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Communication problems with non-English speakers
There must be an indicator next to a person's nickname if they can understand English or not (or any other official ZoS language). This is literally cursed and ruins all game experience. As a team we need to communicate with each other; this is not discrimination but necessity. I am literally sick of it. I am so angry right now thatswhy, I have hard time with choosing my words carefully.
Edited by ZOS_Icy on January 6, 2026 7:45PM 1
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valenwood_vegan wrote: »Or, branch out and learn some other languages.
Ok, when you learned romanian, russian, japanese, arabic etc. (all of them); I promise I will learn all of them, too. I try to use more plain english words like "NO HM" instead of "It is no hm guys." etc. I try to communicate with them but, they do not answer at all and do very bad things to the team. I ask them "if they can understand english" or "English?"; I got no response. What the hell should I do? I cannot read minds.
[snip]
[edited for baiting]Edited by ZOS_Icy on January 6, 2026 7:54PM7 -
valenwood_vegan✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭I don't really care what you do, it was a suggestion. Good luck with all that!7 -
KalevaLaine✭✭✭✭✭
✭Did not get the problem here.
Some people over here in Finland and Germany (especially 45+) can't speak english. I think there are many other, younger players who can't speak.
I play for 10 years now but never had a such bad experiences about missunderstandings.💜 シカバネ // PC EU (3600CP)
Fianna Rolaine - Templar Heal // Madena Rolaine - Necromancer Heal
Julienne Rolaine - Nightblade Heal // Mireli Telendas - Dragonknight Heal
From-Deepest-Ashes - Warden Heal // Rad Red Rubbish - Templar PVP Heal
Taarie Finwe - Arcanist Heal & DD // Elenwen Finwe - Sorcerer Heal & DD
Jora Strong-Heart - Dragonknight Tank // Gharol gra-Shargakh - Templar DD
Dro'marash - Nightblade Roleplay Thief // Freir Ice-Fist - Warden Roleplay Sorcerer
My YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShikabaneGaming6 -
KalevaLaine wrote: »Did not get the problem here.
Some people over here in Finland and Germany (especially 45+) can't speak english. I think there are many other, younger players who can't speak.
I play for 10 years now but never had a such bad experiences about missunderstandings.
Ok, next time try do HM pledges, then. It seem you don't do them. German and finnish people speak well enough for communication. Some people DO NOT EVEN GIVE RESPONSE. How am I supposed to communicate my group and share tactics, etc.? Especially if they are noobs?2 -
KalevaLaine✭✭✭✭✭
✭BloodRedHurricane wrote: »KalevaLaine wrote: »Did not get the problem here.
Some people over here in Finland and Germany (especially 45+) can't speak english. I think there are many other, younger players who can't speak.
I play for 10 years now but never had a such bad experiences about missunderstandings.
Ok, next time try do HM pledges, then. It seem you don't do them. German and finnish people speak well enough for communication. Some people DO NOT EVEN GIVE RESPONSE. How am I supposed to communicate my group and share tactics, etc.? Especially if they are noobs?
Yeah I play HMs, but mainly in guilds or with friends.Edited by KalevaLaine on January 6, 2026 5:06PM💜 シカバネ // PC EU (3600CP)
Fianna Rolaine - Templar Heal // Madena Rolaine - Necromancer Heal
Julienne Rolaine - Nightblade Heal // Mireli Telendas - Dragonknight Heal
From-Deepest-Ashes - Warden Heal // Rad Red Rubbish - Templar PVP Heal
Taarie Finwe - Arcanist Heal & DD // Elenwen Finwe - Sorcerer Heal & DD
Jora Strong-Heart - Dragonknight Tank // Gharol gra-Shargakh - Templar DD
Dro'marash - Nightblade Roleplay Thief // Freir Ice-Fist - Warden Roleplay Sorcerer
My YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShikabaneGaming2 -
scrappy1342✭✭✭✭✭this isn't going to change anything. a lot of ppl would probably select that they understand english just to avoid discrimination. a lot of ppl understand english perfectly well, but just don't use the chat box at all. if you want to do HM, you're probably better off putting a group together rather than chancing it with randomspcna9 -
Renato90085✭✭✭✭✭most pugs and new player never watch chat,I don't think it has anything to do with the native language...6 -
Hugie✭✭✭I could see an opt-in option to display what language(s) you're conversational in being handy for bridging communication gaps in-game. Knowing what language someone understands means being able to plug a message into the proper language on google translate, which would probably help mitigate some (though likely not all) of the frustrations that come from gaming with pugs across language barriers.Edited by Hugie on January 6, 2026 5:24PM2 -
Renato90085 wrote: »most pugs and new player never watch chat,I don't think it has anything to do with the native language...
