# TWP: is there something wrong with the German verb interface? **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [August 15, 2017, 6:32am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424 "2017-08-15T06:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 6:32am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/1 "2017-08-15T06:32:27Z")
I’ve read a [Steam discussion](http://steamcommunity.com/app/569860/discussions/0/1290690926868614723/) and other comments on the web about the verbs used in the German interface of Thimbleweed Park. I don’t know German but if I have understood correctly the issue, some verbs are not in the imperative form (please correct me if I’m wrong). In the Steam discussion there is also a player that says that this choice is intended and somehow justified by what happens later in the game. If true, this would be an interesting aspect that I would like to understand. Can some German fellow in this forum enlighten me about this topic? ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 8:54am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/2 "2017-08-15T08:54:10Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > some verbs are not in the imperative form Yes, this is true. For example the word “pick up” (or “take”): The imperative in German is “nimm” but TWP uses “nehme” (the indicative or the German subjunctive I). > [@LowLevel](#): > > In the Steam discussion there is also a player that says that this choice is intended and somehow justified by what happens later in the game. Yes, the translator, Boris wrote somewhere in the TWP blog that this is intended. But he doesn’t said why and/or where it is explained - only that it will be explained in the game. > [@LowLevel](#): > > If true, this would be an interesting aspect that I would like to understand. You are not alone. 🙂 Even if I consider the ending of TWP, the use of the indicative makes no sense - at least for me. btw: Other translations aren’t using the imperative form too. ---
**Author:** ![rarog4k](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/rarog4k/32/1359_2.png) [@rarog4k](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/rarog4k)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 9:50am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/3 "2017-08-15T09:50:55Z")
While it’s not the correct imperative mood, it is at least correct jussive mood (and not indicative): [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jussiv](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jussiv) Also I just verified, LucasArts and LucasFilm used correct imperative mood in the German interface. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/4 "2017-08-15T10:00:55Z")
> [@rarog4k](#): > > at least correct jussive mood (and not indicative) That’s the question. 😉 “nehme” could be indicative or Konjunktiv I (= jussive mood). ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 10:01am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/5 "2017-08-15T10:01:55Z")
Thanks for your answers! > [@Someone](#): > > Even if I consider the ending of TWP, the use of the indicative makes no sense - at least for me. Do you think that it would be possible that the verbs don’t use the imperative form because from a certain point of view the player is not giving commands to characters but he’s actually doing something else? > [@Someone](#): > > Other translations aren’t using the imperative form too. I’ve checked some screenshots of the Italian version and it uses the imperative form. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/6 "2017-08-15T10:09:02Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > Do you think that it would be possible that the verbs don’t use the imperative form because from a certain point of view the player is not giving commands to characters but he’s actually doing something else? Yes. But that makes no sense: For example you are not _executing_ the commands (by yourself), you give them the game or the computer(-program). So I can’t imagine a case where you actually _not_ have to use the imperative. > [@LowLevel](#): > > I’ve checked some screenshots of the Italian version and it uses the imperative form. AFAIR the Russian version did that. ---
**Author:** ![rarog4k](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/rarog4k/32/1359_2.png) [@rarog4k](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/rarog4k)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 10:11am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/7 "2017-08-15T10:11:00Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > That’s the question. 😉 “nehme” could be indicative or Konjunktiv I (= jussive mood). Btw, jussive mood always reminds me of > It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again > 😅 ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 11:46am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/8 "2017-08-15T11:46:11Z")
Thirded, I still don´t get it either. And I _still_ don´t get the reason for The King´s particular dialect in Zak. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/9 "2017-08-15T11:58:44Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > So I can’t imagine a case where you actually _not_ have to use the imperative. I have to correct myself. There is _one_ exception: If you (as the player) click on the chainsaw and “pull” it via drag and drop into the inventory, then _you_ have picked up the chainsaw. (\*) But in TWP that isn’t the case: In TWP you click on “pick up” and the “chainsaw”. Then you lean back and watch how Ray picks up the chainsaw. So you just give the command for it. (\*) Even that is not 100% correct, because the program/game adds the chainsaw for you into the inventory. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/10 "2017-08-15T12:06:52Z")
> [@milanfahrnholz](#): > > And I still don´t get the reason for The King´s particular dialect in Zak. Same here. I wish Boris were here and could answer these questions … ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 12:16pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/11 "2017-08-15T12:16:44Z")
Since it _somewhat_ sounds like a southwestern german dialect my two best guesses are: 1. Elvis was from the south, so the analogy is to give him a southern german dialect. 2. When Elvis was in the military in germany it was in the southwestern area so this dialect is the closest to what he would have spoken had he taken up the language. But those are just guesses. It would be still the first question I´d ask him, given the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![seguso](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/seguso/32/1232_2.png) [@seguso](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/seguso)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/12 "2017-08-15T12:26:28Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > wish Boris were here and could answer these questions … But he knows if he were here we’d make him confess all kinds of things, including killing JFK. ---
**Author:** ![rarog4k](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/rarog4k/32/1359_2.png) [@rarog4k](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/rarog4k)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/13 "2017-08-15T13:18:06Z")
> [@milanfahrnholz](#): > > Thirded, I still don´t get it either. > > And I _still_ don´t get the reason for The King´s particular dialect in Zak. I think this was just some awkward accent and was chosen to be awkward. You know the German dub of “Airplane!” aka “Die unglaubliche Reise in einem verrückten Flugzeug”? The two black guys speak some kind of ghetto slang in English. In German the dub gave them hardcore Bavarian accent. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TEkI0cH_rK4/maxresdefault.jpg "BAYRISCH eine unglaubliche reise in einem verrückten flugzeug") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEkI0cH_rK4) ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/14 "2017-08-15T14:04:03Z")
> [@seguso](#): > > But he knows if he were here we’d make him confess all kinds of things, including killing JFK. I play the bad cop, you the good one! ---
**Author:** ![ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/zakphoenixmckracken/32/41_2.png) [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/ZakPhoenixMcKracken)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/15 "2017-08-15T22:27:53Z")
> [@milanfahrnholz](#): > > And I still don´t get the reason for The King´s particular dialect in Zak Are you referring only to the german version of Zak? ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/16 "2017-08-15T22:55:35Z")
> [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](#): > > Are you referring only to the german version of Zak Yes, I don´t know the italian or any other version and the original is an obvious Elvis imitation. ---
**Author:** ![Caven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@Caven](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Caven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/17 "2017-08-16T02:09:18Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > But in TWP that isn’t the case: In TWP you click on “pick up” and the “chainsaw”. Then you lean back and watch how Ray picks up the chainsaw. So you just give the command for it. Care to describe that animation for me? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/18 "2017-08-16T02:17:07Z")
> [@Caven](#): > > Care to describe that animation for me? [Highly accurate dramatization](https://i.makeagif.com/media/7-21-2015/DQ_v9K.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Caven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@Caven](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Caven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 4:41am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/19 "2017-08-16T04:41:48Z")
> [@milanfahrnholz](#): > > > [@Caven](#): > > > > Care to describe that animation for me? > > [Highly accurate dramatization](https://i.makeagif.com/media/7-21-2015/DQ_v9K.gif) 😆 Seems legit! ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 4:48am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424/20 "2017-08-16T04:48:36Z")
In the Steam discussion that I mentioned somebody wrote that they used the Support thread in that forum to report what they perceived to be a bug. What about giving to them a link to the comments in which Boris stated that the translation was intentional, so that those players don’t treat the issue as a mistake and stop expecting the translation to be changed? It might “help” both them and the developers. [Next page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/twp-is-there-something-wrong-with-the-german-verb-interface/1424.md?page=2)