it was going to happen sooner or later, someone had to ask for a ride! :mowwink
[JD from Scrubs] EAGLE! [/JD]
Sorry folks, you all knew there was going to be a Scrubs reference to this sooner or later. :)
Heh, "Falcor" I was NOT expecting.... :giggle
In all honesty, I'd probably want a ride, too. Just a short one.
Also, I vote "- Atreyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" be appended to the end of this thread title.
Quote from: !KCA on January 10, 2010, 04:19:23 AM
Also, I vote "- Atreyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" be appended to the end of this thread title.
I give the above statement my full endorsement!
Quote from: Tikki on January 10, 2010, 04:21:37 AM
Quote from: !KCA on January 10, 2010, 04:19:23 AM
Also, I vote "- Atreyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" be appended to the end of this thread title.
I give the above statement my full endorsement!
The motion has been made and seconded.
Eh, what's a little pride and dignity compared to making your gal happy -- though she's really pushing it there - and I don't mean the riding thing. I mean, come on, Falcor? Ugh, why'd she have to pick the most hideous, wussy dragon in cinematic history?
Alexsi and Ducky could have some fun with Able when they get back though -- Alexsi walks in, gives it a minute, Ducky knocks on the door to Inn - "Able, would you go see who that is?" Ah, nothing like opening the door to find an enormous dragon on the other side to wake you up -- be a real topper for Able's evening. :mowhappy
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!! :lol
That was pretty much my exact reaction to this comic. :giggle I love poor PDucky's face in the last panel - it's one of my absolute favorite parts of the whole strip.
- Congratulations on surviving a difficult dinner, Ducky!
- Thank you, thank you :)
- So, how did the rest of the evening go?
- :tired
Quote from: Bjalf on January 10, 2010, 07:26:18 AM
So, how did the rest of the evening go?
The above was probably asked by Fa'Lina via telepathy shortly after the events contained in the strip. Or via speaking the next time she and Pyroduck meet again.
Quote from: celelorien on January 10, 2010, 06:10:33 AM
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!! :lol
That was pretty much my exact reaction to this comic.
Mine too. :mowhappy
Well, in the original novel Falcor was quite a powerful and enigmatic dragon.
Though if she just HAD to pick a rideable dragon, why not Haku from Spirited Away? In Pyroduck's case, probably alot more apropo!
Quote from: Cvstos on January 10, 2010, 04:07:09 AM
[JD from Scrubs] EAGLE! [/JD]
Sorry folks, you all knew there was going to be a Scrubs reference to this sooner or later. :)
Really? It's nothing
I would have ever expected.
I believe this is the first we've seen here of any dragon rides (or even carry-away). Sure, not much of a point, but I can't think of much else at the moment.
I mean, really, what else could Pyroduck have possibly thought Alexsi was leading up to? Alexsi does look absolutely ecstatic in the last panel. Big points for Pyroduck?
Now I'm getting images of Pyroduck going off to the red light district and hiring the services of an amazon named Shanna...
Quote from: proeliator bradypodidae on January 10, 2010, 09:58:47 AM
I mean, really, what else could Pyroduck have possibly thought Alexsi was leading up to?
I'd tell you, but the PG rating makes it difficult >3
wait a second ... is Pyroduck naked
I like how the feather is still in his braided hair as a dragon. Also from Alexi, to me at least, that was a little unexpected, but hilarious.
Quote from: John Roh on January 10, 2010, 11:42:05 AM
wait a second ... is Pyroduck naked
On the plus side, he does have a girl straddling him.
Quote from: Kenji on January 10, 2010, 11:56:10 AM
Quote from: John Roh on January 10, 2010, 11:42:05 AM
wait a second ... is Pyroduck naked
On the plus side, he does have a girl straddling him.
Across the neck, yes.
.. Hey, is that what's called "necking"?
...You know I should watch that movie. Because I had to look up "Falcor" on Wikipedia to get it. D8
Also: Have we ever seen a full-body shot of Pyroduck's dragon-form? Because I would very much like to see.
Quote from: Lucheek on January 10, 2010, 12:39:49 PM
...You know I should watch that movie. Because I had to look up "Falcor" on Wikipedia to get it. D8
Also: Have we ever seen a full-body shot of Pyroduck's dragon-form? Because I would very much like to see.
I just thought "Falcor" was something you shouted when you are excited, like "Excelsior", until you mentioned the contrary.
Besides, something in DMFA with Falkor's appearance would most likely be a mythos that's genetically compatible with dragons, rather than a dragon himself, unless there's more variety to DMFA dragons than I originally thought.
A luckdragon mythos, not a true dragon. Very nice for fitting into TapeWolf's fanon. :boogie
Quote from: Lucheek on January 10, 2010, 12:39:49 PM
Also: Have we ever seen a full-body shot of Pyroduck's dragon-form? Because I would very much like to see.
Not quite. (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_683.php)
Size does matter~
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 12:47:15 PM
Besides, something in DMFA with Falkor's appearance would most likely be a mythos that's genetically compatible with dragons, rather than a dragon himself, unless there's more variety to DMFA dragons than I originally thought.
A luckdragon mythos, not a true dragon. Very nice for fitting into TapeWolf's fanon. :boogie
By having some of the same fiction in the DMFA universe, that allows Amber to make entertaining cultural references like this one. Trying to make fiction about a 100% foreign universe is pretty much impossible with no points of reference such as common values, desires, etc.
