This is becoming a trend in a lot of EA/Maxis marketing now, and I believe it could become a huge problem for The Sims going forward.The entire point of Simlish was to be a gibberish language you could never quite understand or get it's hooks into you. That's beginning to change now when we have EA/Maxis solidifying Simlish words and translating them into english, and now we're getting 3rd party articles that are supporting it (just do a google search for "simlish translation" to see for yourself)My suggestion? For the next game Sims 5, they need to jumble everything up again. Have our Sims use completely different phrases for Hello, goodbye, thank you, etc. This will pull the rug out from this trend and return Simlish back to it's original intent. But who am I kidding.. I know they won't do that. I fully expect these words to be a huge part of their marketing on the next game..

I just wanted to add a final thought.I think once these 20-odd words become more solidified as words with direct translation, this will actually harm the game because now that we actually have an understanding on what our Sims are saying (and it's not just gibberish), it will start becoming incredibly obvious how our sims are simple people who only have a vocabulary of about 20 words.The giberish simlish is supposed to be giberish for the reason of giving the illusion of a much wider vocabulary. By solidifying 20-odd words, you undermine that illusion completely.

I find the translation amusing and don't mind it. I was annoyed when some words that were used in past songs were changed in newer songs. But I get what you are saying. The language was created to keep it from being repetitive and allow players to imagine what was being said.

Yes I do not really like the current trailers for Sims 4 DLC and the way they announce packs as if this game has mostly a teenage girls who make cringe social media posts and use lame quotes/viral memes as their IG captions. I also have mixed feelings about the Sims franchise being so much more popular now that there are way too many memes and relatable Sims videos, back when Youtubers didn't make all these insane "24 hours as a Sim" challenges, that one is the worst and gross challenge especially if they pretend to be the Toddler lifestage and splash toilet water, yikes...back to the OT, I agree that the Simlish sounds way too much like English nowadays, and I do not like the Kardashian/Jenner vibes in the voice actress/actors for The Sims 4, all the voices sound way too soft and gentle, even when Sims are arguing or fighting, there is not much personality unlike in Sims 1 and Sims 2, since Sims 3 it got downhill with the modern Americanized Simlish...I loved the Sims 1 overdramatic voice for Sims because when I was young, I loved watching Pingu and it had a similar funny accent/Gibberish language to the original Simlish...sometimes simpler is better, and Simlish probably should have always stayed the same it was in the first game.

Another point is that Simlish is universal, equally effective regardless of the native language of any particular player.

I don't mind it. Translating simlish in to english words has been a thing since the sims 2/3. I've never really seen it as a problem and the majority of the language is still gibberish for the most part.

Please stop translating "Simlish"

EgonVM
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
I'll bring up the initial goal of Simlish from this Wikipedia article.

While developing SimCopter (1996), designer Will Wright explicitly avoided using real-world languages such that players could resonate with the emotions of the characters rather than their speech. The initial dialogue team—comprising Wright, audio lead Robi Kauker, voice director Claire Curtin, sound designer Kent Jolly, and composer Jerry Martin—began by using musical instruments reminiscent of the "wah wah" sound effect heard in some Peanuts animated specials. The idea to use musical instruments was quickly scrapped.

Wright experimented with several real-world languages to use within The Sims, including Ukrainian, Navajo, Tagalog, and Estonian, but faced difficulty in finding voice actors and developing a unique identity for the language; with regards to the Ukrainian language, its Slavic undertone was unsuitable for the project. Simlish ultimately became a combination of these languages. One voice actor based in San Francisco, Stephen Kearin, recounted being given a pidgin version of Swahili and Cherokee. Kearin then suggested he speak gibberish, and Wright agreed. Until 2006, Kearin and his female counterpart Gerri Lawlor served as the Simlish actors.

So yeah, I also remember in videos that Will Wright experimented with languages like Estonian and Tagalog, but he found even these too repetitive, thus he went with Simlish.

So yeah, as the article tells, the goal of Simlish is for players to resonate with the emotions of the characters rather than their speech. While I do kind of agree that translating some phrases will go against the goal, it could also build up an unique culture for The Sims fans (hold up... which could be used in marketing... oh no...).

Personal off-topic opinion under spoilers (ignore if unwanted).
Spoiler
Though to be honest, it still feels to special to me that Estonian was considered...
FriendlySimmers
New Traveler
2 years ago
what would be useful is a language toggle option in the game to select what language the character speak that way if players wants there sims to speak full English or French or in there native language they can and if they went simlish just toggle the language option to that choice just giving my honest opinion here as a player if you look at other game for exemple nobunaga ambition thats a playstation game also on steam they offer the option to select the language
The_Mercuria
Seasoned Novice
2 years ago

Over the years i've been able to make out a few words of Simlish and that's how I want it. I can associate a task or action with the sounds coming out of their little Sim mouths and figure it out myself. I avoid spoilers that translate it into English.
Jooleeyuh
Seasoned Adventurer
2 years ago
If you can translate my username, you really need to age your Simself up to Adult now.

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Please stop translating "Simlish"

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