Can they go back to talking (read:having their language translated to English) English again? I get you wanted the Covenant to be “scary” or something in Halo 4 to show that we aren’t buddy buddy with the Covenant anymore, but they can still be scary and obviously enemies like they were in the first trilogy while keeping their English. How did technology go backwards, from the UNSC being able to translate it, to “Surprise, we Sangheili speak odd Japanese now!”
Yeah, I was kind of dissapointed in Halo 4 because the grunta didn’t scream “Deamon!” and stuff. But I think it had to do with them not being part of the standard military and being commanded by Jul 'Mdama.
‘Wort wort wort!’
That is all I need to hear.
But I would like to have the IWHBYD Skull actually do stuff again. I enjoy the Grunts’ sad attempt at insults with their squeaky, pitiful little voices…
I’d prefer they primarily spoke their native language and on occasion spout insults in English. Or if we see some Covenant/Human alliance have them speak English when communicating with human allies.
Add an option to toggle Covenant speech from English to Sangheili, or vice versa. That way, everybody’s happy; you can be an immersionist, or you can understand what kind of threats are being spat at you.
> ‘Wort wort wort!’
> That is all I need to hear.
>
> But I would like to have the IWHBYD Skull actually do stuff again. I enjoy the Grunts’ sad attempt at insults with their squeaky, pitiful little voices…
“Cover me, I’m going in!”
“I’m not going to cover you, it’s your fault Flipyap got killed.”
Who could forget such classics as:
“Well, this sucks, I’m going North!”
“I’ve found the sabateur! He’s eating a… a croissant. With a little bit of jambon.”
“I’m not chasing it, it looks ferocious.”
And perhaps the most beloved of all:
“Filthy heretic, unclean with the stupid!”
Solution: Make it where the IWHBYD skull makes them shout out insults and stuff in English. Either that or make an option in the Options Menu
Keep it to their Covenant tongue. English was just an immersion breaker in H2 and H3.
OR you could have the option to hear them in English but that might mean too much memory just dedicated to having two sets of dialogue options.
I think we can rest at peace knowing English is coming back 
> Can they go back to talking (read:having their language translated to English) English again? I get you wanted the Covenant to be “scary” or something in Halo 4 to show that we aren’t buddy buddy with the Covenant anymore, but they can still be scary and obviously enemies <mark>like they were in the first trilogy while keeping their English. How did technology go backwards, from the UNSC being able to translate it, to “Surprise, we Sangheili speak odd Japanese now!”</mark>
Elites did not speak English in Combat Evolved.
yes i definitely want to know what the covenant are saying especially the grunts.
Let them speak English again. It killed immersion in Halo 4. They didn’t explain how Chief couldn’t understand the Covenant yet he could understand and speak with the Forerunners just fine without the fans scrambling together grasping at straws like “the Covenant Storm have different accents than the original Covies, so that’s why Chief’s translator didn’t hear them,” or my favorite “the Forerunners are just so advanced that they know every language ever”.
> Yeah, <mark>I was kind of dissapointed in Halo 4 because the grunta didn’t scream “Deamon!”</mark> and stuff. But I think it had to do with them not being part of the standard military and being commanded by Jul 'Mdama.
The Grunts and Elites in Halo 4 both say “Demon” … it’s probably the only word in English they say next to “Glassman” & “Didact”.
> Let them speak English again. <mark>It killed immersion in Halo 4. They didn’t explain how Chief couldn’t understand the Covenant</mark> yet he could understand and speak with the Forerunners just fine without the fans scrambling together grasping at straws like <mark>“the Covenant Storm have different accents than the original Covies,</mark> so that’s why Chief’s translator didn’t hear them,” or my favorite “the Forerunners are just so advanced that they know every language ever”.
I thought it killed the immersion in Halo 3 when the Grunts would say “Merry Christmas” … I mean, they’re aliens. Although, it was funny.
And again, Chief could not understand the Elites in Combat Evolved. So it has nothing to do with the Covenant Remnant (“Storm” Covenant) or his translator. It’s an inconsistency that began when Bungie wanted to expand the story of the Covenant and incorporate Covenant characters … or, simply put, some know English, some do not. Or chose not to speak it. I mean, you fighting these things, not having tea with them. But in Halo 3, when you are having tea with them, they speak to you in English. Some are bilingual.
And in the books, some of the Elites & Grunts know English and some do not. Also, when Forerunner sentinels were discovered on Onyx, they deciphered English in a matter of minutes just from hearing Latin. So yeah, you’re right about ancient Forerunner advanced alien space magic.
So in the games, when you’re playing Combat Evolved, Reach, or Halo 4: those Elites don’t speak English because they don’t know it or have no need to speak it. In Halo Wars, and Halo 2 & 3, those Elites know English because they’re often communicating with Humans. That’s all. Simple.
> > Yeah, <mark>I was kind of dissapointed in Halo 4 because the grunta didn’t scream “Deamon!”</mark> and stuff. But I think it had to do with them not being part of the standard military and being commanded by Jul 'Mdama.
>
> The Grunts and Elites in Halo 4 both say “Demon” … it’s probably the only word in English they say next to “Glassman” & “Didact”.
Glad someone mentioned it. I thought I was crazy. 
Anyway, yeah. I really hope the English speaking Covenant come back. I feel like the Arbiter being voiced by Keith David in the MCC trailer is a good sign, but it could be a “just the Arbiter” kind of thing.
That, or as someone else said, make IWHBYD, in addition to making rare dialogue pop up, have the Covenant speak English (or whatever your local language is).
> > Yeah, <mark>I was kind of dissapointed in Halo 4 because the grunta didn’t scream “Deamon!”</mark> and stuff. But I think it had to do with them not being part of the standard military and being commanded by Jul 'Mdama.
>
> The Grunts and Elites in Halo 4 both say “Demon” … it’s probably the only word in English they say next to “Glassman” & “Didact”.
“I told you, I don’t speak Sangheili!”
“Grr… PROGRESS?”
Maybe 343 could do both, keep the integrity of the alien-like vibes from them but offer a skull like IWHBYD that translates everything to English or whatever respective language the player speaks.
I realize that would take more work but it would be a pretty fun experience to try both. Gives you another reason to play through the story.
just have them say both
its that simple
I liked them speaking English because it made the IWHBYD skull HILARIOUS. What the marines said just wasn’t as funny nor as frequent. Plus I liked knowing what they said, gave you more understanding of your enemy.
I guess it was designed to add more depth in the universe with different languages and all. I also think it tries to address a criticism Halo has been getting since it’s first game, being that it tries to take itself seriously, but has grunts flailing around yelling about the food nipple.
If they were to make actual languages for the Covenant, instead of nonsensical gibberish, then maybe I’d feel differently about them not speaking English. Maybe, but still probably not.
The Covenant speaking English helps gameplay first of all, in ODST when you heard a Brute shout “Toss a grenade!” you knew what was coming. Instead of you know, them going “Raggle Fraggle!” then you spontaneously combusting.
Second, it makes the game entertaining and memorable. Who can honestly say they don’t remember the brave sacrifice of Flipyap? Or the taunts of Elites, such as when they offer to give you a banana for coming out of cover.
Lastly, the Covenant speaking English doesn’t ruin immersion for me. It’s a video game, it’s not real life, I can tell that quite clearly. The goal is for me to kill all the aliens, so I will kill all the aliens. What language they speak isn’t going to effect my killing of them, so they may as well say something entertaining.