On a related note, my one complaint about Avatar was that it is a bit incredulous that the Nav'ai natives acted so human in nearly every way, even though they evolved on the moon of a distant world.
Quote from: Bjalf on January 10, 2010, 11:59:06 AM
Across the neck, yes.
.. Hey, is that what's called "necking"?
In a dress? Check.
Not riding sidesaddle? Check.
"Necking?" Check.
A whole new level of inappropriate for this thread? Check and check again!
Quote from: jeffh4 on January 10, 2010, 01:29:54 PM
By having some of the same fiction in the DMFA universe, that allows Amber to make entertaining cultural references like this one. Trying to make fiction about a 100% foreign universe is pretty much impossible with no points of reference such as common values, desires, etc.
However, maybe she intentionally misspelled the name to avoid a direct cultural reference. Falcor =/= Falkor
Quote from: John Roh on January 10, 2010, 11:42:05 AM
wait a second ... is Pyroduck naked
No, he's still wearing his feather and tail ring.
So this is where Alexei spots Dan in trouble on his date -- arguing with Matilda maybe, or just too distracted to notice the ninja demons sneaking up -- and swoops down to pummel him with a hammer for not watching the bar like he was supposed to?
I'd want to do that too.....
:3
Gosh darn you, Amber! D:<
That movie......why did you have to reference THAT movie!?
Well HERE'S a question... what exactly was pyro thinking or hoping for when she was talking about the size thing? Surely he had SOMETHING in mind when she said that? I mean he had to have been hoping for something fun -- just look at that face!
Quote from: gavinfoxx on January 10, 2010, 04:41:01 PM
Well HERE'S a question... what exactly was pyro thinking or hoping for when she was talking about the size thing? Surely he had SOMETHING in mind when she said that? I mean he had to have been hoping for something fun -- just look at that face!
See this:
Quote from: Bjalf on January 10, 2010, 10:26:41 AM
Quote from: proeliator bradypodidae on January 10, 2010, 09:58:47 AM
I mean, really, what else could Pyroduck have possibly thought Alexsi was leading up to?
I'd tell you, but the PG rating makes it difficult >3
:P
Quote from: Lucheek on January 10, 2010, 12:39:49 PM
...You know I should watch that movie. Because I had to look up "Falcor" on Wikipedia to get it. D8
Also: Have we ever seen a full-body shot of Pyroduck's dragon-form? Because I would very much like to see.
I didn't recognize the name, either. But then, I wouldn't.
I read the original German edition of
Die unendliche Geschichte.
{Pulls the paperback off of the shelf.}
Ah, yes. Here it is: p. 79. Glücksdrache im Spinnennetz. Fuchur ... as is name was in the original, was trapped in the web of Ygramul, "the Many." Atréju (as spelled in the original Deutsch) saves Fuchur by, well,
failing to save him... But that's another story, to be told some other time...
Glücksdrachen (a.k.a. "Luck-dragons") aren't the hokey fuzzy things from the movie version. In the original, on pg. 74 at the start of the chapter, is a drawing containing what looks like a Chinese-style dragon. The description given a few pages later (p. 79) is thus: {candide begins rough-translating from german} "Luckdragons, in contrast, are creatures of air and warmth, creatures of unrestrained joy, and despite their gigantic size are as light as a summer cloud. Hence they need no wings to fly. They swim through the sky like fish through water. From the ground, they look like slow-moving lightning. The most wonderful thing about them is their voices. Their voices ring like the golden roar of a giant bell, and when they speak softly, it's as if one is hearing this bell peal from afar. Whoever hears such a voice will never forget it their entire life, and will tell their grandchildren of it."
So, there you have it. Luckdragons: wingless, shining-white, light as a feather, always happy and with a voice like the ringing of a clear, beautiful bell.
Die unendliche Geschichte is a wonderful book. If you can read German even somewhat, you'll be able to follow it auf Deutsch. Otherwise, see if you can get a good translation to read; it should be printed in two colors, red and green.
Wooo! No strip with a Neverending Story reference can possibly be bad!
Also, amazing to see Pyroduck in his "true" form for the first time. Or at least his neck.
Quote from: tiggertoo on January 10, 2010, 06:02:32 AM
Alexsi and Ducky could have some fun with Able when they get back though -- Alexsi walks in, gives it a minute, Ducky knocks on the door to Inn - "Able, would you go see who that is?" Ah, nothing like opening the door to find an enormous dragon on the other side to wake you up -- be a real topper for Able's evening. :mowhappy
Why stop there. Let that thought sink in. Your significant other can turn into a HUGE. FREAKING. DRAGON! The possibillities are practically endless.
I'm looking foreward to Dan's reaction to this. I think his worst fears of this date have been surpassed in cruel and unusual ways.
Uh.
Pyroduck already revealed his true form a while back, to Abel.
Quote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 06:54:00 PM
So, there you have it. Luckdragons: wingless, shining-white, light as a feather summer cloud, always happy and with a voice like the ringing of a clear, beautiful bell.
Since they bear such a close resemblance clouds, including their density, in DMFA they would definitely be an ethereal variety of mythos, rather than actual dragons.
What I find funny is that P-Ducky didn't see this coming. I mean if I was dating a dragoness I would ask for a dragon ride in the sky quite often because that is on my fantasy wish list.
P-Ducky just faced one of the dangers of being a dragon dating a smaller race... the infamous dragon rides. I know getting ridden like is embarrassing to one and exciting to another.
