Translation: “The Minish Cap” in German, Part 6: Meet Ezlo, the Talking Bird-Hat
Whilst on our quest to find the Minish, we find... A Minish. Sort of.
Meet Ezlo, who is infinitely funnier in German than he is in English.
Here is my translation of the German version of "The Minish Cap" to English!
My translation key:
DT: „direct translation" (translated word for word)
EQ: "English equivalent" (as in, as close to an English-sounding sentence as it's gonna get)
DT/EQ: „"direct translation/English equivalent" (for when the DT is so similar to an EQ that it's practically English already)
OE: "official English (translation as given in the European English version of "The Minish Cap")"
(NOTE:) "anything I need to point out" (exactly what it says on the tin)
BG: „backwards German" for the Minish language in reverse form
My translation work under the cut.
Ezelo: „Aua! Hört... He, hört doch auf!"
DT: „Ow! Hear... Hey, cease that!"
EQ: "Ow! Hey, quit that!"
OE: "Ouch! Won't somebody stop them!?"
(NOTE: Idiomatic, I think...)
Ezelo: „Autsch! Auaaa!!! Hilfe! Ist denn da niemand?!"
DT: „Ouch! Owwww!!! Help! Is then there nobody?!"
EQ: "Ouch! Owwww!!! Help! Is anybody there?!"
OE: "Ow! Ow! Help... Somebody! Can't anybody hear me?"
Ezelo: „He! Du! Kleiner Mensh! Ja, du!!! Aua!"
DT/EQ: „"Hey! You! Little human! Yes, you!!! Ow!"
OE: "Hey! Kid! You there! Ow!"
(NOTE: Ezlo is called „Ezelo" in German.)
Ezelo: „He, du da! Guck nicht einfach nur zu... Autsch!"
DT: „Hey, you there! Look not simply only to... Ouch!"
EQ: "Hey, you there! Don't just look at... Ouch!"
OE: "Hey! Don't just stand there! Do something!!!"
Ezelo: „Jetzt steh doch nicht untätig herum! So hilf mir doch!"
DT: „Now stand but not idly around! So help (for) me nevertheless!"
EQ: "Now, don't just stand around! Help me nevertheless!"
OE: "What's wrong with you!? Do you like watching me take this abuse!? Help me!"
(NOTE: Help is provided "for" somebody in German.)
Ezelo: „Puh! Das ist ja gerade noch mal gut gegangen."
DT: „Phew! That is indeed just yet (softener) well went."
EQ: "Phew! Well, that went well!"
OE: "Phew! Well done! That was close."
(NOTE: „mal" is used to soften the harshness of a sentence.)
Ezelo: „Na ja, ich wäre auch alleine mit denen fertig geworden. Apropos..."
DT: „Well indeed, I would have also alone with (to) those finished become. By the way..."
EQ: "Yes indeed, I could have been finished by them alone. By the way..."
OE: "Not that I couldn't handle them myself. But that's beside the point!"
Ezelo: „Was macht ein Kind wie du ganz alleine hier im dunklen Wald?"
DT: "What does a child like you all alone here in the dark forest?
EQ: "What is a child like you doing here all alone in the dark forest?"
OE: "What in the world is a lone child doing so deep in the woods?"
Ezelo: „Ach so... Ich verstehe."
DT/EQ: „Oh so... I understand."
OE: "Ho ho! I see."
Ezelo: „Minish?! Vaati?!"
DT/EQ: "Minish?! Vaati?!"
OE: "The... Picori you say? And Vaati?"
Ezleo: „Fluch?! Heiliges Schwert?!"
DT/EQ: "Curse?! Holy Sword?!"
OE: "Vaati cursed somebody? What? The sacred blade?!?"
Ezelo: „So ist das also! Ja, gewiss, ich habe dich verstanden."
DT: „So is that so! Yes, certainly, I (have) you understood."
EQ: "So, is that so! Yes, I certainly understood you."
OE: "Is that so? I see, I see..."
(NOTE: Ezlo's second sentence is in conversational past.)
Ezelo: „Es ist nämlich so, dass ich selbst auf Reisen bin, um einen Weg zu finden, wie man den Fluch des Hexenmeisters brechen kann. Man braucht also das..."
DT: „It is namely so, that I even of travels am, in order a way to find, how one the curse of the sorcerer break can. One needs also that..."
EQ: "You see, even I am traveling in order to find a way for how one can break the curse of the sorcerer. One also needs that..."
OE: "You know, you and I have quite a lot in common. You see, I, too, am on a quest to break a curse of Vaati's."
(NOTE: „Es ist nämlich so" can mean both "it is namely so" and "you see" as in interjection.)
Ezelo: „Heilige Schwert? Gut, dann werde ich mich dir anschließen."
DT: „Holy sword? Good, then will I me (to) you connect."
EQ: "Holy sword? Good, then I'll join you."
OE: "And you say that reforging the sacred blade can break his curse, eh? Well, then you have found yourself a companion, my boy!"
