Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Poll [77 votes]: Should we understand the Covenant?
  • Poll [77 votes]: Should we understand the Covenant?
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2
Subject: Should we understand the Covenant?

I'm a lead farmer, mother lover!

Poll: Should we understand the Covenant?  [closed]
No, translation software wouldn't be that advanced:  19%
(15 Votes)
Yes, makes better dialogue in the game:  40%
(31 Votes)
I don't care, as long as they can scream:  3%
(2 Votes)
Wort Wort Wort!:  38%
(29 Votes)
Total Votes: 77

Miss the days of hearing some Elite shout "Wort Wort Wort" at you? I know I do. Truthfully though it would make sense that we don't understand them again, seeing as how this is intended to be a prequel we wouldn't, as characters, have the translation software necessary. They should speak as their Gods intended them to with their Heathen tongues, lol.

...Wort. (opinions?)

  • 07.20.2009 9:53 AM PDT

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME GROUP INVITATIONS

The Halo REACH Script (post thoughts in thread)

Writing Lead of Whisper Studios. Check out Heron!

Look... I'm on bungiepedia!

We should understand the Covenant that we encounter the most -- Grunts and Jackals. We should not encounter the Covenant hardly encountered by the UNSC prior to Reach -- Brutes, Elites, Hunters, Drones.

  • 07.20.2009 9:55 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

All I want is my "wort wort wort!". I miss the ol' days.

[Edited on 07.20.2009 9:58 AM PDT]

  • 07.20.2009 9:58 AM PDT

Aut viam inveniam Aut faciam

By the time the Fall of Reach rolls around, the UNSC had been fighting the Covies for a while. If you remember from the books, they were planning on stealing a Covenant ship and flying it into Covenant-occupied space to locate and kill the Prophets.

I'm pretty sure they had had more than sufficient contact with the Elites, Brutes, etc. In fact, according to the books, the Prophets and the Engineers were the only Covenant races that humans had had no real contact with prior to Reach.

So it's not too far-fetched to think that they would have had adequate translation software by now.


[Edited on 07.20.2009 10:00 AM PDT]

  • 07.20.2009 9:59 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Legendary Member
  • gamertag: TB823
  • user homepage:

As you progress throughout your life you realize that the older you get the closer your are to death, the only thing you cannot change.

Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
We should understand the Covenant that we encounter the most -- Grunts and Jackals. We should not encounter the Covenant hardly encountered by the UNSC prior to Reach -- Brutes, Elites, Hunters, Drones.

I thought the UNSC encouter Elites many times before Reach(not as much as grunts or jackals but still alot)

  • 07.20.2009 10:15 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I think we should understand some dialogue, in particular, similar to halo 2, but with better death screams.

But I agree with understanding Jackals, I mean cmon, we listen to grunts all the time, why not decipher a jackals last words before grenading the frail creature?

  • 07.20.2009 10:16 AM PDT

(;3=

i dont care i just imagine the brutes yelling wort wort wort as a substitute till reach comes out and we can kill elites again.

  • 07.20.2009 10:18 AM PDT

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME GROUP INVITATIONS

The Halo REACH Script (post thoughts in thread)

Writing Lead of Whisper Studios. Check out Heron!

Look... I'm on bungiepedia!

Posted by: Gdude
Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
We should understand the Covenant that we encounter the most -- Grunts and Jackals. We should not encounter the Covenant hardly encountered by the UNSC prior to Reach -- Brutes, Elites, Hunters, Drones.

I thought the UNSC encouter Elites many times before Reach(not as much as grunts or jackals but still alot)
Not very often... in TFoR, right before Reach was invaded, Halsey classified the Elites as a hypothetical class like the Brutes and Prophets. It was also John's first encounter with the Elites on Gamma station.

  • 07.20.2009 10:19 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: jaktheripper
By the time the Fall of Reach rolls around, the UNSC had been fighting the Covies for a while. If you remember from the books, they were planning on stealing a Covenant ship and flying it into Covenant-occupied space to locate and kill the Prophets.

I'm pretty sure they had had more than sufficient contact with the Elites, Brutes, etc. In fact, according to the books, the Prophets and the Engineers were the only Covenant races that humans had had no real contact with prior to Reach.

So it's not too far-fetched to think that they would have had adequate translation software by now.


There are a few things wrong with this. First off, sure they wer going to capture a covenent ship, but they had Cortana. And it still took her a minute to figure out what they were saying. Second off, the humans had no contact with the brutes before Master Chief attacked the big ship thing at the end of First Strike. Thirdly, the Humans new about the engineers well before reach. in Fall of reach, the spartans found engineers disassembling cars on the planet with the french name. Just wanted to clear that up.