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 09:12:53 PM
Quote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 06:54:00 PM
So, there you have it. Luckdragons: wingless, shining-white, light as a feather summer cloud, always happy and with a voice like the ringing of a clear, beautiful bell.
Since they bear such a close resemblance clouds, including their density, in DMFA they would definitely be an ethereal variety of mythos, rather than actual dragons.
Well, I kinda got sucked into reading my favorite parts when I cracked it open to find Fuchur's first appearance (and name). Other parts of the book describe Fuchur's shape quite nicely. And he looks like a gigantic, white, four-legged snake.
There's another great thing about
Die unendliche Geschichte that I forgot to mention. Each chapter starts with a ... how do I describe this? ... a "Miniature" (but the final "e" is always pronounced "uh" in German). In medieval texts, book chapters began with a very large, highly stylized capital letter, the first letter of the first sentence. It appeared in a box, almost a small painting, surrounded by other images.
These are the Miniaturen, and each chapter of
Die unendliche Geschichte has one. In several, Fuchur appears, looking exactly like a Chinese dragon (
with large scales, BTW) only completely white.
So, sorry, Fuchur would look like a Dragon in Furrae. A very shiny-white, wingless Dragon.
P.S. - Another cool thing:
Die unendliche Geschichte has exactly 26 chapters, with first letter of the first sentence of each in alphabetical order. I. e.: the first chapter starts with the word, "Alles" {==all}, the second with, "Beratung" {==advice}, ... the 25th with "Yor" {the blind mountaineer}, and the last with "Zögernd" {hesitantly}. Sometimes, a chapter began with the name of a character introduced 100 pages earlier.
That took some planning!
P.P.S - I meant to write, "light as a feather," ChaosMageX. That's precisely what Michael Ende intended {Herr Ende wrote
Die unendliche Geschichte in 1979}. His writing is very uncomplicated German, yet nonetheless
very poetic. Don't be so literal. :mowwink
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on January 10, 2010, 04:44:30 PM
Quote from: gavinfoxx on January 10, 2010, 04:41:01 PM
Well HERE'S a question... what exactly was pyro thinking or hoping for when she was talking about the size thing? Surely he had SOMETHING in mind when she said that? I mean he had to have been hoping for something fun -- just look at that face!
See this:
Quote from: Bjalf on January 10, 2010, 10:26:41 AM
Quote from: proeliator bradypodidae on January 10, 2010, 09:58:47 AM
I mean, really, what else could Pyroduck have possibly thought Alexsi was leading up to?
I'd tell you, but the PG rating makes it difficult >3
:P
Cmon! He's a DRAGON! Surely sex stuff wasn't the ONLY fun thing he (or you all I guess) could think of! Something has to be relevant that is PG, right?
Quote from: Kibin on January 10, 2010, 09:07:02 PM
Uh.
Pyroduck already revealed his true form a while back, to Abel.
Yes. Here: http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_683.php
Quote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 09:43:54 PM
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 09:12:53 PM
Quote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 06:54:00 PM
So, there you have it. Luckdragons: wingless, shining-white, light as a feather summer cloud, always happy and with a voice like the ringing of a clear, beautiful bell.
Since they bear such a close resemblance clouds, including their density, in DMFA they would definitely be an ethereal variety of mythos, rather than actual dragons.
Well, I kinda got sucked into reading my favorite parts when I cracked it open to find Fuchur's first appearance (and name). Other parts of the book describe Fuchur's shape quite nicely. And he looks like a gigantic, white, four-legged snake.
...
These are the Miniaturen, and each chapter of Die unendliche Geschichte has one. In several, Fuchur appears, looking exactly like a Chinese dragon (with large scales, BTW) only completely white.
So, sorry, Fuchur would look like a Dragon in Furrae. A very shiny-white, wingless Dragon.
Could you find me the pictures from the book on the internet? Or perhaps scan them in from your copy and upload them to an image server?
Whenever I Google Image search for "luck dragon", I get the fluffy thing from the movie that looks like a mythos, instead of whatever you're referring to that looks like a proper dragon.
EDIT:
Also, I've noticed a difference in Pyroduck's dragon form between the two times we've seen it:
His cheeks are fluffy in this page (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_683.php),
But they aren't fluffy in this page (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1075.php)
Hey. I saw this movie last week.
Quote from: Baal Hadad on January 10, 2010, 04:16:10 AM
Heh, "Falcor" I was NOT expecting.... :giggle
Falcor is from what movie or novel?
Quote from: kusanagi-sama on January 10, 2010, 11:37:36 PM
Quote from: Baal Hadad on January 10, 2010, 04:16:10 AM
Heh, "Falcor" I was NOT expecting.... :giggle
Falcor is from what movie or novel?
:| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Ending_Story
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 10:30:30 PMI've noticed a difference in Pyroduck's dragon form between the two times we've seen it:
His cheeks are fluffy in this page (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_683.php),
But they aren't fluffy in this page (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1075.php)
I think the difference is probably due to him flying in the second one.
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 01:46:05 PM
Quote from: jeffh4 on January 10, 2010, 01:29:54 PM
By having some of the same fiction in the DMFA universe, that allows Amber to make entertaining cultural references like this one. Trying to make fiction about a 100% foreign universe is pretty much impossible with no points of reference such as common values, desires, etc.
