Well, according to
THIS, apparently I was wrong about it having to do with the technology, and it is more so just for the convenience of the player.
QuoteThe languages in their original form are heard in Halo: Combat Evolved. In Halo 2, their words are translated for the convenience of the player.
However still, I don't see how the Sangheili speaking their native language, and us not being capable of understanding them, is a bad thing. I love Halo BECAUSE of the Sangheili, hell, I lead an all-Elite XBL clan, and believe me, I would be very much pissed if Bungie portrayed them wrongly (I officially hated Halo: Legends after that piece-of-shit interpretation of the Sangheili, 'The Duel' came out)... but I feel that without their language being translated, it gives them more of that mystery Halo: CE originally had; that feeling of, "who are they" and "what are they saying?" IMO, the Sangheili were more "Elite" in Halo: CE, than they were in Halo 2 and 3. I mean sure, they definitely had more character built in them during the sequels, something that dragged me into the franchise, but they were supposed to be the "new good guys" you could say. Bungie has the right idea about resurrecting the idea of the original Elite, and now that the Sangheili are the main villains again, bringing back that feeling of fear and mystery that was eminent during Combat Evolved, is a good move.