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Klingon (tlhIngan Hol)

Klingon is the language spoken by Klingons, alien characters in the Star Trek films and TV series. In the 1984 film, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , the director, Leonard Nimoy, and the writer-producer, Harve Bennett, wanted the Klingons to speak a real-sounding language rather than gibberish, so they commissioned the linguist Marc Okrand to create Klingon.

Okrand based the language partly on Klingon phrases made up by James Doohan (Scotty) for the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture , and developed a grammar and more extensive vocabulary. Aspects of Klingon language and culture were further developed for the 1987 series, Star Trek: The Next Generation and later series.

To make Klingon sound alien consonants and combinations of consonants, particularly retroflex, velar and uvular ones, uncommon in natural languages are used, such as /q͡χ/.

There is a Klingon dictionary and a number of Klingon courses, and Klingon versions of two Shakespeare plays: Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing ( paghmo' tIn mIS ), and also of Gilgamesh ( ghIlghameS ) and the Tao Te Ching ( pIn'a' qan paQDI'norgh ). A journal entitled HolQeD (Klingon for linguistics), which contains articles on Klingon linguistics, language and culture, is published by the Klingon Language Institute (KLI). The KLI also publishes jatmey ("scattered tongues"), a magazine featuring poetry and fiction in and about Klingon, as well as running an annual conference or qep'a ("great meeting").

There are a small number of people able to converse in Klingon, and maybe several hundred others who have some knowledge of the language.

Klingon alphabet ( tlhIngan pIqaD )

The Astra Image Corporation designed letters to represent Klingon writing for Star Trek: The Motion Picture and based them on symbols created by Matt Jefferies which appear on the Klingon battlecruiser in the film, and also on the Tibetan script. Random Klingon letters are used in the Star Trek films and TV series for effect, and Klingon enthusiasts have devised a way of writing Klingon with them, though Klingon is generally written with the Latin alphabet.

Hear the sounds of Klingon

A recording of the Klingon numbers by Jan Jurčík

Download an alphabet chart for Klingon (Excel)

Sample text in Klingon

tlhIngan Hol yejHaD jInmol chu' 'oH Qo'noS QonoS'e'. tlhIngan Hol jatlhwI'pu'vaD wIcherpu'. naDev vuDmey Daj lutmey Sagh je DalaDlaH, 'ach tlhIngan Hol DayajnIS. Hoch jar chovnatlh chu' wImuch. yIlaD. yIqeq. tugh bIpo'choH.

Translation

The Kronos Chronicle is a new project of the Klingon Language Institute, intended for Klingon speakers. Here you can read interesting opinons and articles, but only if you can understand Klingon. Each month we will have a new issue for you to read and practice your skill.

Source: http://klingonska.org/qq/

Sample text in Klingon in pIqaD

Transliteration.

noH QapmeH wo' Qaw'lu'chugh yay chavbe'lu', 'ej wo' choqmeH may' DoHlu'chugh lujbe'lu'

Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory, and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat.

From: The Klingon Way in pIqaD and Wikiquote

Sample videos in and about Klingon

Information about Klingon | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of babel | Learning materials

Information about Klingon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klingon_language http://www.slate.com/id/2217815/ http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2009/05/22 http://www.kli.org/tlh/pIqaD.html http://www.klingonwiki.net/ http://klingonska.org/piqad/

Learn Klingon http://www.qephom.de/e/klingon.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucO3heC-Ztw

Daily Klingon podcast (DaHjaj Hol) http://www.lawrencemschoen.com/category/podcasts/

Klingon dictionaries http://klingonska.org/dict/ http://www.movies-dictionary.org/English-to-Klingon-Dictionary/ https://sites.google.com/a/klingonword.org/klv/klingon-translator-and-dictionary

Klingon fonts http://www.evertype.com/fonts/tlh/ http://www.kasper-online.de/en/docs/startrek/klingon.htm http://www.eatoni.com/wiki/index.php/Klingon https://fontlibrary.org/en/font/horta

Klingon dictionary for the iPhone http://www.ultralingua.com/en/klingon.html

Klingon Language Institute http://www.kli.org

HolQeD: The Journal of the KLI http://www.kli.org/study/HolQeD.html

jatmey - The Literary Supplement of the KLI http://www.kli.org/study/jatmey.html

Klingonska Akademien (in Swedish and English) http://www.klingonska.org

Klingon Imperial Diplomatic Corps http://www.klingon.org

Deutsch Welle Klingon language pages (in Klingon, German and English) http://klingon.dw-world.de/klingon/

Videos of Marc Okrand explaining how he invented Klingon http://www.youtube.com

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The Made-Up Language That Accidentally Became Real: The Story of Klingon

How a professional linguist transformed some gibberish into a constructed language.

My real job, the one that really paid the bills, was closed captioning. The first program we did live was the Oscars, 1982. They flew me out to L.A., and I was having lunch with a friend who worked at Paramount. She and I go out to lunch, and the fact that I was a linguist came up—I have a PhD in linguistics. They wanted a linguist to come and make up gobbledygook that matches the lip movements. And I said, “I can do that!”

Examples of journals sold by the Klingon Language Institute; the institute also offers translations of well-known books in the language.