However, maybe she intentionally misspelled the name to avoid a direct cultural reference. Falcor =/= Falkor
The spelling of his name might just be different in the Furrae version. ;)
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 10:30:30 PMQuote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 09:43:54 PMQuote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 09:12:53 PMQuote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 06:54:00 PMSo, there you have it. Luckdragons: wingless, shining-white, light as a feather summer cloud, always happy and with a voice like the ringing of a clear, beautiful bell.
Since they bear such a close resemblance clouds, including their density, in DMFA they would definitely be an ethereal variety of mythos, rather than actual dragons.
Well, I kinda got sucked into reading my favorite parts when I cracked it open to find Fuchur's first appearance (and name). Other parts of the book describe Fuchur's shape quite nicely. And he looks like a gigantic, white, four-legged snake.
...
These are the Miniaturen, and each chapter of Die unendliche Geschichte has one. In several, Fuchur appears, looking exactly like a Chinese dragon (with large scales, BTW) only completely white.
So, sorry, Fuchur would look like a Dragon in Furrae. A very shiny-white, wingless Dragon.
Could you find me the pictures from the book on the internet? Or perhaps scan them in from your copy and upload them to an image server?
Whenever I Google Image search for "luck dragon", I get the fluffy thing from the movie that looks like a mythos, instead of whatever you're referring to that looks like a proper dragon.
Funny that you should ask...
I was just leafing through my copy,
yet again {damn that book is hard to put down!}, when I came across another lovely, poetic description of Fuchur (p. 276).
His head resembles that of a lion. Long, white beards hang from his muzzle. He has ruby-red eyes that sparkle. He doesn't have fur, but opalescent scales that look like mother-of-pearl.
And, from what I can gather, Fuchur seems to have a mane like white flame, but whether it's on his head, running down his body behind his neck, or actually underneath his neck, I'm not clear. {Damn you, long complicated German sentences! {shakes fist}}
Oooh! Found another tidbit (p. 173): Luckdragons feed on air and warmth. They breath constantly through (or perhaps from under) their scales. And water they do not like. Complete immersion in water can snuff them out like a candle flame.
As for the illustrations in the Miniaturen, well, they're just sketches in green and red ink. A few contain what looks like the kind of dragon that one would see in old Chinese paintings or on old Chinese vases. That, I presume, is supposed to be Fuchur.
But don't let yourself be bound by any pre-made image. In true tradition of the book, let your Imagination bring the Luckdragon alive for you, using the descriptions that I've found and translated for you. :mowsmile
Quote from: 127.0.0.2 on January 10, 2010, 07:09:40 PM
Why stop there. Let that thought sink in. Your significant other can turn into a HUGE. FREAKING. DRAGON! The possibillities are practically endless.
*Charline nods, thinking wicked thoughts* Yes... such delightful possibilities... *Charline has perverted thoughts!* :U
Quote from: Kenji on January 10, 2010, 11:56:10 AM
Quote from: John Roh on January 10, 2010, 11:42:05 AM
wait a second ... is Pyroduck naked
On the plus side, he does have a girl straddling him.
You know, if I professed my love to a woman, and the evening ended with me naked and her screaming ecstatically while straddling any part of my body, I'd consider that a win.
Pyro sure looks down-in-the-mouth, considering. :)
Quote from: ChaosMageX on January 10, 2010, 10:30:30 PM
EDIT:
Also, I've noticed a difference in Pyroduck's dragon form between the two times we've seen it:
His cheeks are fluffy in this page (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_683.php),
But they aren't fluffy in this page (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1075.php)
I think what you're interpreting as "fluff" is his ears drooping in the former, swept back in the latter. Or maybe not (now that I looked again). Maybe in the latter, the cheek fluff is slicked back by the wind. Or maybe he has some variations in his available forms, not just one full dragon and one 'being' form.
(Has the base species of that 'being' form been definitively determined, or just speculated on?)
This comic is epic, side-splitting win. That is all.
Quote from: Toric on January 11, 2010, 03:24:37 AM
This comic is epic, side-splitting win. That is all.
For that matter, so is the resultant forum discussion. I have yet to read the novel of
The Neverending Story, but the movie has been a favorite of mine since I first watched it as a child. Seeing other folks geek out over it, or over the novel that it was based upon, is a real treat.
Quote from: gavinfoxx on January 10, 2010, 09:44:49 PM
Cmon! He's a DRAGON! Surely sex stuff wasn't the ONLY fun thing he (or you all I guess) could think of! Something has to be relevant that is PG, right?
Excuse me? The internet? Not sex stuff? erm...
This does not compute...
Quote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 06:54:00 PM
I read the original German edition of Die unendliche Geschichte.
{Pulls the paperback off of the shelf.}
Ah, yes. Here it is: p. 79. Glücksdrache im Spinnennetz. Fuchur ... as is name was in the original, was trapped in the web of Ygramul, "the Many." Atréju (as spelled in the original Deutsch) saves Fuchur by, well, failing to save him... But that's another story, to be told some other time...
Glücksdrachen (a.k.a. "Luck-dragons") aren't the hokey fuzzy things from the movie version. In the original, on pg. 74 at the start of the chapter, is a drawing containing what looks like a Chinese-style dragon. The description given a few pages later (p. 79) is thus: {candide begins rough-translating from german} "Luckdragons, in contrast, are creatures of air and warmth, creatures of unrestrained joy, and despite their gigantic size are as light as a summer cloud. Hence they need no wings to fly. They swim through the sky like fish through water. From the ground, they look like slow-moving lightning. The most wonderful thing about them is their voices. Their voices ring like the golden roar of a giant bell, and when they speak softly, it's as if one is hearing this bell peal from afar. Whoever hears such a voice will never forget it their entire life, and will tell their grandchildren of it."