  • 07.20.2009 10:34 AM PDT

Aut viam inveniam Aut faciam

Posted by: HunterX25
Posted by: jaktheripper
By the time the Fall of Reach rolls around, the UNSC had been fighting the Covies for a while. If you remember from the books, they were planning on stealing a Covenant ship and flying it into Covenant-occupied space to locate and kill the Prophets.

I'm pretty sure they had had more than sufficient contact with the Elites, Brutes, etc. In fact, according to the books, the Prophets and the Engineers were the only Covenant races that humans had had no real contact with prior to Reach.

So it's not too far-fetched to think that they would have had adequate translation software by now.


There are a few things wrong with this. First off, sure they wer going to capture a covenent ship, but they had Cortana. And it still took her a minute to figure out what they were saying. Second off, the humans had no contact with the brutes before Master Chief attacked the big ship thing at the end of First Strike. Thirdly, the Humans new about the engineers well before reach. in Fall of reach, the spartans found engineers disassembling cars on the planet with the french name. Just wanted to clear that up.


Read Contact Harvest, the Brutes, along with Jackals and Grunts, were the first Covenant to make contact with humans. This occurred some 20 years or so before the events surrounding the Fall of Reach.

  • 07.20.2009 11:06 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Legendary Member
  • gamertag: TB823
  • user homepage:

As you progress throughout your life you realize that the older you get the closer your are to death, the only thing you cannot change.

Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
Posted by: Gdude
Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
We should understand the Covenant that we encounter the most -- Grunts and Jackals. We should not encounter the Covenant hardly encountered by the UNSC prior to Reach -- Brutes, Elites, Hunters, Drones.

I thought the UNSC encouter Elites many times before Reach(not as much as grunts or jackals but still alot)
Not very often... in TFoR, right before Reach was invaded, Halsey classified the Elites as a hypothetical class like the Brutes and Prophets. It was also John's first encounter with the Elites on Gamma station.


What about at Cote D' Azure, I thought John encoutered an Elite pair, and Grey team and the S-3's did as well I believe(before Reach)

  • 07.20.2009 11:51 AM PDT

Check out the group, Planet Reach and talk about Bungie's next game without the annoyance of the public forum. Oh and it's nice there too.

You thought you had lag, it took Jesus 3 days to re-spawn.

Posted by: Gdude
What about at Cote D' Azure, I thought John encoutered an Elite pair, and Grey team and the S-3's did as well I believe(before Reach)


On Cote D' Azure, those were Hunters. And yes Elites were encountered many times before Reach. I do think we should understand them, maybe not Brutes though.

  • 07.20.2009 12:02 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

No.

The elites could SPEAK English, they just struggled with it and it sounded odd coming from their mouth. So they should speak in their native language. Maybe you could hear the grunts speak English, but the voice would be digitized a bit, and you could hear their native language in low volume behind it. Damn it Marty, READ THESE FORUMS!!!
lol

  • 07.20.2009 12:07 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Legendary Member
  • gamertag: TB823
  • user homepage:

As you progress throughout your life you realize that the older you get the closer your are to death, the only thing you cannot change.

Posted by: Another one
Posted by: Gdude
What about at Cote D' Azure, I thought John encoutered an Elite pair, and Grey team and the S-3's did as well I believe(before Reach)


On Cote D' Azure, those were Hunters. And yes Elites were encountered many times before Reach. I do think we should understand them, maybe not Brutes though.


I thought hunters weren't seen(beside people on Spirit of Fire on Halo Wars) till 2552(well they weren't confirmed anyway) and as I reacall didn't Dr.Hasley say they were Elites? Well I guess I was mistaken, thanks for clearing that up.

  • 07.20.2009 12:07 PM PDT

the grunts and jackals should taunt the spartans/marines in human (english) and also say stuff like "the demon is here" (or whatever they call your new character) but revert back to their filthy covie speech as they run around in fear then finally beg for their lives in human again as you close in for the beat down

the elites should call out challenges in human and communicate with each other in covie speak

the brutes should never speak human it makes them sound too clever

[Edited on 07.20.2009 12:11 PM PDT]

  • 07.20.2009 12:10 PM PDT

Character Artist -- Electronic Arts

Jackals have never spoken. So why is everyone saying Grunts & Jackals?
Only the affluent Grunts can speak english.

I am mixed on this, I like the old school Wart wart wart. But some of the statements the elites make that can only be done in english are just so awesome.

I guess it depends if the elites are part of the Narration or not. If they are, english is appropriate, but more characterization with non english vocalization would be nice. If they are not part of the narration, they should no speak english.

  • 07.20.2009 12:53 PM PDT

Posted by: SS_Crow
Jackals have never spoken. So why is everyone saying Grunts & Jackals?
Only the affluent Grunts can speak english.


i said grunts and jackals because i thought it would be cool to hear jackals speak aswell

but you're probably right it messes with established canon if they speak so i'll go with your more characterization with non english vocalization idea but for jackals aswell (well put by the way). i would like to hear some human speech from the elites though, its hard to come across noble when you can only say "wort wort"

  • 07.20.2009 1:03 PM PDT

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME GROUP INVITATIONS

The Halo REACH Script (post thoughts in thread)

Writing Lead of Whisper Studios. Check out Heron!

