Translator
Technology Age: Late Atomic
Cost: 250 Cr.
A handheld device that translates between two languages for which it has a Translator Module.
Communication is necessarily slow because the device must listen to a sentence or two then repeat back the translation, just like a live translator. Depending on the language and quality of the module the translation may have problems translating idioms, figurative language, and slurred or garbled speech. The user of the device should throw Social to see whether the other party understood their intent, and vice versa.
Translator Comm
Technology Age: Early Space, Late Space
Cost: 75 Cr
An OmniComm (Nomad p 85) with an external slot for a miniaturized Translator Module. By the Late Space Age Translator Comms come with two chip slots, one for each language using the “Universal Grammar”. By the Early Interstellar Age all OmniComms are Translator Comms.
In additon to combining the OmniComm and the Translator, this device can uplink to a translator service and perform simultaneous translation on each side of the conversation. Fees and roaming rates may apply.
Translator Medallion
Technology Age: Early Interstellar
Cost: 300 Cr
A clunky-looking (10 cm in diameter) disc worn as a pendant. An accompanying wired or wireless earphone relays translations directly into the wearer’s ear. By the Early Interstellar Age the size of the medallion shrinks to about 3 cm, small enough for a discreet brooch or badge. Ornamentation costs extra.
The Translator Medallion uses advanced acoustic technology to listen to a one or more speakers’ words, translate them into the ear of the wearer using synthesized voices, and translate the words of the wearer to the medallion’s external speaker, masking the speaker’s actual speech. The net effect exceeds even the best simultaneous translation.
The medallion accomodates up to four Translator Modules and translates among them freely.
Translator Module
Technology Age: Late Atomic and later
Cost: 25 Cr. or more
A translator module looks like removable storage appropriate to its Technology Age. It contains software and databases used to translate two specific known languages.
By the Early Space Age owners may install translation modules into any computer or robot and have it integrated seamlessly. One can even download or install a module on an Internal OmniComm or OmniComp (Nomad p 94).
By the Late Space Age, modules translate between a spoken or written language and a “Universal Grammar”, which allows the user to connect any two modules to translate any pair of languages.
By the Early Galactic Age, the “Universal Translator” (Nomad p 100) renders this technology obsolete.
The quality of a Translator Module depends primarily on how much one is willing to pay. A poor module may mistranslate or glitch out, while an expensive module can actually improve relations by using fluent, professional language and eliding impolite or unintentionally offensive terms.1 Poor modules impose a penalty on Social checks; better quality modules grant a bonus.
| Quality | Minimum Technology Age | Social modifier | Social maximum | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very Poor | Late Atomic | -2D | 25 Cr | |
| Poor | Early Space | -1D | 50 Cr | |
| Good | Late Space | +0D | 100 Cr | |
| Very Good | Early Interstellar | +1D | 500 Cr | |
| Excellent | Late Interstellar | +2D | 1000 Cr |
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The author admits to having watched too many Grammarly commercials. Still, the thought of the automatic translator rendering “Eat this you bastards!” as “Please enjoy this humble meal” amuses me no end. ↩︎