So, there you have it. Luckdragons: wingless, shining-white, light as a feather, always happy and with a voice like the ringing of a clear, beautiful bell.
Die unendliche Geschichte is a wonderful book. If you can read German even somewhat, you'll be able to follow it auf Deutsch. Otherwise, see if you can get a good translation to read; it should be printed in two colors, red and green.
I've been lucky enough to have gotten my hands on an English-translated version. Basically, Falkor closely resembled Haku from Spirited Away as described in that text, both in appearance and attitude: helpful, friendly, but enigmatic. He was more or less an air elemental.
Pyroduck does resemble Falkor more then Haku. He's simply too cheery to be otherwise. :)
So I guess Amber's story is a never ending story then?
Now for Dan to fight the NOTHING.
Ooooh! But I so tired.
Candide: Heh, I'm not a book guy, but I think I might give the book a try, the only thing I've seen so far were the movies. Oh, and it's totally your fault. :U
(I also totally didn't know that the book was originally written in German, go me!)
You know, the fluffy puppy dragon from the movie wasn't a bad attempt at fitting that description to imagery. They got the voice right, for sure.
That "fluffy puppy dragon" is the spawn of Satan and nothing less!
Quote from: Gornemant on January 11, 2010, 11:46:50 AM
Candide: Heh, I'm not a book guy, but I think I might give the book a try, the only thing I've seen so far were the movies. Oh, and it's totally your fault. :U
(I also totally didn't know that the book was originally written in German, go me!)
Definitely get the translation that archteryx mentions below, if he would be so kind as to provide some more info. Any decent translation should be printed in two inks, red and green.
(FYI: "candide" is my userid. "Candide" is a novel by Voltaire, its eponymous main character, and the name of a musical based on that novel. :mowsmile)
Quote from: archteryx on January 11, 2010, 07:53:20 AM
Quote from: candide on January 10, 2010, 06:54:00 PMDie unendliche Geschichte is a wonderful book. If you can read German even somewhat, you'll be able to follow it auf Deutsch. Otherwise, see if you can get a good translation to read; it should be printed in two colors, red and green.
I've been lucky enough to have gotten my hands on an English-translated version. Basically, Falkor closely resembled Haku from Spirited Away as described in that text, both in appearance and attitude: helpful, friendly, but enigmatic. He was more or less an air elemental.
Huh. From what I recall of,
Spirited Away, Haku was the kami of a creek/river, not of air. But otherwise, yes - Haku does very much resemble Fuchur/Falkor/Falcor, and the latter is something of an air elementa.
BTW archteryx:
Is the text in your English translation printed in red and green ink to indicate where the story's taking place? I'm also curious how the translator handled the chapters, "from A to Z". Translating is a tricky business as-is, nevermind trying to make the first letter of the first word of each chapter in the translation match the one in the original.
Could you also provide more info about that edition of your English translation, like publisher, year, Library of Congress and/or ISBN number, etc.?
Again, I want to emphasize: if you can read German, get a copy of
Die unendliche Geschichte auf Deutsch. This isn't a 200 year old poem. It's a modern fable, "for children of all ages," (pardon the cliche). Michael Ende used fairly "easy" German, including onomatopoeia and everyday language (well, everyday German for 1979).
To read it auf Deutsch, I offer the following tips. (1) Keep a piece of paper and pen/cil next to you. (2) If you it a word that you don't know and can't figure out from context, jot it down, along with the page number where you saw it. (3) Read the rest of the page, or next few pages, until you have no more than ten unknown words. (4) Look up the unknown words in your German-English dictionary. If you can't find a word, then it's a place, the name of a character, or onomatopoeia. (5) Go back to the page where you came across the first unknown word and reread, this time with your new knowledge.
You won't encounter lots of unknown words. Michael Ende reuses his vocabulary, so as you read, you'll be seeing fewer and fewer totally unknown words.
Heck, while browsing my copy, I hit words that I couldn't recall. Take, for instance, "Perlmutterschuppen." At first, my brain turned this into, "Pearl mother Schuppen," which I recognized as mother-of-pearl ... um ... Schuppen. But what the heck's a Schuppe?!? Well, it sounded to me like "scoop," and gave me the impression of a soup-plate. Turns out that "Schuppen" are scales.
So, really, it's not that big of a task to follow my tips. You'll get a lot from context.
For everyone else who doesn't know German well-enough, get the English translation recommended by archteryx. :)
And while we're talking about translation: the name of the book,
Die unendliche Geschichte, is normally translated as
The Neverending Story. Now, "unendlich" can indeed mean "neverending." But "unendlich" is also synonymous for "endlos" == endless. So you could also translate the title as, "The Endless Story." Also, the word "endlich," means, "finally", so "unendlich" implies un-finally, not-finally, lacking finality. So the German title also has connotations of, "The Story Without End," "The Story that Never Stops." The story that forever continues.
So, the translation "The Neverending Story," while correct, contains connotations not present in the original German title. ("Neverending" is somewhat synonymous with "eternal," and "unendlich" definitely does
not mean eternal.)