Look... I'm on bungiepedia!

Posted by: Gdude
Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
Posted by: Gdude
Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
We should understand the Covenant that we encounter the most -- Grunts and Jackals. We should not encounter the Covenant hardly encountered by the UNSC prior to Reach -- Brutes, Elites, Hunters, Drones.

I thought the UNSC encouter Elites many times before Reach(not as much as grunts or jackals but still alot)
Not very often... in TFoR, right before Reach was invaded, Halsey classified the Elites as a hypothetical class like the Brutes and Prophets. It was also John's first encounter with the Elites on Gamma station.
What about at Cote D' Azure, I thought John encoutered an Elite pair, and Grey team and the S-3's did as well I believe(before Reach)
That was a Hunter pair. JOhn's first encounter with Elites was on Gamma Station, and his first encounter with Brutes was on the Unyielding Hierophant, and his first encounter with the Flood was on Installation 04. But that doesn't mean other UNSC didn't encounter them before; it just means that they either had no way of relaying the information back to intelligence, or there was no official documentation of the aliens. Or they were classified and all Halsey had to work off of was hear-say.

  • 07.20.2009 1:33 PM PDT

Check out Operation Save the Chief

“it's like how they watch reality tv shows.. why spend time watching someone elses life just because they are famous or on tv..??? why not live your own life.. or make you tv happy by playing halo 3?!”
-Pellek212

Posted by: richard58
Posted by: SS_Crow
Jackals have never spoken. So why is everyone saying Grunts & Jackals?
Only the affluent Grunts can speak english.


i said grunts and jackals because i thought it would be cool to hear jackals speak aswell

but you're probably right it messes with established canon if they speak so i'll go with your more characterization with non english vocalization idea but for jackals aswell (well put by the way). i would like to hear some human speech from the elites though, its hard to come across noble when you can only say "wort wort"

The actual fall of Reach takes place before Halo 1. In Halo 1 the Chief had Cortana who had the latest and greatest translation software. In Halo 1 you cannot understand what the Elites are saying other than "NOOOOOO!!, AIEEE!!!, and ARRGGGHH!!" so, canonically you shouldn't be able to understand Elites.

However since we're on the topic of cannon I'd just like to point out a few minor details. In Contact Harvest Humanity first encounters brutes. Brutes who wear powered armor. In First Strike Humanity first encounters brutes. Brutes who don't have powered armor. (On the Covenant space station Cortana thinks they're just some sort of ceremonial guards and gets proved horribly wrong by the death of Grace.) Cortana had all of the best possible information on the Covenant available to assist in her and the Spartans mission. I suspect that she hacked into ONI and stole anything she thought might be useful as well. She would have known about brutes, but brutes weren't on Harvest until after this encounter (When Contact: Havest was written).

From this we can see that what is canon is flexible. That means that we could be able to understand Elites and it would still be canon.

  • 07.20.2009 1:39 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Josh 22 T
All I want is my "wort wort wort!". I miss the ol' days.


Amen

  • 07.20.2009 1:41 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

They are only two races of the Covenant that actually know English that you can understand without translation software: Jiralhanae (Brutes) and Unggoy (Grunts). Sangheili (Elites) IMO should speak in Sangheilian once more like in Halo: CE and the Kig-Yar (Jackals) should as well still speak Sangheilian. And Mgalekgolo (Hunters) should still speak Lekgolan and Drones should still screech. If there is a Prophet, I don't know what language it should speak.

So, here is a list of what languages each species should use if they are in the game:

English
Grunts
Brutes

Sangheilian
Elites
Jackals

Lekgolan
Hunters

Yan'mian
Drones

  • 07.20.2009 2:21 PM PDT

We should probably only understand key words like in Halo Combat Evolved. You know what would be fun? If we could turn off the translation device.

[Edited on 07.20.2009 2:46 PM PDT]

  • 07.20.2009 2:45 PM PDT

Posted by: Gdude
Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
We should understand the Covenant that we encounter the most -- Grunts and Jackals. We should not encounter the Covenant hardly encountered by the UNSC prior to Reach -- Brutes, Elites, Hunters, Drones.

I thought the UNSC encouter Elites many times before Reach(not as much as grunts or jackals but still alot)
Also, werent the Brutes the main force that were fighting against Harvest?

  • 07.20.2009 3:00 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

No.

The hunters actually spoke English in Halo 2.

It was distorted a lot, but if you're playing as the arbiter, and are listening closely, they're just recycled Marine and elite dialogue.

  • 07.21.2009 2:02 PM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2