The language eventually grew much larger than the property for which it was developed

“When I wrote the dictionary, I thought people would put it on their coffee table and reference it for fun, but a few years later, I found out they were dissecting and analyzing it. And thanks to the Internet, people were meeting on message boards to talk in Klingon.”

The Klingon Dictionary, because of course. Image: Bookshop

Dedicated speakers and technology helped the Klingon language transcend pop culture

“Speaking Klingon is a great way to make new friends.”

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Klingon 101: Learn the Language of Star Trek’s Intergalactic Warriors

Spanning 55 years, multiple TV show spinoffs, and 13 feature films , the Star Trek franchise is one of the most iconic pop culture centrepieces of the past half century. Imagine going to a Comic Con or fan convention without rubbing elbows (or bat’leths) with a full fleet of devout Star Trek fanatics – or as they’re much more lovingly referred to, “Trekkies”. 

The popularity of Star Trek shows and movies have seen their ebbs and flows, but there is no denying their impact on the cult comic and pop-culture landscape. Seeing a resurgence in recent years as the franchise was regularly referenced on the former No. 1 sitcom on the planet, The Big Bang Theory , Trekkies and Star Trek fandom as a whole are once again on the rise.

More specifically, the famous foursome of nerds consisting of Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, and Howard regularly spoke in the dialect of the Klingon Empire during Big Bang’s impressive run of dominating the airwaves for 12 seasons. Can you get any more Trekkie than speaking in this energetic and expressive language of warriors? GHOBE! 

That’s where Cudoo comes in. With our online Klingon language course , anyone can learn the language of the Klingon Empire! 

Created as a made-up language for the film Star Trek III: The Search For Spock in 1984 by American linguist Marc Okrand, Klingon has grown into one of the more famous sci-fi-related languages in the history of space and sci-fi film and TV.

Originally on the show, Klingon characters used guttural sounds or even plain English before Okrand developed the full-fledged language that expanded to a dictionary of over 5,000 words. Warp speed  your Klingon journey today and mind meld with an exclusive club of Trekkies who can converse in their favourite shows’ own language. 

With lifetime access to the 20-lesson course you can stay brushed up on your Klingon all year long, or just in time for your next convention, whatever is easiest for you! With Cudoo’s online Klingon course you learn to:

• Introduce yourself and others 
• Talk about colors 
• Use numbers 1-20
• Use the days of the week
• Use simple Klingon greetings
• Talk about different professions
• Talk about what countries you’ve lived in or travelled to
• Tell the time
• Give your phone number
• Talk about food and drinks 

We’ve helped hundreds of Trekkies across the galaxy learn the Klingon language and we’re excited to have you join the fleet. 

Don’t hit up your next Comic Con without having at least a few basics of Klingon ready. We’ll help you nail down the keys to carrying Klingon conversations and share some of the top phrases that will make you a hit at any of your next Klingon get-togethers.

In the wise words of Starfleet Officer Worf, “I am Klingon. If you doubt it, a demonstration can be arranged.” Demonstrate your love for your favourite movie series and TV show and sign up for the course today! 

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Star Trek: The Klingon Language, Explained

The fascinating story of actors and linguists that tells how Star Trek created the first Qapla'!

Since its creation, Star Trek has grown immensely, with each addition to the largely successful franchise adding more depth to the universe. Gene Roddenberry, the franchise's creator, wanted to craft something special, a utopian vision of the future which stories would act as sci-fi allegory for current issues . To create such a believable world, Roddenberry and his team of writers added a ridiculous amount of depth to their universe. They invented a dizzying array of alien races and cultures, and perhaps most impressively, developed and fleshed out an entire Klingon language.

The Klingons have been a steady part of Star Trek right from the beginning , starting out as the main antagonists in The Original Series and progressing to tentative friends in series to follow. Roddenberry took a leaf out of Tolkien's book , and created the Klingon language to flesh out the culture. In doing so, he was able to add a depth of realism to his fictional race that’s not often seen even today ( with a few exceptions ). Instead of a bare-bones array of random sounds, the language has its own vocabulary and grammar, even its own regional dialects. The language was not always present in its fullest form, and developed slowly alongside the show. The first Klingons during the main TV series simply spoke in English, with the audience first hearing their guttural tones during the Star Trek: The Motion Picture film in 1979.

RELATED: The Last Of Us Could The Project That Breaks The Video Game Adaptation Curse

Even at this point, the language was not fully formed. Instead of a fully-formed fictional vocabulary, the actors who played the Klingons were simply making earthy and angry sounding noises and grunts. It was paired alongside subtitles, but the noises themselves were still random at this point. It was only after two more films came out that the show's creators hired Dr. Marc Okrand, a linguist, to help create a structured and well-thought-out language — called a "conlang" (constructed language) in the field of linguistics. The goal was to build something that sounded like it has existed for eons and developed naturally.

There are a few unfortunate side effects of not being able to hire actual aliens to play fictional aliens, for obvious reasons. One is that not most alien races forced to look humanoid , but another lies in the fact that the exceptionally human actors have to be able to pronounce alien words in convincing and fluid way. Okrand was tasked with creating this alien language, with all its complications and nuances, so that it would convincingly sound otherworldly, but could still be spoken by human actors. Not only this, but it had to also sound believably similar to the random noised created by the actors who had set a precedent in the Star Trek: The Motion Picture film years earlier. No pressure, of course.