Quote from: Kenji on January 10, 2010, 11:44:18 PM
Quote from: kusanagi-sama on January 10, 2010, 11:37:36 PM
Quote from: Baal Hadad on January 10, 2010, 04:16:10 AM
Heh, "Falcor" I was NOT expecting.... :giggle
Falcor is from what movie or novel?
:| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Ending_Story
And to think that Never Ending Story was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I should have remembered that.
Quote from: candide on January 11, 2010, 09:40:17 PM
Definitely get the translation that archteryx mentions below, if he would be so kind as to provide some more info. Any decent translation should be printed in two inks, red and green.
(FYI: "candide" is my userid. "Candide" is a novel by Voltaire, its eponymous main character, and the name of a musical based on that novel. :mowsmile)
Don't worry, the German version will do just fine, as long as it's not like any of Goethe's works :U
(Don't remind me of that, I still have nightmares from when I had to read it in school, I even know what the term actually means. :C )
Quote from: Gornemant on January 12, 2010, 01:57:30 AMDon't worry, the German version will do just fine, as long as it's not like any of Goethe's works :U
Not in the slightest! Think of all of the literature that you had to read for your German classes.
Now, remember that all of it is at least 150 years old.
From the late 19th century until 1945, the germanic principalities and kingdoms, followed by the country of Germany, were either facing internal turmoil or at war. So, not much new art during that time period, though there were a few. (And, as any college German major could tell you, from 1933-1945 Germany was a cultural desert, rehashing bad versions of a few of its past artistic treasures.) Between 1945 and the 1960s, West Germany was too busy recovering from total ruin, nevermind facing up to and coming to terms with what they did during the war. So, from 1945 until after 1960 or so, German novels, theater and movies were rather dreary and depressing, for the most part.
So, again: the plays, poems, and literature worth studying in your German classes are all at least 150 years old, full of anachronistic words, meanings, and writing style. (That's what makes them "classics" after all.) The few exceptions from the 20th century are from the early part of it, and are rather ... difficult.
The spoken German language changed
drastically since then. Michael Ende used modern German and a non-obtuse, uncomplicated writing style when he wrote
Die unendliche Geschicte. You won't find any 6 line long sentences ending in a 10-verb pile-up here.
*snerks* I know, I was more hinting that I didn't really like nor understood the old German language quite as well as the regular one. (Kei Sorg, I leb jetzt zwa im Schwabeland abe e bisele Hochdeutsch könet die au hin u wiede :P )
(And my first German classes were actually more 60ies style books, God it was awful, at least there was crap like Werner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMsowbqJoP8) on TV :3 )
Quote from: Gornemant on January 12, 2010, 10:23:43 AM(Kei Sorg, I leb jetzt zwa im Schwabeland abe e bisele Hochdeutsch könet die au hin u wiede :P )
*snerk* BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :mwaha :mwaha :mwaha :mwaha
Oh, oh that's great.
Ok, I have a funny story for you.
When I was in college, during the summers I'd get physics internships (I was a double major, physics+Germanistik). During junior year (that's the 3rd year of an American 4-year Baccalaureate degree, for our friends from other parts of globe), I spend a semester studying at the University of Mainz in Fachbereich Germanistik (the department in German universities that cover German language and literature but also linguistics, German medieval studies, and German cultural traditions).
Now, the city of Mainz is in the (then West-) German state of Rheinland Pfalz, whose local dialect is known as Pfälzisch.
I'm explaining all of this so that the rest of you can be in on the funny story I'm about to tell Gornemant.
Between junior and senior (final) year, I had a physics internship at Swarthmore, outside of Philadelphia. I was renting a room from a woman who had 2 kids, a son in high-school who, it turns out, was interested in physics, and a daughter in college. Her daughter was spending the summer as a counsellor at a summer camp for city kids. Well, one week mid-summer, her daughter came home, with 3 other counsellors in tow. All 3 of these young ladies were German.
Since I'd been back in the U.S. only a couple of months, I was still perfectly fluent, and started talking with them. I told them about my double-major, where I'd studied the semester before, and they told me where they were from, and were a bit surprised that an American had a clue where those towns were.
Towards the end of our conversation, which was completely in Hochdeutsch (Standard German), one of the young ladies turned to the other and said (in German; this is translated): "Weird. He has
no American accent
whatsoever." "Yeah," replied another, "His accent sounds more Pfälzish that anything else."
Not realizing that I'd picked up the Mainz accent, I replied, without realizing it, "Wirklisch? Daß wußt' isch niet."¹
They cracked up. I realized what just happened, and blushed.
¹(What I said was, "Really? I didn't know that," ... in Pfälzisch dialect. :rolleyes Ooops!)
Hahaha, yeah, you tend to pick up the accent when you're staying long enough.
When I first arrived here, they found it weird that I didn't have any french accent when speaking in German, now a few girls that knew this back then find it cute when I start blabbering a little Schwäbisch after a year. :U
Quote from: Gornemant on January 12, 2010, 10:23:43 AM
*snerks* I know, I was more hinting that I didn't really like nor understood the old German language quite as well as the regular one. (Kei Sorg, I leb jetzt zwa im Schwabeland abe e bisele Hochdeutsch könet die au hin u wiede :P )
I do believe that there's a rule about that, Gorn...
Sowwies, I forgot it while I was gone :cry
(You know I mean no harm :< )
This strip amused me sufficiently to say so on this forum. I love that movie! :3
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 12, 2010, 12:09:30 PM
Quote from: Gornemant on January 12, 2010, 10:23:43 AM
*snerks* I know, I was more hinting that I didn't really like nor understood the old German language quite as well as the regular one. (Kei Sorg, I leb jetzt zwa im Schwabeland abe e bisele Hochdeutsch könet die au hin u wiede :P )
I do believe that there's a rule about that, Gorn...