Ezelo: „Mein Name ist Ezelo. Es freut mich, deine Bekanntschaft zu machen."
DT: „My name is Ezelo. It pleases me, your acquaintance to make."
EQ: "My name is Ezelo. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
OE: "My name is Ezlo. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Ezelo: „Warte! Warte doch mal!"
DT: „Wait! Wait still (softener)!"
EQ: "Wait! Wait a moment!"
OE: "Wait! Wait, I say!"
(NOTE: Even with the „mal", it's still idiomatic.)
Ezelo: „Renn doch nicht so, mein Kind!"
DT: „Run yet not so, my child!"
EQ: "Don't run so, my child!"
OE: "You walk so quickly! Too quickly, in fact!"
Ezelo: „Kannst du nicht langsamer gehen?"
DT: „Can you not slower go?"
EQ: "Can't you go slower?"
OE: "Can't you go any slower? Surely you've noticed that I have no legs..."
Ezelo: „Sieh mal, Kindchen. Wie soll ein kleiner Wicht wie ich je mit dir Schritt halten?"
DT: „Look (softener), little child/kiddo. How shall a little wretch how I ever with to you keep in step?"
EQ: "Look, little child/kiddo. How shall a little wretch such as me ever keep in step with you?"
OE: "Boy! Take a good look at me! Do you really think I can walk that fast!"
(NOTE: Originally, I planned to translate Ezlo's nickname for Link as "little child", but I realised that "kiddo" not only works better, but is a dimunitive just like „Kindchen" is!)
Ezelo: „Also wirklich!"
DT: „So really!"
EQ: "Honestly!"
OE: "Augh!"
(NOTE: Idiomatic again. Now that I think about it, most of what Ezlo says is idiomatic...)
Ezelo: „Was für eine absolut unmögliche Göre du doch bist!"
DT: „What for an absolute impossible brat you still are!"
EQ: "What an absolutely impossible brat you still are!"
OE: "If it isn't one thing, it's another! You are a troublesome boy!"
(NOTE: Just realised that it could have come out as, "What an absolutely impossible brat you are, indeed!")
Ezelo: „Viel besser! Wenn ich hier oben bin, kannst du mir nicht mehr devonlaufen."
DT: „Much better! When I here overhead am, can you (for) me not more out-run."
EQ: "Much better! When I am overhead here, you cannot out-run me anymore."
OE: "There! Now, you can't possibly leave me behind."
Ezelo: „Ah! Sehr hübsche Aussicht hier!"
DT/EQ: „"Ah! Very nice/pretty view here!"
OE: "My... It's quite comfortable up here. More comfortable than it looks, surely."
Ezelo: „Und außerdem äußerst bequem für mich!"
DT/EQ: „"And furthermore, extremely convenient for me!"
OE: "And much easier on me!"
Ezelo: „Hm? Was grummelst du da? Los, auf geht's, zackizacki!"
DT: „Hm? What grumble you there? Go, let's go, make it snappy!"
EQ: "Hm? What are you grumbling there? Go, let's go, make it snappy!"
OE: "Hey! Quit your squirming! Can't you sit still? See! There..."
(NOTE: Idiomatic. „Zackizacki" just sounds so cute.)
Ezelo: „Ach, ehe ich es vergesse!"
DT: „Oh, before I it forget!"
EQ: "Oh, before I forget!"
OE: "Yes, yes! That's it. Much better."
Ezelo: „Für kleine Kinder wie dich gibt es allerlei Dinge, die sie nicht verstehen."
DT: „For small child such as yourself there are various things, that they not understand."
EQ: "For small children such as yourself, there are various things that they don't understand."
OE: "Now, I suppose a boy like you still has much to learn about the world."
Ezelo: „Drücke in solchen Momenten einfach SELECT! Ich helfe dir dann."
DT: „Press in such moments easy SELECT! I help (for) you then."
EQ: "Easily press SELECT in such moments. I'll help you then."
OE: "If you ever need my insight, press SELECT. I'll be happy to help!"
Ezelo: „Herrje! Das wird anstrengend!"
DT: „Oh, dear! This will exhausting!"
EQ: "Oh, dear! This will be exhausting!"
OE: "Ah, such a hopeless child..."
(NOTE: Alternate translation would be "Oh, dear! This is exhausting!")
Ezelo: „Kindchen! Ich verrate dir etwas."
DT: „Kiddo! I reveal to you something."
EQ: "Kiddo! Let me reveal something to you."
OE: "Hold on for a moment, my boy! We've stumbled across something important!"
Ezelo: „Die Welt der Minish ist sehr klein. Du kannst die Minish nicht treffen,"
DT: „The World of the Minish is very small. You can the Minish not meet,"
EQ: "The World of the Minish is very small. You cannot meet the Minish,"
OE: "The world of the Minish is very small. You're far too big to meet them now."
Ezelo: „solange du groß bist."
DT: „so long you big are."
EQ: "as long as you are big."
