...at least Tenzin seems to think so at one point in the game :D
as i got your attention now, here the views of a Nepali about the Authenticity of the game, i think this is pretty interesting:
Being a Nepali I just want to take a post to explain a few things in the game. Frankly I was astounded by how authentic this game is.
1. It really, really looks like Nepal. Although they never mention the name of the city, one can draw the conclusion that it is Kathmandu.One thing you should know is that buildings in Nepal are all made of brick, just as in the game. VEry little wood is used in buildings, and never as sideing. I was shocked when I first came to USA and saw wooden buildings.
2. Propane tanks everywhere? Yes, we actually do have propane tanks everywhere, all over the streets, in houses, everywhere. We use gas to cook, and although it may seem like a very convenient video game ploy to get explosions, that is actually very authentic. Most houses have at least two tanks, they are bigger than the ones shown in the game, but hey.
3. Shangri La hotel, yes it is a real hotel in Kathmandu. However I should mention that the tallest Nepali buildings are like 7 stories high, not quite what you see in the game.
4. Because I am a Sherpa I speak tibetan, and that is the language spoken by Tenzin and the villagers. Not Nepali, It was so much fun hearing people speak tibetan because I hadnt heard it in so long. Tenzin even calls drake a useless idiot at one point, which had my sides splitting.
5. Street signs, all real authentic sanskrit script advertising food, bars, etc.
Now a few negative points
1.Train? Nope sorry. Only one train in nepal and it does not go through the mountains, or anything like what is shown in the game.
2.Nepalis? Despite taking place in Nepal where are all the Nepalis? The city is empty except for mercs?
3. Hindu relics in Buddhist temples? Hindu symbols and hindu Gods carved into the walls of Buddhist temples? Of course harldy anyone will notice, and no one will care, but this is an error.
and here some Translations:
"its not so much work. But you are all pretty much right, they say exactly what you think they are saying most of the time. Like at the beginning of "Where am I"if you walk through the guys garden he says "your walking in my garden!" Other people say things like "Is that the guy Tenzin brought?" and "I hope you feel better". However alot of dialouge between Tenzin and Drake in theice caves is pretty interesting. when you first find the dead wolves Tenzin says something along the lines of "this is bad" which he repeats several times and attributes the killing to (Exact words) "Some weird ghost.."
Anyway, I will get to a more detailed translation later, but yes everyone is right most of the dialouge is exactly like what you would expect. When greeting the villagers they usually say "Tashi Delek" which is just a greeting (hello), nothing much to talk about."
"What follows is Tenzin's dialogue in his opening cutscene. For the unobservant, Pema is the name ofTenzin's daughter.
Drake: How did I get here?
Tenzin: Pema, Give himsome space, go to Schafer's, he's our friend. (referring to Drake not Schafer)
Tenzin: Slowly, don't hurry
Tenzin: You are very lucky
Drake: How long have I been out?
Tenzin Take it drink, drink.
Drake: Thanks
Tenzin: Drink this, drink this.
Drake: No no thats plenty
Tenzin: Your friend has been waiting, can you get up?
Drake: Im sorry I dont understand
Tenzin: Get up Get up
Drake: thanks
Tenzin: Are you feeling ok?
Tenzin: Take this, come Schafer has been waiting for you. (hands drake a coat and hat)
Tenzin: Hes been waiting to talk to you.
Drake:Where the hell am I?
Tenzin: Come come with me."
"The very brief conversation at the end of the game between Drake and Tenzin. (Spoilers)
Tenzin is saying a prayer "om mani padme hum" the sameprayer that is written across the giant prayer wheels that you have to spin and put in correct order several times during the game. You will notice tenzin is also spinning a small prayer wheel.
Tenzin says "Schafer would have loved you" but I think it is more to the effect of "Schafer would be proud of you"
And Drake says, Thank you In Tibetan."
Edit: Update on the Useless Part :D
As for Tenzin calling Drake a useless idiot, I swear it was in the ice caverns on my first playthrough. Before fighting the guardian. I think there may be somthing specific that you have to do to get him to say it. I will play through a few more times and see what I find.
If anyone wants to look for it, it sounds like this. "Kukpa Chyomeghyo"
And Here some more Updates:
they are all taken from the Source i linked, credit goes to user uRmeyda! Great Work!
As Tenzin approaches the rope he says
"This will be useful."
"We will use this to go there." (across the chasm)
As he waits on the other side he says
"Come no need to be scared"
as he approaches the ladder he says
"And come from here"
before squeezing through the crack Tenzin says
"Oh we have to go through here, it looks hard."
In the meantime he says things like
"we need to find our frind (Schafer's) camp"
"Come"
After finding the body he says "He must be Schafer's man."
"Look at this"
As the ground collapses
"Lets run"
As he catches his breath on the other side.
"we Got into a trouble"
When drake offers to boost tenzin up
"I don't need. Infact I will give you a boost. Yes I will"
When he catches drake
"Nothing happened. I am here."
After hearing the monster's growl drake asks what was that? and Tenzin replies
"I don't know"
"Its scary"
Upon finding the dead wolves
"I don't know"
"The way the animal is killed, its deadly"
"Its not good"
"What is that?" (noise)
"That's not good"
"This place might have a ghost"
when the monster attacks
"Help me"
After defeating the monster.
"I told you, there was a weird ghost"
After getting a boost and before dropping the box down
"Watch out"
then when they get seperated
"Ok I will go from here"
When drakes yells to pull the lever
"Ok"
Catches drake again
"I got you come up"
while the floors drop behind them
"Fast faster run fast"
Upon finding the rest of Schafer's crew.
"Come here"
"Look at this?"
"What's this?"
"I didn't understand you?"
When drake explains about the Nazi's
"I don't like them" (nazis)
When drake tells him schafer killed them
"What?"
"No no"
“It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grams a week. And only yesterday, he reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it.”
- George Orwell, ‘1984’