This is also another main problem. Chat must-be-seen all of the time unless a player chooses to disable this function via settings. ESO has lots of opt-in and opt-out issues in settings. When I mean issues, I mean wrong choices.I could see an opt-in option to display what language(s) you're conversational in being handy for bridging communication gaps in-game. Knowing what language someone understands means being able to plug a message into the proper language on google translate, which would probably help mitigate some (though likely not all) of the frustrations that come from gaming with pugs across language barriers.
Cyrillic alphabet is troublesome. Sometimes I requested them to use latin characters at least. So I can write them to Google Translate.Edited by Vaelithra_Sundergale on January 6, 2026 5:26PM1 -
L_Nici✭✭✭✭✭
✭If someone does not reply to you, the chances are, they just don't want to talk to you, rather than not being able to.PC|EU13 -
3
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Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭You're presuming the problem is language. I've had hundreds of runs where people don't engage or speak, don't answer if they are on the quest, don't answer whether they want HM, only for the run to end and them say thanks for the run.PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!3 -
valenwood_vegan✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭I could see an opt-in option to display what language(s) you're conversational in being handy for bridging communication gaps in-game. Knowing what language someone understands means being able to plug a message into the proper language on google translate, which would probably help mitigate some (though likely not all) of the frustrations that come from gaming with pugs across language barriers.
I mean yeah it's an interesting suggestion when made without all the anger and the focus on speaking English. I can see some pros and cons, but as an optional thing it could be helpful in bridging communication gaps. Of course people might also just select English or another common language to avoid being left out of groups, or alternatively might find themselves left out for selecting an uncommon language.
In the end though, random strangers in random groups can't be forced to speak a certain language, or to play well, or even to communicate at all. For sure if someone spoke to me the way OP did, I wouldn't continue to communicate regardless of any language barrier.
Anyway, for more difficult content it's often best to run with friends and guildies where you're all on the same page.Edited by valenwood_vegan on January 6, 2026 5:34PM4 -
L_Nici✭✭✭✭✭
✭BloodRedHurricane wrote: »
Of course it is optional. I see no sign saying "Using the chat is mandatory for any random pledge, we do not care if you just want to play."PC|EU6 -
BloodRedHurricane wrote: »
Of course it is optional. I see no sign saying "Using the chat is mandatory for any random pledge, we do not care if you just want to play."
I wish you will go through same things again and again until you understand my point. Tragedy is the best teacher.3 -
L_Nici✭✭✭✭✭
✭BloodRedHurricane wrote: »BloodRedHurricane wrote: »
Of course it is optional. I see no sign saying "Using the chat is mandatory for any random pledge, we do not care if you just want to play."
I wish you will go through same things again and again until you understand my point. Tragedy is the best teacher.
I don't know about you, but I am totally able to do any content without using the chat. Sooo the problem is not me.PC|EU5 -
ZOS_IcymodGreetings,
We have recently removed some unnecessary back and forth from this thread. This is a reminder to keep the discussion civil and constructive. Please keep our Community Rules in mind moving forward.
The Elder Scrolls Online Team2 -
The thing is this is NOT A MORAL ISSUE but A TECHNICAL ISSUE. Do not change the course of discussion.2
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xR3ACTORx✭✭✭✭Greetings,
We have recently removed some unnecessary back and forth from this thread. This is a reminder to keep the discussion civil and constructive. Please keep our Community Rules in mind moving forward.
The Elder Scrolls Online Team
Thanks. That's alright.Edited by xR3ACTORx on January 6, 2026 6:01PM1 -
Ezhh✭✭✭✭✭
✭And what happens if the game flags who can speak English? What difference does it make? Will you ask that people who are not flagged as such are not allowed to queue with people who are? No matter how you look at it, it gets discriminatory pretty quickly.
Also you have to keep in mind that just because you say "no HM" it doesn't mean it's just your choice. There are four people in a group and you don't default to leader. The others might have queued specifically to try the HM. In all honestly, if you started all caps dictating to me how I play a dungeon I queued for, I'd probably ignore you too. I say this as someone who usually replies when people type to say hi or ask questions. But people who try to make demands and straight out tell me how to play are usually not people I want any talk with.11 -
And what happens if the game flags who can speak English? What difference does it make? Will you ask that people who are not flagged as such are not allowed to queue with people who are? No matter how you look at it, it gets discriminatory pretty quickly.