Potentially due to these strange confines, Klingon is not based on any particular existing language, like many fictional conlangs are. Rather, Okrand took the fundamentals of how language works and constructed a completely new one. He was very hands-on and acted as a vocal coach for the crew, which allowed him to fluidly adapt and change his langauge depending on various mispronunciations and actor variations. Like all languages, the speech of the Klingons evolved from theory to practice, and took on a personality of its own. From all this, not only did Okrand help create a convincing language for screen, but published the 1985 book The Klingon Dictionary, which sold over 300,000 copies.

While seen for many as a die-hard fan collectable , this book was also a fantastic examination and example of how it was possible to create an entirely new language. Klingon became so advanced that people now are able to learn and use it as a functioning language, with a few people using it to communicate just like any other, more commonly used language. When the internet took the world by storm, those who had learnt Klingon came together and communicated across the web, and in 1992 the Klingon Language Institute was formed. The brain child of Dr. Lawrence Shoen, the KLI hold annual conferences, provides teaching and certification, and more, importantly a community for people who share a love for Klingon (known as Klingonists).

The Klingon language seeped its way into popular culture, being referenced in various non Star Trek related media. There have been various publications printed in Klingon, including classics such as Gilgamesh and Hamlet , as but also the opera "u" ( a different kind of space opera ), which was written and performed in Klingon. There was even a Klingon version A Christmas Carol stage play that was played across America for a staggering 7 years. All of this has stemmed from a fictional language created to add depth and realism to a race of forehead ridged, angry aliens — proving that the cultural impact of Star Trek stretches further than we can possibly imagine.

MORE: How Star Trek: The Next Generation Explored Blindness & Accessibility With Geordi LaForge

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18 Klingon Phrases That’ll Save Your Life One Day

Long ago, as the crew of the Enterprise explored the final frontier, one man boldly did what few—if any—actors had ever done before: construct a language from scratch. But while James Doohan (Scotty) may have invented a form of Klingon on the set of Star Trek: The Motion Picture , the real credit for its enduring legacy goes to linguist Marc Okrand, who started developing Klingon for Trek films in 1984, bringing constructed languages ("conlangs") to generations of new enthusiasts, from Trekkers to Dune fans to Na'vi admirers.

People constructed languages before Klingon: J.R.R. Tolkien created Quenya in 1915, later used in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings ; Edgar Rice Burroughs invented Barsoomian in 1912 for A Princess of Mars ; St. Hildegard of Bingen fashioned the Lingua Ignota in 1200, crediting some angels for divine inspiration. But as part of a TV show beloved by millions of viewers, Okrand's Klingon brought conlangs to the popular lexicon.

Much of Klingon's appeal comes from its lexical novelty. According to Joey Windsor, a linguistics doctoral student at University of Calgary, Okrand designed Klingon against the conventions of human language: It’s meant to sound alien. The sentence structure in Klingon is object-subject-verb, which is the least common construction among all 7,000 human languages; it includes unusual sounds like the trilled "r" (think Willy from The Simpsons ) and the guttural "h" (say “Bach,” with force). "He broke every one of those tendencies, but stopped just shy of the language becoming unpronounceable and unlearnable," says Windsor. "I would describe Klingon as a barely natural human language."

As the first constructed language widely portrayed on-screen, Klingon faced an additional hurdle: unlike the Elvish dialects in the Lord of the Rings novels, characters had to actually speak it. So Okrand developed a language both grammatically alien and actor-friendly. "It's a really choppy language," says Windsor. That's helpful for any actors who may not yet be fluent in Klingon—it allows them to simply memorize syllables, rather than long phrases.

Of course, Klingon was ultimately designed for the fans. For first-time viewers, fluent speakers, and those in between, the elaborate dialogue brings them into the world of the Trek —something not all fictional languages pull off. When done haphazardly, invented languages can alienate an astute audience. (Remember when Leia negotiated for Chewbacca’s life in Jabba’s court using the same few sounds over and over again?) But when done well, conlangs make the fictional world seem far more real.

In that regard, Klingon is the standard-bearer—and countless others have followed. But its most diehard speakers are still Trek fans, who—like Windsor—have given the language a life beyond the screen. Since he first got hooked while watching the pilot of Star Trek: The Next Generation , Windsor has given linguistics lectures on Klingon, created four languages himself (which he uses in Dungeons & Dragons), and built up quite the vocabulary of Klingon phrases. To help celebrate this week's 50th anniversary of Star Trek , WIRED asked Windsor to put together a primer on the language. Whether you're meeting a Klingon for a beer, in need of a grave insult, or begging for your life, this guide has you covered. (And here's an International Phonetic Association pronunciation chart, just in case you need help telling a velar fricative from a glottal plosive.)

__Pronounced: __ˈqhuʂ.ɖɑq ˈbɑʔ luʔ.ˈʔɑʔ Usage: When you’re sitting down to negotiations with a Klingon, it’s probably best to proceed with caution—although your polite question may betray your humanoid tendencies.

__Pronounced: __d͡ʒɪ.ˈd͡ʒɑt͡ɬ Usage: As a greeting. "A Klingon will not waste time on trivial pleasantries," notes Windsor. Why say "hello" when you can issue an order, instead?

