Many characters in The Flying Cloud speak languages other than English. This would be fine if these were languages in which I was fluent. Unfortunately, I cleverly managed to arrange things so that none of the limited number of languages I know much about are ever likely to appear in the story. One of the many fine examples of advance planning for which members of my tribe have become famous. Darn.
In the absence of expert knowledge, I’ve been forced to turn to web-based translation engines such as Yahoo’s ambitous Babelfish. The kindest way to describe the results would be ‘indifferent’. The words ‘laughable’, ‘side-splitting’, and ‘hysterical’ also leap to mind. While this may add an element of charm to the adventures of Captain Everett and his companions, I cannot help but wish for advice from real native-speakers who actually know what they are talking about. Or speaking, as the case may be.
For this reason, the Signal Corps of the Royal Navy Airship Service has created the College of Translators on the Flying Cloud Forum. This prestigious institution consists of an episode-by-episode list of every non-English phrase in the story, the language it’s alleged to be in — there can be some doubt — and what it was supposed to mean.
I urge you Noble Readers who have some knowledge of German, Dutch, Strine, Latin, Japanese, Tagalog, Farsi, Russian, the Port Moresby dialect of Pidgin, and/or the tongue of the Elder Gods who filtered down from the stars before the dawn of time and waiting in hidden places, sleeping but not dead, until the stars are right for their return – one assumes this is a bit like LISP – to have a look, laugh to yourselves, and offer corrections. Your contributions will be acknowledged in the College of Translators Roll of Honor!
