain immersion and ensures the game feels more user-friendly and native. For instance, “Christopher” might be simplified to “Chris.”

In addition, the process during this strategy should cover these three things: character analysis (reviewing original character names to determine how to simplify or nickname them without losing their core identity or cultural significance), cultural sensitivity (ensuring that the selected nicknames or simplified names respect local cultural values and are appropriate for the target audience), and consistency (ensuring uniformity across the game by updating all related dialogue, subtitles, and text references to reflect the simplified names).

Conclusion

To translate names in Indonesian game localization, translators need to balance the original meaning with cultural and linguistic considerations. By using those strategies, they can create a more immersive and engaging experience for Indonesian players. What they basically do is bridging cultural gaps to create accessible and enjoyable outcomes.