__Pronounced: __ˈphɛʔ.vɪl ˈmuʔ.qhɑɖ.mɛj Usage: Instead of “all the best” or “have a nice day,” let your parting words say what you really mean.

__Pronounced: __nuqʰ.ˈɖɑqʰ ʔox pʰut͡ʃ.ˈpʰɑʔ.ˈʔɛʔ Usage: Helpful if you forget which door is which on the battlecruiser.

__Pronounced: __nuqh.ˈɖɑqh ʔox tʰɑt͡ʃ.ˈʔɛʔ Best Use Case Scenario: This one is obvious. But be prepared for an answer that will lead to either Bloodwine or the taste of defeat.

Pronounced: thɛ.ˈrɑʔ.ŋɑn ʂod͡ʒ lu.d͡ʒɑb.ˈʔɑʔ Best Use Case Scenario: If the idea of serpent worms turns your stomach, it's worth asking if your dining companion is taking you to a Klingon joint.

Pronounced: qhutʰ nɑʔ xɪ.ˈnob Best Use Case Scenario: Those salt crystals may be acceptable on human food, but Klingon gastronomes insist on eating gagh raw (and live).

Pronounced: qʰɑɣ ʂopʰ.ˈbɛʔ Usage: A way for one Klingon to call another a coward.

Pronounced: xɪ.ˈd͡ʒɑ/ɣo.ˈbɛʔ Usage: As in, "Yes, I surrender."

Pronounced: ˈɖot͡ʃ.vet͡ɬ vɪ.ˈnɛx Usage: Klingons aren’t known for their diplomacy, or their manners—get straight to the point.

Pronounced: xɑb ʂoʂ.ˈlɪʔ q͡χut͡ʃ Usage: As any Trekkie knows, this is a serious insult.

Pronounced: nuqʰ.ˈd͡ʒɑt͡ɬ Usage: If you need to buy a few minutes to come up with an escape plan, feign hard-of-hearing.

Pronounced: d͡ʒɑɣ yɪ.ˈbuʂ.tʰɑx Usage: Klingon does have words for “sorry” and “surrender,” but according to Windsor, “no Klingon would use them, and you would lose all honor if you did.” Try this distraction tactic instead.

Pronounced: ˈxɛɣ.luʔ.mɛx q͡χɑq͡χ ˈd͡ʒɑd͡ʒ.vɑm Usage: If you hear this, let’s hope the Klingon uttering it is going into battle for you, not against you.

Pronounced: ˈqʰɑʂ.tʰɑx nuqʰ d͡ʒɑjʔ Usage: If you’re averse to cursing (Klingons aren’t), leave off the jay’ at the end.

Pronounced: woʔ ˈbɑt͡ɬ.vɑɖ Usage: Uh, we’re all on the same team, guys.

Pronounced: ˈt͡ɬɪ.ŋɑn mɑx Usage: A common Klingon victory chant.

Pronounced: q͡χɑpʰ.ˈlɑʔ Usage: To be exclaimed victoriously after your first full conversation with a Klingon. And, hopefully, your escape.

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The written language on a wall in Kukulkan's city

A language was a form of communication developed by lifeforms necessary to collaborate within a society . All intelligent lifeforms have developed some kind of language, usually multiple forms. The study of language was known as linguistics , and the study of alien languages exolinguistics .

A word was a basic unit of language that held meaning . Multiple words could be used to form a sentence . For languages which used an alphabet , words were made out of a sequence of letters .

Languages came in spoken, written , and gestural forms. In most cultures , gestural languages developed first, before written or oral. One exception were the Leyrons . ( TNG : " Loud As A Whisper ")

Languages were almost always unique to the culture, and one was required to translate a language. More advanced cultures developed universal translators able to surmount the language barrier between different groups, allowing interstellar society to exist. These universal translators were programmed with hundreds of languages. They were not always successful, however. ( ENT : " Breaking the Ice ", " Vox Sola "; DS9 : " Sanctuary ")

Often, when attempting to communicate with an unknown race , several languages were broadcast in an attempt to find one that might be understood by the hearer. ( TOS : " Spock's Brain ")

Children often found new languages easier to learn than adults did. ( TNG : " Dark Page ")

As the first Kelpien in Starfleet , Saru was eager to be the best example of his race, and learned ninety four different Federation languages. ( DIS : " New Eden ")

In 2268 , the Medusan Ambassador Kollos , newly able to comprehend humanoid existence through Spock , expressed his wonder at the concept of language. He noted that while people depended on it for many things, none had yet achieved mastery of it. ( TOS : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ")

According to Nyota Uhura in 2269 , Humans in the 23rd century learned not to fear words. ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain ")