Considering he translated all the non-english, I think we can let it slide. :)
I'd add a sarcastic remark about all of this in my native language, but I'm scared of the rule myself, so I'd better not do it ! :(
Quote from: candide on January 11, 2010, 09:40:17 PM
And while we're talking about translation: the name of the book, Die unendliche Geschichte, is normally translated as The Neverending Story. Now, "unendlich" can indeed mean "neverending." But "unendlich" is also synonymous for "endlos" == endless. So you could also translate the title as, "The Endless Story." Also, the word "endlich," means, "finally", so "unendlich" implies un-finally, not-finally, lacking finality. So the German title also has connotations of, "The Story Without End," "The Story that Never Stops." The story that forever continues.
So, the translation "The Neverending Story," while correct, contains connotations not present in the original German title. ("Neverending" is somewhat synonymous with "eternal," and "unendlich" definitely does not mean eternal.)
And that's why I take really old and multi-translated books with a huge grain of salt.
"The Story Without End"
"The Neverending Story"
"The Story that Never Stops"
"The Evertraveling Story"
It's a big game of telephone, and it's particularly hard to translate the nuances of language along with the entire message.
Quote from: Anker Steadfast on January 12, 2010, 01:16:23 PM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 12, 2010, 12:09:30 PM
Quote from: Gornemant on January 12, 2010, 10:23:43 AM
*snerks* I know, I was more hinting that I didn't really like nor understood the old German language quite as well as the regular one. (Kei Sorg, I leb jetzt zwa im Schwabeland abe e bisele Hochdeutsch könet die au hin u wiede :P )
I do believe that there's a rule about that, Gorn...
Considering he translated all the non-english, I think we can let it slide. :)
Actually, that was me translating all of the non-English. :mowwink
I can
just barely make out what Goremant said in Schwäbisch (a southwestern dialect of German): "No worries. I currently live in Schwaben, but I can still speak a bit of Standard German here and there."
I
think.
Quote from: Shachza on January 12, 2010, 02:24:10 PM
And that's why I take really old and multi-translated books with a huge grain of salt.
"The Story Without End"
"The Neverending Story"
"The Story that Never Stops"
"The Evertraveling Story"
It's a big game of telephone, and it's particularly hard to translate the nuances of language along with the entire message.
Well,
actually, Michael Ende wrote
Die unendliche Geschichte back in 1979.
(Look, I know I'm old, but I'm not
that old.)
It was also translated directly into English. And directly into every other language in Europe. It's quite a popular story, from what I've been told.
But I only know the German version. Well, I also know that the movie exists (and I've heard that it's a modified version of the first part of the book. Once Bastian enters the book, the Nothing is gone).
I provided the explanation of what "unendlich" means because ... well, "neverending"
is a possible translation. But when I hear, "unendlich", I think something other than, "neverending."
Hmmm...
One of my German-English dictionaries translates, "unendlich," as "infinite, endless, boundless; unlimited". But "endless" is typically translated from English to the German word, "endlos".
Quote from: candide on January 11, 2010, 09:40:17 PM
Huh. From what I recall of, Spirited Away, Haku was the kami of a creek/river, not of air. But otherwise, yes - Haku does very much resemble Fuchur/Falkor/Falcor, and the latter is something of an air elemental.
BTW archteryx:
Is the text in your English translation printed in red and green ink to indicate where the story's taking place? I'm also curious how the translator handled the chapters, "from A to Z". Translating is a tricky business as-is, nevermind trying to make the first letter of the first word of each chapter in the translation match the one in the original.
Could you also provide more info about that edition of your English translation, like publisher, year, Library of Congress and/or ISBN number, etc.?
Indeed, Haku's full name was Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi; he was the spirit of the Kohaku River, but he really wasn't a simple elemental spirit, having both air and water abilities. (The elder River God was a straight-up water elemental -- a very powerful one).
What he was was shockingly similar to Falkor as the book described him. The first time I saw his transformation into a dragon, the first words out my mouth were, "Haku's the Japanese version of a luckdragon! No wonder he's so helpful!"
As for the translation, yes, the text is in green and red; it's by Ralph Manheim, 1983, Library of Congress #82-45197, ISBN #0-385-17622-8.
Quote from: candide on January 12, 2010, 09:07:22 PM
Well, actually, Michael Ende wrote Die unendliche Geschichte back in 1979.
(Look, I know I'm old, but I'm not that old.)
I was talking about really old things. Like some of the legends to come out of egypt or sumeria; translating through half a dozen or more languages has to lose something along the way.
Quote from: candide on January 12, 2010, 09:07:22 PM
Quote from: Anker Steadfast on January 12, 2010, 01:16:23 PM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 12, 2010, 12:09:30 PM
Quote from: Gornemant on January 12, 2010, 10:23:43 AM
*snerks* I know, I was more hinting that I didn't really like nor understood the old German language quite as well as the regular one. (Kei Sorg, I leb jetzt zwa im Schwabeland abe e bisele Hochdeutsch könet die au hin u wiede :P )
I do believe that there's a rule about that, Gorn...
