EN vs. JP: Master
Twisted Wonderland's EN-server seems to have an interesting relationship with the word “master”.
Written as 主人, it can be pronounced as either aruji or shujin, depending on the sentence.
In this clip Jamil and Azul both use the ‘aruji’ pronunciation until the end when Azul pronounces it as ‘shujin’, but it is the same word.
For reference, here are the original subtitles versus the translation: the English translation is completely accurate.
Aruji also appears in Book 3 when Azul welcomes new minions to Mostro Lounge.
Original Azul: I am the man who will be your master.
EN Azul: You have to listen to everything I say.
Lilia referring to Malleus as his master was also removed from Terror is Trending.
Original Lilia: You humans. You have enraged my master…
Translated Lilia: Foolish humans. You have incurred a wrath beyond your reckoning.
In Book 4, there is an entire exchange between Jamil and the others on the subject of the servitude into which Jamil was born and from which he cannot escape.
When Jamil explains how he is resigned to being trapped as Kalim’s servant, references to masters and servants was removed from his dialogue on EN.
Original Jamil: I’ve been a servant of the Asim house since I was born. Masters are masters, and servants are servants. And that will likely never change.
EN Jamil: I’ve always been loyal of the Asim house. And that will likely never change.
(You can still hear him saying “shujin” twice in the audio (along with “jusha”, for servant))
In an interesting example of localization the word is translated literally as “master” for Sebek, but when Jamil uses the same word in the same vignette, it was removed.
In Book 7.5 it is localized as both “sir” and “superior.”
The word was also localized as “superior” in Jamil’s dialogue in this year’s New Year’s event on EN, in what is maybe EN’s newest approach to the word.
In Book 7 and Beanfest the word was localized as “boss” and during Firelit Sky it was written as “employer,” but it is generally translated directly as “master” for both Jamil’s Unique Magic incantation and the response from his targets, with one exception: it was removed from Neige’s dialogue on EN (though you can still hear him using the ‘shujin’ pronunciation in the audio).
Original Jamil: Hmm...probably 'Master'. Why do you look so shocked? It's important to teach hierarchy, right?
EN Jamil: Hmm...probably 'Hello'. What? Why are you rolling your eyes? Is that...too obvious?
On JP-server Jamil is a character born into servitude with the powerful ability to force others to refer to him as master, while on EN he refers to himself as an “employee” with most references to “master” removed or changed.
Original Jamil: And, as a servant, I am not allowed to disobey my master’s orders…!
EN Jamil: And it would be unacceptable for an employee to refuse an order from his boss…
Original Jamil: This person is a school friend of my master...
EN Jamil: You're speaking to a friend of my employer...
EN also seems to have an interesting relationship with the word 従者, a word that means close to servant/aid/retainer in English, and EN has used all those versions of the word in localization as well as writing it as “dedicated employee,” “staff,” and “errand boy.”
Original Jamil: I’m just a servant who doesn’t like hassles.
EN Jamil: I’m just a dedicated employee who hates cleaning up other people’s messes.
Original Jamil: Idiot. Where in the world is there a servant who makes their master wait on them?
EN Jamil: You don’t work as a servant, Kalim.
Original Jamil: A servant cannot disrespect the kindness of their master.
EN Jamil: Kalim’s gesture would feel hollow if I didn’t follow his example.
Original Jamil: How could a vassal ever be permitted to turn on their master?
EN Jamil: How could I betray our history like that? It would be beyond the pale.
It is interesting to see how the characters are being rewritten for an English-speaking audience, almost as if there are two different Jamils depending upon what server you play.
(Their original dynamic is possibly being lifted directly out of the original Aladdin movie)
This wouldn't be the first time that the English translation has removed references to the source material, much like the removal of "Be Prepared", "Never see the light of another day" and references to Leona's older brother, covered here.