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Published Nov 14, 2011

Qapla' -- Klingon Language Creator Marc Okrand, Part 2

Yesterday, in part one of our interview with Marc Okrand , the veteran linguist told us how he came to create the Klingon language and described his involvement in several of the TOS features. Today, in the second half of our conversation, Okrand talks about his experiences on TNG and the subsequent Trek series, as well as on Star Trek (2009) . He also brings us up to date on what he's doing these days -- and, yes, much of it involves Star Trek . What did Gene Roddenberry ever say to you about your work and how it complemented his creation? Okrand: I met Gene Roddenberry a couple of times. He thanked me for my contribution to the films and, by that time, TNG . I remember thinking that the thanking should go the other way – I should thank him for his contribution. How different a challenge was TNG ? Okrand: I wasn’t involved at all during the first season of TNG .  There is at least one episode with spoken Klingon from that first year. I guess the writer made up whatever it was they said. I got involved during the second season, which was being filmed, in part, while Star Trek V was being filmed, so at lunch time you’d see a mix of 20th, 23rd, and 24th century people wandering over to the cafeteria. The TNG people were working on an episode that involved Klingons and wanted a Klingon line or two. They had a copy of the dictionary, but couldn’t find what they needed. They heard that I was on the lot for Star Trek V , so they asked me to come by. I met with them and gave them the lines they needed, and I was consulted for a few more episodes. I didn’t work directly with any of the actors. Later on, most of the Klingon heard in TNG was devised by the writers, some of whom followed the dictionary very closely, some not so much. But any Klingon spoken during TNG counts as legitimate Klingon, whether I made it up or not, and I’ve incorporated all of it into the language. What, if anything, did you do for DS9 , Voyager and Enterprise ? Okrand: DS9 and Voyager mostly worked like TNG – that is, the writers created the Klingon dialogue, sometimes based on the dictionary, sometimes not. I got involved towards the end of Enterprise , providing some Klingon dialogue and helping with some Vulcan as well – and then the show was canceled. How were you approached to consult on Star Trek (2009) , and what was that experience like for you? Okrand: I received a call from the Star Trek office asking if I’d be willing to help out with the film. I was asked to come up with a few lines of dialogue in four languages – Klingon, Vulcan, Romulan, and a new language for a new kind of alien. The scenes with Klingon and the new language were cut out of the film relatively early on. For Vulcan, I built on what I had done for Star Trek II and Star Trek III and Enterprise . I had never done anything with Romulan before, but since Romulans and Vulcans are related, I made the Romulan language one that could be related to Vulcan – not closely, but in certain patterned ways. The two languages are heard mostly in the background as opposed to being spoken by main characters. I didn’t work with any of the actors in this film. I was given a script with the lines that needed translation -- I never had a copy of the full script -- and wrote out transcripts and made mp3 recordings for the actors and dialogue coach to use. I was on the set one time – but not to work. I happened to be in LA and went by to meet some of the people I had been dealing with via phone and email. Will you be involved in the sequel and, if so, when do you start work? Okrand: I know very little about the sequel. We’ll see what, if anything, happens. You've written books about Klingon, even a libretto, and more. How amazed have you been by how this fictional language has, in essence, become real? Okrand: When Harve Bennett and I first talked about Klingon for Star Trek III , we both agreed that in order to make is sound real, it had to be real. That’s why I worked up a phonological system and grammar and so on rather than just have cool-sounding gobbledygook. I wrote The Klingon Dictionary hoping that people would like it, of course, but I honestly expected that people would look at it, try to say a few words – maybe memorize one or two – and that would be it. I never imagined that people would study it so seriously – analyze everything – and learn to speak it so well they could actually carry on conversations and translate works of literature. But that’s what’s happened. I’ve come to know and have become friends with a lot of the really good speakers over the years, so I’m no longer surprised when they speak, but when I hear people I’ve never met before – especially in places I’ve never been before or on YouTube or something – speaking the language, it’s still an odd sensation. Although people still turn to me for new words and for grammatical refereeing, the language has taken on a life of its own. Even people who don’t know a single word know there’s such a language and make jokes about it – when someone coughs, someone else says, “Are you speaking Klingon?” In what other ways/venues would you LIKE to see Klingon utilized? Okrand: That’s hard to answer because Klingon seems to be popping up everywhere already. You can set the default language for Google or Facebook to be Klingon, there’s a cave in Australia that offers recorded tours in Klingon, there’s the opera that was presented in The Netherlands and Germany last year, and it’s been incorporated as a plot device in non- Trek novels and TV shows and movies. All sorts of works of literature, from Shakespeare to Lao Tzu, are available in Klingon. Where to go next? I guess it would be cool if NASA were to adopt it for something as a true symbol of the merger of art and science. How often do people approach you, wanting to converse in Klingon? Okrand: Other than at Star Trek conventions or the like, I don’t think this has ever happened. But at a Klingon or Star Trek venue, people have come up and said things to me – not so much to engage in conversation as to just say hello. I generally don’t engage in Klingon conversation – mainly because if I make a mistake -- and I’ve made plenty – there’s even a page on the web with a list of them -- it becomes part of the language just because I said it, and then I’ve loused everything up. Another be-honest question... How much of a rock star are you among your linguist friends and colleagues? Okrand: At first, I didn’t know what the reaction of linguists --meaning, mainly, those in academia -- would think. I was at a meeting of linguists shortly after the book came out and a professor from UCLA approached me and asked if I was the person who wrote The Klingon Dictionary . I said yes, and she said she had something important to tell me. I thought I was about to hear how Klingon was somehow sullying the discipline or something like that. She said, “I want you to know how great it is that you can buy a real linguistics book at an airport.”  And that was a precursor of what happened – Klingon has been incorporated into college classes, into textbooks. It’s become a way to get people interested in the field. I don’t know if I’m a rock star, but a number of years ago I met the then-editor of Language, the journal published by the Linguistic Society of America. He was a very well-known and respected scholar. When he was introduced to me, he said, “Oh – the famous linguist.” What are you working on these days? Okrand: Right now, I’m in a bit of a lull, having just finished three major projects: a language-learning CD which has lots of new words, all referring to everyday Earth things, the Klingon version of Monopoly , and a book containing an expanded version of the libretto of the opera. Oh – and I just helped some friends with some appropriate things to say at their wedding. And before we let you go: what's your favorite Klingon word -- and why? And what actor or actress were you personally most impressed to hear utter Klingon? Okrand: As I was working on the language, I wondered whether there’d be a word that people would know even if they knew nothing else about Klingon. That word turned out to be Qapla’, which means “success.” So I guess that’s my favorite word. Hearing Christopher Plummer say lines that I made up was pretty impressive. But so was hearing Klingon spoken by Taxi ’s Reverend Jim. To read part one of StarTrek.com 's interview with Marc Okrand, click HERE .

