[game_edu] Language Neutral Games

[Allan Fowler]

Ok Brock, I'm going to bite:
 
If we accept that language is "the system of communication used by a particular community or country", then the term 'language neutral' is an oxymoron. 
 
If we accept this definition, then words, pictures, sounds, gestures, facial expressions, camera movement etc. are all 'languages'. 
 
As noted, there are games that do not use spoken language and there are games that do not use written language. There are also games that use minimal language that is generally understood by the community (usually in English). If the question is about these games, then it should be possible to get the author of the question a list.
 
Allan

 
From: brock.dubbels at gmail.com
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2015 12:36:26 -0600
To: ai864 at yahoo.com; game_edu at igda.org
Subject: Re: [game_edu] Language Neutral Games

there is no such things as language neutral -- discussBest regards,

Brock
------------------------------------

Brock R. Dubbels, PhD., Consumer Insights & User Experience Design
Dept. Psychology, Neuroscience, & Behavior
McMaster University
Canada: 905.577.2535; USA: 415.968.9072
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Games and Computer-Mediated SimulationsPublished Quarterly. Peer-Reviewed, Est. 2009.

On Thu, Nov 26, 2015 at 12:21 PM, Ian Schreiber via game_edu <game_edu at igda.org> wrote:
By "language neutral" I assume you mean games that use icons and pictures with a minimum of text?
I'd look in the literature on UI design, iconography, and semiotics.
And also look at language-independent games, of which there are many - not just board games, but also video games (think of how many retro arcade games, especially, had no text and minimal instructions; also look at games like Journey which have simple controls and no text throughout the experience).
I would also say to look at not just language-neutral but also culture-neutral (some icons and colors have drastically different meanings across cultures) but in this case it sounds like the target audience is all of a specific culture so that's less of a problem.
- Ian
        From: Mike Reddy <doctormikereddy at gmail.com>
 To: game_edu at igda.org 
 Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2015 3:51 AM
 Subject: [game_edu] Language Neutral Games
   
Hi all,

I have a student developing an educational game to teach primary school
children about Bulgarian history. He¹s identified the need for the game to
be accessible, through as language neutral an interface as possible;
children as young as 5-7 could be playing. However, in his own research he
has not found much information about language neutral design, apart from
the sources I gave him on board game design. Any suggestions?
--
Dr. Mike Reddy FRSA FHEA
Future Technology and Games | Technoleg y Dyfodol a Gemau
Engineering & Computing | Peirianneg a Chyfrifiadureg
University of South Wales | Prifysgol De Cymru,
CF37 1DL

Tel | Ffôn: 01443 482 596
Mob | Symudol: 07971 170 199
http://www.southwales.ac.uk



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