Also you have to keep in mind that just because you say "no HM" it doesn't mean it's just your choice. There are four people in a group and you don't default to leader. The others might have queued specifically to try the HM. In all honestly, if you started all caps dictating to me how I play a dungeon I queued for, I'd probably ignore you too. I say this as someone who usually replies when people type to say hi or ask questions. But people who try to make demands and straight out tell me how to play are usually not people I want any talk with.
If you judge a suggestion, you should consider giving a counter-proposal.0 -
Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭BloodRedHurricane wrote: »If you judge a suggestion, you should consider giving a counter-proposal.
Counter-Proposal #1: Group with people you know.
Counter-Proposal #2: If someone isn't replying in chat, and it's that big a deal for you, then leave the group.
Counter-Proposal #3: Google the translations for various languages of "No Hardmode" or "Yes Hardmode".
PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!9 -
BloodRedHurricane wrote: »If you judge a suggestion, you should consider giving a counter-proposal.
Counter-Proposal #1: Group with people you know.
Counter-Proposal #2: If someone isn't replying in chat, and it's that big a deal for you, then leave the group.
Counter-Proposal #3: Google the translations for various languages of "No Hardmode" or "Yes Hardmode".
Answer #1: Not always possible.
Answer #2: You can do this once or twice maybe; not more. And this is the exact problem. Also, there is that stupid penalty to prevent players to queue.
Answer #3: I always do it. But; if a person refuses to answer or answers in a alphabet a person cannot transliterate (such as; Cyrillic), then it is impossible to communicate. I can read Cyrillic though but; it is still a problem.0 -
L_Nici✭✭✭✭✭
✭BloodRedHurricane wrote: »And what happens if the game flags who can speak English? What difference does it make? Will you ask that people who are not flagged as such are not allowed to queue with people who are? No matter how you look at it, it gets discriminatory pretty quickly.
Also you have to keep in mind that just because you say "no HM" it doesn't mean it's just your choice. There are four people in a group and you don't default to leader. The others might have queued specifically to try the HM. In all honestly, if you started all caps dictating to me how I play a dungeon I queued for, I'd probably ignore you too. I say this as someone who usually replies when people type to say hi or ask questions. But people who try to make demands and straight out tell me how to play are usually not people I want any talk with.
If you judge a suggestion, you should consider giving a counter-proposal.
Your suggestion has not just been judged, the person did give you a reason, why it is a bad idea. A counter proposal is not even needed, as you want to add something, and we just want to keep it as is.Edited by L_Nici on January 6, 2026 6:41PMPC|EU4 -
Sarannah✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭Having played many MMO's, I can't say I have had many issues with languages between players. Sometimes I don't understand their languages, or they can't understand mine. But eventually it all works out.
There has only been one time when I had a language problem in ESO which I could not overcome, where I had to explain the first boss in Scalecaller Peak to three players who were typing non-english characters in chat. This did not work out. But that is literally only once in many thousands of dungeon runs.
Not sure how ZOS could add a tag to players with which languages they speak, or who should even have access to that information. Should random players be able to see that information? Should all players be able to see that information? Should only guild players be able to see this information? Should only the friendslist be able to see this information? Could this information be abused by third parties in-game(like targetting players for stealing personal information)?
PS: Personally I speak Dutch(native), English, German, and can generally often understand languages like Spanish and French.
PPS: Not being a native english speaker I often do not understand abbreviations or keep up with the 'new' online slang language speak.Edited by Sarannah on January 6, 2026 6:48PM3 -
Morvan✭✭✭✭✭
✭Tagging people as non-english speakers is not going to make you or them understand each other any better, the fact that you can't communicate with them is enough of an indicator.@MorvanClaude on PC/NA, don't try to trap me with lore subjects, it will work🦇6 -
Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭BloodRedHurricane wrote: »Answer #3: I always do it. But; if a person refuses to answer or answers in a alphabet a person cannot transliterate (such as; Cyrillic), then it is impossible to communicate. I can read Cyrillic though but; it is still a problem.
There is still a flaw in your premise. Not Answering =/= Not able to understand
PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!5
This discussion has been closed.