A translator, or interpreter, is a person who converts written text or speech from one language into another.
History
Archmaester Gallard wrote Children of Summer, the chief source on the history of the Summer Isles in the Seven Kingdoms, after translating the highly complicated, formal verses narrating Summer Islander history carved on the Talking Trees of Tall Trees Town.[1] Maester Barneby's translations of runes support the claim of House Blackwood that the First Men had once ruled most of the wolfswood before being driven from the north by the Kings of Winter.[2]
Larra Rogare moved into the Red Keep with her husband, but did not manage to adapt to the customs of the Seven Kingdoms, making no attempt to learn the Common Tongue, thus having to rely on translators.[3]
During the Arryn succession conflict in 134 AC, the Lyseni Moredo Rogare was put in command of an army of Westerosi knights, but he was not fluent in the Common Tongue, so when his translator was slain during a land assault on Gulltown led by him, Moredo had great difficulty communicating with his own troops, as they did not understand his orders and he did not understand their reports, and chaos ensued.
After hearing Maggy the Frog's prophecy, Cersei Lannister asked Septa Saranella the meaning of the word valonqar, which she translated to "little brother" in High Valyrian.[4]
Missandei has a noticeable gift, easily learning languages, so the Good Masters chose to train her as a scribe and translator,[5] being trained to speak the Common Tongue of Westeros, High Valyrian, and bastard Valyrian.[6][7]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
At the wedding of Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryen outside Pentos, Magister Illyrio Mopatis gives three handmaids to the bride as gifts, including Jhiqui, whose task is to teach Daenerys the Dothraki language.[8]
When Viserys Targaryen assaults Daenerys in the Dothraki sea, her guard Jhogo chokes him with a whip, and Irri translates to ask Daenerys if she wants him dead. Irri then translates Dany's words to Jhogo not to harm Viserys, but to make him walk back alone to the khalasar.[9]
During a feast in Vaes Dothrak, Viserys threatens Daenerys and her child with a sword. Jhiqui is too frightened to translate his words for Khal Drogo, fearing the khal will punish her, so Daenerys translates instead.[10]
A Storm of Swords
When Daenerys comes to inspect the Unsullied in Astapor, Missandei is a slave translator and scribe for Kraznys mo Nakloz. Dany pretends not to know High Valyrian speech, but she understands everything the slaver is saying to the translator, who leaves untranslated several of his insults, and edits some of his words to sound more polite and pleasant, leaving out entirely his sexual proposals.[6]
After Daenerys strikes a bargain with the Good Masters of Astapor concerning payment for the Unsullied, Kraznys gives Missandei to Dany as an interpreter to give them commands until the Unsullied have learned the Westerosi language. Dany then frees her and tells her she may leave her service, but Missandei wishes to stay.[7] During the initial conflict with Yunkai, Missandei explains to Daenerys that the Yunkai'i speak a Valyrian dialect mutually intelligible to that of Astapor, and later translates their new term for Daenerys, Mhysa, which is Ghiscari for "Mother".[11]
Lady Stoneheart's throat is still slit open, so her voice is difficult to understand, sounding like a combination of a croak, wheeze, and death rattle. Therefore, she uses a young northman as her interpreter.[12]
A Feast for Crows
Kojja Mo serves as the translator for the crew of the Cinnamon Wind while Samwell Tarly and Maester Aemon and Gilly travel aboard the ship. When Sam tells Aemon of the rumors about Daenerys and her dragons, the maester becomes very certain that Daenerys is the prince that was promised. He is not troubled by the discrepancy of the prince turning out to be a princess, as he quickly realised that there is an error in the prophecy's translation, as dragons are neither male nor female. At Maester Aemon's funeral aboard the ship, Kojja translates Sam's eulogy for the rest of the crew.[13]
A Dance with Dragons
Leathers serves as a translator for Jon Snow and Wun Wun, teaching the Old Tongue to Jon and the Common Tongue to the giant.[14]
References
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The North.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 23, Daenerys III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 42, Brienne VIII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.