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Star trek confirms the federation has a single official language.

Star Trek has confirmed the existence of a single language spoken by all citizens of the Federation, closing a major plot hole in franchise lore.

The United Federation of Planets has a single language, spoken by all its citizens, as confirmed by official Star Trek media. Throughout the franchise’s 57-year history, nearly every species is able to understand the other. Part of this has been thanks to universal translators, but in 2020s Star Trek: Year Five #6 , Lieutenant Uhura mentions "Federation Standard” to a Tholian outcast, and confirms everyone in the Federation speaks it.

In the issue, written by Jody Houser and drawn by Silvia Califano, the crew of the Enterprise are under the influence of an alien device that magnifies their thoughts, broadcasting them across the ship. This device has also affected "Bright Eyes," a young Tholian the Enterprise discovered on a distant world. Lieutenant Uhura, who had been working with the Tholian outcast, discovers herself able to understand it, and vice versa. Uhura expresses astonishment over Bright Eyes speaking Federation Standard. Bright Eyes, however, does not understand what Federation Standard is until Uhura explains it's a language spoken by all citizens of the Federation .

Related: Star Trek is Changing Forever Thanks to One Question

Federation Standard Answers Star Trek's Language Problem

In the Star Trek universe, the problem of interspecies communication has never been a difficult one; varying species serve aboard starships, all able to understand the other. In addition, nearly every other species encountered by Federation starships seems to speak English as well. In the Original Series episode “Metamorphosis,” the franchise introduced the universal translator , which Kirk and company used to communicate with a non-corporeal being. The mechanics and science behind the universal translator have never been explained, and can't explain how nearly every race in the Federation seems able to communicate without such gadgets.

Star Trek's Official Language Raises Fascinating Questions

The revelation of the existence of Federation Standard solves a huge problem of the Star Trek universe: how its citizens communicate with each other. The universal translators were an excellent way to explain certain situations, but it did not work for them all. The translator is an independent device, and the various species working together on starships do not carry them around at all times - so how exactly do they communicate? This was exacerbated since everyone learning to speak English runs counter to Star Trek’s philosophy of embracing diversity, so another solution was needed that brought different cultures together, rather than giving any one primacy - enter Federation Standard. Uhura does not offer any further details on what Federation Standard looks like in terms of words or letters, leaving this glimpse a tantalizing one for now - especially since such a language would need to be equally accessible to many different species.

The idea that the Federation has its own language makes sense, and the intriguing story possibilities it raises are great. As stated earlier, Uhura did not explain Federation Standard at all, meaning another creator could come in and flesh it out. There is precedence for this, as the Klingon language has exploded , with dictionaries and famous works of literature translated into it. A similar tome on Federation Standard would be most welcome. Star Trek has confirmed there is one language spoken by the Federation - an idea the franchise now needs to develop further.

More: Star Trek: The Motion Picture Gets New Direct Sequel With Original Cast

Fictional Languages From The Witcher, Star Wars, and More That You Can Learn

O ne of the major tropes across the science fiction and fantasy genres is building out a world's linguistics. If the story takes place in a fantastical realm filled with places and people that don't exist in the real world, then it only makes sense that the languages they speak are also a creation of the story.

Most stories use English as a default or common tongue but invent languages for those outside the main setting. Sometimes, these languages are pure jibberish; other times, they consist only of key phrases and lack a fully built-out grammatical system. However, whether for easter eggs or world-building, some creators go the extra mile to ensure their fictional languages are fully functional and translatable. These can be learned by fans to delve deeper into the rich worlds of these franchises.

Alienese Was Initially a Test for Fans

Futurama (1999-present).

The only language on this list that isn't actually speakable, Alienese, is a written language that appears in the background throughout Futurama. The language was inserted as an Easter egg by the creators to see how quickly their eagle-eyed audience could spot and decipher it.

Initially, Alienese was a simple substitution cipher created by simply swapping out letters of the Latin alphabet for a symbol. Much to the creator's chagrin, fans solved this almost instantly, so they returned in Season 3 with Alienese 2, a far more complex cipher. Alienese 2 ascribes each letter of the alphabet a numerical value; each number is given a symbol. To translate it back into English, one must subtract a symbol's numeric value from the numeric value of the symbol before it to get the corresponding letter. Fans cracked this as well, but it was a far greater challenge and one of the best fictional language overall .

Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy, is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out on New Year's Eve 2999.

Release Date 1999-03-28

Cast Katey Sagal, Billy West, Phil LaMarr, Kath Soucie, Tress MacNeille, Lauren Tom, John DiMaggio, Frank Welker

Main Genre Animation

Genres Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Rating TV-14

Translating Al Bhed Was a Great Video Game Sidequest

Final fantasy x (2001), final fantasy x.

The Final Fantasy series is an enduring classic. Created to be a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, it was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi as a role-playing game and the first game was released in 1985. Of course, the franchise has come a long way in terms of graphics, music, and narrative presentation.

Final Fantasy X is the first title of the Final Fantasy series to be released for PS2 and follows the story of Tidus, a sports star, and Yuna, an accomplished summoner of ancient spirits called aeons. Tidus and Yuna travel to an ancient land and defeat a series of challenges and follow a dynamic storyline.

This particular installment of the series also includes compelling voice acting, high-polygon graphics, motion-captured player characters, and a camera that adjusts its perspective to match your movements. Even modern gamers will appreciate Final Fantasy X 's quality graphics and cutscenes.

While some players may find the story confusing (there are a few flashbacks and some time travel), you wont have a problem when paying strong attention. In fact, the intricate storyline, with all of its twists, is what has historically been so attractive about the game.

Between amazing graphics and a compelling storyline, it is no wonder that Final Fantasy X remains so popular.

Another language that's not really a language but a cipher is Al Bhed, although this one is spoken in the universe. The Al Bhed language is spoken by the Al Bhed tribe. Within Final Fantasy X's Spira, the Al Bhed are outcasts, seen as heretics by the world's dominant religion, Yevon. Their use of machina, or machine technology, goes against the fundamental teachings of Yevon, and they oppose the summoner's pilgrimages that form a core part of the religion's Dogma.

Being a one-to-one cipher, like the first version of Alienese, Al Bhed is relatively easy to decode, although that's not the challenge presented to the player. Throughout the world of Spira are hidden Al Bhed Primers. Each of these will flip a letter of Al Bhed back to its English equivalent. If the player finds them all, they can effortlessly read a language that initially seemed so alien to them.

Huttese is the Language of Crime in a Galaxy Far Far Away

Star wars (1977-present), star wars episode iv.

Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.

Release Date 1977-05-25

Director George Lucas

Cast Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Peter Cushing, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness

Runtime 121 minutes

Genres Action-Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Studio 20th Century Fox

The 30 Most Powerful Star Wars Characters Ever, Ranked

Huttese, the language spoken by the Hutt family and their associates, is the most fleshed-out fictional language in the Star Wars Galaxy. Despite this, it still lacks a full lexicon and consistent grammatical rules. There are a little over 300 words in the canon Huttese dictionary compiled by fans .

The language was created by legendary Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt with the help of linguist Larry Ward, who also provided the voice for Greedo and Jabba the Hutt. They based Huttese on Quechua, the language spoken by the native peoples of the Peruvian Andes.

Dovahzul Gave Players the Power of the Dragon

Skyrim (2011), the elder scrolls v: skyrim.

The Nintendo Switch offers a collection of ports that are known to gamers originally on other home consoles and computers. Its the advantage of owning the Switch; take some of the most iconic games from the last decade, and play them with portability. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a prime example of a game that people loved on the pc platform, but can now hold it in the palms of their hands.

A masterpiece adventure game that brings all our favorite mythical creatures to life with an intense storyline. Find out why the dragons have returned to Skyrim, while you nerd out over mystical wizards and powerful elves. With exclusive gear based on The Legend of Zelda series, the player is equipped with the weapons, spells and armor to last to the end. The Nintendo Switch takes the Skyrim combat and gameplay to new heights with motion control technology. Use the joy cons to swing your sword, aim a bow and arrow, and pick the the most difficult locks in Skyrim. Bethesda Game Studios outdid themselves with this mammoth virtual world, especially when it comes to the graphics. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is definitely one of the best looking games on the Nintendo Switch, submerging the gamer even more into another reality.

When it comes to RPGs, Skyrim is a must-have. The Elder Scrolls won over 200 game of the year awards with its original 2011 release, and rightfully so. Just thank Nintendo for making it available on their platform, because playing a game with this much depth on handheld wasnt popular until the release of the Switch. Although it may not run like a beast as it does on a desktop, the Switch version certainly wont disappoint.

Dovahzul, or the Dragon voice, is an ancient language from Skyrim. As the name suggests, it is the language used by the region's dragons, but it was also learned by ancient Nords, the natives of Skyrim, to harness the power of the Dragon.

In Skyrim, a player uses the language to perform Dragon shouts , which are powerful multi-level spells with varying effects. Dovahzul has over 5000 words and its own set of grammatical structures. The corresponding wiring system consists of a series of distinct scratch marks based on the ancient Mesopotamian language of Cuneiform.

The Na'vi Language is Both Alien and Believable

Avatar (2009).

A paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.

Release Date 2009-12-18

Director James Cameron

Cast Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang

Rating PG-13

Runtime 162 minutes

Genres Science Fiction

When designing the world for his 2009 blockbuster, Avatar director James Cameron spared no detail even in early concept art , and that included the language of the alien Na'vi. Cameron wanted the language of his blue-skinned humanoids to sound different from any actual known language. At the same time, he wanted it to sound pleasing to the ear of an audience and be realistic for his actors to learn since it was a big-budget motion picture with a large audience.