OE: "Eh? Who are the Minish? Ah, yes! Silly me! Allow me to explain..."
(OE Ezlo proceeds to completely hi-jack the plot with two text boxes that aren't present in the German version.)
[OE: "You humans call them "Picori," but they refer to themselves as the Minish!"]
[OE: "Strange how, in the world of humans, only this forest kept that name..."]
(NOTE: I think this is because the OE version added a plot twist where the tiny people are referred to with two names: "Picori" and "Minish". I also think it's to justify the title of "The MINISH Cap". The dual-names are completely lost in any version, German included, that calls them just "Minish" or "Picori".)
Ezelo: „Schau mal dort! Sieht aus wie ein normaler Baumstumpf, nicht?"
DT: „Look (softener) there! Looks like a normal tree-stump, not?"
EQ: "Look there! Looks like a normal tree-stump, no?"
OE: "Anyhow, deep in the forest they built a tiny village, where many now live."
(NOTE: Idiomatic.)
Ezelo: „Ja, ja, aber!"
DT/EQ: „"Yes, yes, but!"
OE: "But if we're to enter the village, we'll have to make you a touch smaller first."
Ezelo: „Dieser Baumstumpf ist ein geheimes Portal, das die Menschen vor langer..."
DT: „This tree-stump is a covertly Portal, that the humans before long..."
EQ: "This tree-stump is a covertly Portal that the humans a long..."
OE: "Look at that! At first glance, it appears to be a mere stump, yes?"
Ezelo: „...Zeit erschaffen haben, um ihre Körpergröße ändern zu können!"
DT: „...Time created have, in order their body size alter to can!"
EQ: "...time ago have created in order to be able to alter their body size!"
OE: "No! That stump is a portal used by people long ago to adjust their size!"
Ezelo: „Wenn ich dabei bin, kannst du dort so klein werden wie ein Minish!"
DT: „When I nearby am, can you there so small become how a Minish!"
EQ: "When I am nearby, you can become as small as a Minish!"
OE: "With my help, you can use it to shrink down to Minish size."
Ezelo: „Wenn du auf dem Baumstumpf R drückst, wirst du klein."
DT: „When you on the tree-stump R press, become you small."
EQ: "When you press R on the tree-stump, you'll become small."
OE: "Just stand on the stump and press R to shrink."
Ezelo: „Um wieder groß zu werden, drückst du erneut R."
DT: „In order again big to become, press you anew R."
EQ: "In order to become big again, press R anew."
OE: "To return to normal, stand next to the stump and press R."
Ezelo: „Also los, ab geht die Post!"
DT/EQ: „"So go, off you go!"
OE: "Get me up there, and we'll give it a try."
(NOTE: That was hilariously idiomatic.)
Ezelo: „Jetzt siehst du die Welt mit den Augen eines Minish!"
DT: „Now see you the world with the eyes (of) a Minish!"
EQ: "Now you see the world with the eyes of a Minish!"
OE: "Welcome to the world through the eyes of the Minish!"
Ezelo: „Und, war das nicht nett von mir? Du brauchst dich nicht zu bedanken!"
DT: „And, was that not nice of me? You need you not to thank!"
EQ: "And was that not nice of me? You don't need to thank me!"
OE: "Now, aren't you glad you saved me? No need to thank me, though!"
Ezelo: „Solche Portale gibt es hier und da, in verschiedenster Gestalt."
DT: „Such Portals are there here and there, in different shapes/forms."
EQ: "There are such Portals here and there, in different shapes/forms."
OE: "Portals that reduce your size are all around, in different shapes and sizes."
Ezelo: „Um wieder groß zu werden, stell dich neben den Baumstumpf, und drücke R!"
DT: „In order again big to become, place yourself beside the tree-stump, and press R!"
EQ: "In order to become big again, place yourself beside the tree-stump, and press R!"
OE: "If you want to return to normal, stand next to a portal and press R."
Ezelo: „Du musst aufpassen, denn wenn du klein bist, lauern viele Gefahren!"
DT: „You must watch out, then when you small are, lurk many dangers!"
EQ: "You must watch out, because when you are small, many dangers lurk!"
OE: "But there is one thing you must know: being Minish-sized is full of dangers!"
Ezelo: „Wenn du groß bist, ist es eine kleine Pfütze, wenn du klein bist, ein Meer."
DT: „When you big are, it is a small puddle, when you small are, a sea."
EQ: "When you are big, it is a small puddle; when you are small, a sea."
OE: "Mere puddles at your normal size are bottomless swamps to the Minish."
Ezelo: „Wenn dir was passiert, geht es mir auch an den Kragen. Also aufgepasst!"
DT: "If to you what/something happens, goes it for me also on the collar. So watch out!"
EQ: "If something happens to you, I'm in for it, too. So watch out!"
OE: "And as your companion, if anything bad happens to you, it happens to me, too! So proceed with caution, my lad! If not for your own sake, but for my own!"
(NOTE: „an den Kragen" is an idiom akin to "in for it", as in "in trouble".)
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