9

In the Clone Wars S03E04, Greedo speaks English Galactic Basic/Common. However, in "A New Hope", Greedo speaks... well, whatever he speaks, it's not English. What language is it, and also, does he manage to un-learn English in the next 20 years?

Mikasa
  • 7,630
  • 5
  • 41
  • 86

1 Answers1

15

Greedo is probably speaking Huttese in A New Hope. I say probably because there doesn't seem to be a canonical source that explicitly states the language in use.

Supporting, but not conclusive evidence for this:

  • several of Greedo's lines appear on the "Speaking Huttese" page at Wookieepedia
  • Wookieepedia also lists Huttese as one of the primary languages for Greedo's people, the Rodians. It cites the Galactic Phrase and Travel Guide for this information, which is a licensed work but not canon -- yet apparently explicitly states that Greedo's part of this conversation is Huttese.
  • he is currently in employ of a Hutt (Jabba), who is never seen speaking anything else.
  • other collaboratively-edited sites (such as IMDB) typically state it as Huttese in their quotes.

Detracting evidence:

  • the script simply lists "a foreign tongue", but this is one of only a few occurrences of non-English dialogue.
  • the novelisation makes out that they are both speaking the same language, or makes no mention of Greedo speaking something different.
  • Rodians didn't even have a name until after the film came out. It first appeared in an RPG supplement. Like a lot of other things to do with Star Wars, people have built up much around it that isn't necessarily supported by the original sources.

Anyway... That he chose to speak this language to Han can not be taken as evidence that he didn't know Galactic Basic at this time -- he knew Han would be able to understand, and was able to understand Han's responses to him. Particularly the blaster bolt.

Huttese is the second most common language in the galaxy. Choosing to address Han in this language has no disadvantage.

In his appearance in the Clone Wars TV series he is talking to people who are somewhat more removed from the criminal spheres in which knowing Huttese is expected. Talking to Chairman Papanoida in Basic is necessary here.

Plus, there's really no need to make us read in a cartoon, is there?

RedCaio
  • 35,482
  • 29
  • 153
  • 281
TZHX
  • 5,944
  • 6
  • 33
  • 49
  • 1
    How do you know he was speaking Huttese? – Valorum May 31 '15 at 18:37
  • 1
    It's widely called that, wookiepedia says its a very common tongue, but the script I can find only says "a foreign language". – TZHX May 31 '15 at 18:45
  • 3
    Yes, I know that. So where did this "widely" known knowledge come from? – Valorum May 31 '15 at 18:47
  • 1
    I assume you have the novelisation memorised. ;) does that give more to go on? – TZHX May 31 '15 at 18:54
  • 1
    Nope. In the Star Wars novelisation, he's speaking English. From what I've read, the scene was originally filmed in English as well. – Valorum May 31 '15 at 19:09
  • 1
    Example: http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026868/quotes, several of his lines appear in the wookiepedia article for Huttese. – TZHX May 31 '15 at 19:10
  • 1
    That's a wiki page. If I had more rep on IMDB I could change it to say that he was speaking Richardese. – Valorum May 31 '15 at 19:11
  • 1
    I don't believe you'd have issues getting rep anywhere (if you cared to), but I've tried to expand on my answer to justify my opinion. :) – TZHX May 31 '15 at 19:52
  • "Galactic Phrase and Travel Guide" is not a canon source of info – Valorum May 31 '15 at 20:36
  • 1
    @Richard fair enough. is that based on the whitewash of all EU stuff, or some other reason? – TZHX May 31 '15 at 20:49
  • Yes. All the supplementary materials are now non-canon, although I think most people would accept a word-of-god pronouncement on the subject from one of the film's writers/producers/directors/etc – Valorum May 31 '15 at 20:50
  • 1
    @Richard can you teach me Richardese? Maybe I could get more scifi cred in that language, lol. – JMFB May 31 '15 at 21:18
  • 1
    All kidding aside. I'm not sure how any of the Hutt references prove anything. The Hutt understand just about any language even though they speak their own. For example that little guy on his shoulder making screeching sounds, whatever language that is, Jabba understands it. – JMFB May 31 '15 at 21:20
  • 2
    "...a Hutt, who are never seen speaking anything else." Except Ziro in The Clone Wars, but I guess he'd kinda the black sheep of the family. – Michael Itzoe Jun 01 '15 at 13:53
  • 1
    @MichaelItzoe I must admit, I'm not a big follower of Clone Wars, so that didn't occur to me. :) – TZHX Jun 01 '15 at 13:55
  • So Jabba understands everything but he needs a translator becuase he refuses to speak basic out of pride? That explains a lot! – Mikasa Jun 01 '15 at 20:39