Considering he translated all the non-english, I think we can let it slide. :)
Actually, that was me translating all of the non-English. :mowwink
I can just barely make out what Goremant said in Schwäbisch (a southwestern dialect of German): "No worries. I currently live in Schwaben, but I can still speak a bit of Standard German here and there."
I think.
*snerks* "No worries, although I'm living in the land of the "Schwaben", they can still speak a little regular German every now and then". I might note that their dialect is known for being somewhat hard to understand, kinda like if you were trying to understand Schwizerdütsch (swiss-german dialect). :P
Quote from: Gornemant on January 13, 2010, 02:58:44 AM
*snerks* "No worries, although I'm living in the land of the "Schwaben", they can still speak a little regular German every now and then". I might note that their dialect is known for being somewhat hard to understand, kinda like if you were trying to understand Schwizerdütsch (swiss-german dialect). :P
Or that Yorkshire(?) accent that reduces every vowel in every word to the "ay" sound.
"Gayd day tay yay may fraynd!"
:erk
Quote from: Gornemant on January 13, 2010, 02:58:44 AM
Quote from: candide on January 12, 2010, 09:07:22 PM
Quote from: Anker Steadfast on January 12, 2010, 01:16:23 PM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 12, 2010, 12:09:30 PM
Quote from: Gornemant on January 12, 2010, 10:23:43 AM
*snerks* I know, I was more hinting that I didn't really like nor understood the old German language quite as well as the regular one. (Kei Sorg, I leb jetzt zwa im Schwabeland abe e bisele Hochdeutsch könet die au hin u wiede :P )
I do believe that there's a rule about that, Gorn...
Considering he translated all the non-english, I think we can let it slide. :)
Actually, that was me translating all of the non-English. :mowwink
I can just barely make out what Goremant said in Schwäbisch (a southwestern dialect of German): "No worries. I currently live in Schwaben, but I can still speak a bit of Standard German here and there."
I think.
*snerks* "No worries, although I'm living in the land of the "Schwaben", they can still speak a little regular German every now and then". I might note that their dialect is known for being somewhat hard to understand, kinda like if you were trying to understand Schwizerdütsch (swiss-german dialect). :P
:) I'm not at all surprised that I didn't translate it right. I couldn't figure out what the heck "zwa" was supposed to be, so I ignored it and tried to figure out the rest from context.
That's the trouble with dialects... some of the words are just irrecognizable, while many others are "false-friends." Leads to all sorts of amusing trouble. :mowsmile
Quote from: candide on January 13, 2010, 11:01:01 AM
That's the trouble with dialects... some of the words are just irrecognizable, while many others are "false-friends." Leads to all sorts of amusing trouble. :mowsmile
I'm reminded of the scene in
Name of the Rose where the locals are going truffle hunting.
Someone asks Adso what they're up to and he tells them, unfortunately his accent confused things, turning 'Der Truffel' into 'Der Teufel'. The older man blesses himself, having apparently been told that they're going to hunt down the Devil in the woods and eat him.
Quote from: Anker Steadfast on January 12, 2010, 01:16:23 PM
Considering he translated all the non-english, I think we can let it slide. :)
... No, he didn't. In fact, it's fairly clear from his original post that he didn't, since the section in parenthesis at the end does not match, in any way, the section in parenthesis in German. Even without knowing what the words mean, "Werner" does not appear in the German section, for example.
Not to mention his apology, above your response...
... and are you complaining about moderator actions, Citizen? ;-]
Gorn: Yes, no harm meant, hence why a polite nudge, rather than a big gripe session and growling and stuff. ;-]
*tosses good 'ol box a bone* :3
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 13, 2010, 01:34:46 PM
... and are you complaining about moderator actions, Citizen? ;-]
fixed.
I <3 Friend Computer.
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 13, 2010, 01:34:46 PM
Quote from: Anker Steadfast on January 12, 2010, 01:16:23 PM
Considering he translated all the non-english, I think we can let it slide. :)
... No, he didn't. In fact, it's fairly clear from his original post that he didn't, since the section in parenthesis at the end does not match, in any way, the section in parenthesis in German. Even without knowing what the words mean, "Werner" does not appear in the German section, for example.
Not to mention his apology, above your response...
... and are you complaining about moderator actions, Citizen? ;-]
Durr ... me sorry, me undead ... need moar brains !!!
:necro
....Awww... no one came up with any creative replies to my question, instead everyone is talking about German! :P
Quote from: gavinfoxx on January 15, 2010, 10:26:48 PM
....Awww... no one came up with any creative replies to my question, instead everyone is talking about German! :P
Maybe it was because :
... the size pun was so obviously against the PG-13 rating that noone wanted to comment on it ?
... We might have gotten slightly derailed and gone off topic ?
You choose.
:D
Going off topic is perfectly permissible, you know. Natural flow of conversation and what not. If it wasn't, I'd have been strung up by now.
Quote from: Mao Laoren on January 16, 2010, 07:24:03 AM
Going off topic is perfectly permissible, you know. Natural flow of conversation and what not.
Agreed. :)
Quote from: Mao Laoren on January 16, 2010, 07:24:03 AM
If it wasn't, I'd have been strung up by now.
I tried that once .. wasn't really me. :(
Quote from: Mao Laoren on January 16, 2010, 07:24:03 AM
Going off topic is perfectly permissible, you know. Natural flow of conversation and what not. If it wasn't, I'd have been strung up by now.
I thought you had been?
Yes, but those times it was in a positive context for me. I haven't been strung up in the bad way yet....probably because I might like it.