Making Character Dialogue Natural
Written By Aira Mo
Last updated 11 months ago
1. Overview
Game dialogue should feel authentic and immersive, ensuring that characters speak naturally in the output language. This requires adjusting tone, slang, and sentence structure to maintain the original intent while making it culturally appropriate.
2. What to Consider?
Casual vs. Formal Speech – Some cultures prefer politeness, while others use direct or informal expressions.
Slang & Tone – Should match the character’s personality and the game’s setting.
Sentence Flow – Translations should feel fluid and conversational, not robotic.
3. Example Prompt
"Adapt this in-game dialogue for output language, making it authentic and natural for players."
4. Example Dialogue Adaptations and Considerations
Fantasy Dialogue Prompt
Example Input (English):
"The prophecy speaks of a hero, but I see only a fool with a rusty sword. Prove me wrong."
Localization Adjustments:
Some cultures avoid direct insults—"fool" may need softening or rephrasing.
"Rusty sword" could be replaced with a "broken staff" or "cracked shield" in settings where swords are uncommon.
"Prove me wrong" may need a formal challenge phrasing, depending on cultural norms.
Sci-Fi Dialogue Prompt
Example Input (English):
"This ship isn’t gonna fly unless you fix the reactor. And fast!"
Localization Adjustments:
"This ship isn’t gonna fly" may need to become "This ship won’t leave orbit" if a direct equivalent doesn’t exist.
"Fix the reactor" may require a more technical verb, such as "stabilize core integrity" or "restore propulsion systems".
"And fast!" might need to be restructured for emphasis in languages with different sentence structures.
5. Best Practices for Natural-Sounding Dialogue
Adapt phrasing, not just words – Direct translation can feel unnatural.
Consider speech patterns – Some languages prefer longer, more formal sentences, while others use short, direct phrasing.
Use regional slang carefully – Ensure it fits the game world and won’t become outdated too quickly.
Test dialogue in context – Ensure that characters sound natural within cutscenes, quests, and interactions.
6. Next Steps
Refine game dialogue prompts
Ensure consistency in character speech
Test localized dialogue for player immersion