Ryo's foreign language skills

[zirkustier]

What language do Ryo and Shenhua speak to each other in? Or Ryo with the villagers? Chinese? Japanese? English?

[Hermit]

You would think they are speaking Chinese, but there is a moment in Shenmue 2 where Joy actually speaks in Chinese and Ryo doesn't understand it. It may also be possible though that that line by Joy was deliberately in Chinese to get the point across that Ryo didn't understand it. Maybe Ryo is quite fluent in speaking Chinese and understanding it, but misses the odd word or phrase here and there.

This is just me adding my own logic to it though, the actual reason is a plot hole which Yu Suzuki basically admitted to himself. It's one of those things where you need to apply suspension of disbelief. Just like with Ryo owning a Sega Saturn XD

[zirkustier]

Originally posted by HermitST:

Just like with Ryo owning a Sega Saturn XD

Did you open that one drawer, in that one monastery? ;D

btw.

I really, really like this computer game series. (Look at my profile about it: the game time ^^..). And I also know that "reality" and "computer games" are two different things....

But this part of the plot. - In one place you have a "former" Chinese who forgot his Chinese language skills. And Ryo. The Japanese guy. - He must have learned the Chinese language very well in school. He understands all these people, in this little village, who have never been to another place in their lives. Do Chinese people understand their dialect?

Okay, I'll stop thinking and remain a believer. :)

[f.phoenix627]

There are a lot of dialects in China, perhaps Ryo speaks the same dialect than Shenhua and not the mandarin chinese, but it cannot explain why in that case all the unhabitants of Bailu have a mandarin name. (I learn a little of mandarin and I confirm the name are in mandarin, characters and pronunciation)

[kiteless 凧無し]

It's basically one of those dumb games where the language barrier is thrown out the window for convenience, everybody speaks 'I see' in Shenmue

[f.phoenix627]

Or everyone speak english very well, probably for Ryo but unlikely for unhabitants of Bailu. Nevertheless, I think you are right Kiteless.