This was the mandate given to linguist Paul Frommer, and it's no surprise that he created a language fans can actually learn. The language has a growing lexicon of over 2500 words. It features many aspects of real-world languages but combines elements in ways different from any natural languages.

Trigedasleng Takes English Slang Into the Future

The 100 (2014-2020), 10 fantasy worlds cooler than lord of the rings.

The 100 is set nearly a century after a nuclear apocalypse left Earth uninhabitable. The series follows a group of adolescents who are sent back to Earth from their orbital haven to assess if it's safe for human habitation. Once on Earth, they encounter the Grounders, groups who survived the apocalypse in underground bunkers.

In the three generations since the end of civilization, the Grounders have developed their own language known as Trigedasleng. Created for the show by David J. Peterson, Tringedasleng acts as an evolution of American English. It takes common slang and builds it into the main vocabulary, and also merges and condenses phrases into singular words.

Release Date 2014-03-19

Cast Marie Avgeropoulos, Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Isaiah Washington

Genres Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Main Genre Drama

Hen Linge Brings a Celtic Flare to Fantasy

The witcher (2019-present), the witcher.

Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

Release Date 2019-12-20

Cast Eamon Farren, Mimi Ndiweni, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Henry Cavill

Genres Drama, Action, Adventure

Rating TV-MA

Creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

In the world of The Witcher , Hen Linge, otherwise known as the Elder Speech, is an ancient language of the Continent. During the time period of the series, it had fallen out of mainstream use but was still spoken by the few remaining elves of The Witcher , and by sorcerers for the casting of spells. In the original books, Hen Linge existed but was not a fully fleshed-out language.

Author Andrzej Sapkowski based much of the original language on Celtic, from Wales, Scotland and Ireland, but only came up with the key phrases. When building the streaming series, Netflix turned to linguist David Peterson to build the entire lexicon. Most of Sapkowski's original ideas were altered so that Peterson could create a language that was far more consistent and learnable for the actors.

The Languages of Westeros Redefined Modern Conlang

Game of thrones (2011-2019) and house of the dragon (2021-present), game of thrones.

Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for a millennia.

Release Date 2011-04-17

Cast Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke

Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Creator David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Number of Episodes 73

Streaming Service(s) HBO Max

10 Best House of The Dragon Characters, Ranked

David Peterson, who's already been mentioned twice on this list, got his start by making languages for HBO's Game of Thrones and, subsequently, House of the Dragon. He started on Thrones' first season, building out the Dothraki language, which now contains over 3000 words in its lexicon. As the show went on, High Valyrian, the language spoken in the east of Essos as well as by the Targaryen family, was more frequently used, and Peterson has now built that out to rival Dothraki.

George R. R. Martin is no linguist and only includes a few words from each language in his original novels. Peterson took those words and expanded them into comprehensive languages. The languages were informed by the cultures they came from, and as the shows went on, the languages helped inform the cultures. Consequently, there is still no Dothraki word that translates to "thank you."

Klingon Has Achieved Iconic Status

Star trek: the motion picture (1979).

Star Trek is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and became a worldwide pop-culture  phenomenon . 

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek: Nemesis

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Cast Nichelle Nichols, Scott Bakula, Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Avery Brooks, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan

Perhaps the most famous fictional language of all time,and a genuine badge of honor among the sci-fi community, Klingon is the language spoken by one of the main antagonists of the Star Trek series. The language itself didn't appear in the original series, debuting with Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Initially just appearing as a few phrases in the first film, designed by Scotty actor James Doohan and producer Jon Povill, the language was expanded into a full lexicon.

Developed by linguist Marc Okrand for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and then published for fans in his book The Klingon Dictionary , Klingon was designed to sound completely alien. With over 5000 words in its vocabulary and dozens of fluent speakers, Klingon is one of the most comprehensive fictional languages, and even the Klingons themselves are diverse with many designs .

Elvish Was Tolkien's Obsession

The lord of the rings: fellowship of the ring (2001), the lord of the rings.

The Lord of the Rings is a series of three epic fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson, based on the novel The Lord of the Rings by British author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are subtitled The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. 

Created by J.R.R. Tolkien

First Film The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

Latest Film The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

First TV Show The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power

Latest TV Show The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power

First Episode Air Date 2022-09-01

It is often said of Middle-earth that author J. R. R. Tolkien created the fictional realm as a place to house his languages. Unlike other fantasy authors on this list, Tolkien was an accomplished linguist in his own right, constructing multiple languages throughout his lifetime within the Lord of The Rings books themselves..

Tolkien's two most developed languages are Quenya, which has about 2000 words, and Sindarin, with around 1200. These are both variants of Elvish, with Quenya being a more ancient tongue and Sindarin being the language more widely spoken at the time of the series. Although less complete than some other languages on this list, Tolkien's lifelong obsession with their details and full integration into the world gives them the strongest connection to real natural languages.

This Obscure 'Next Generation' Character Will Return in 'Star Trek: Section 31'

Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou will meet an interesting familiar face.

The Big Picture

• Paramount+ reveals cast member Kacey Rohl will play Rachel Garrett in the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie.
• Originally planned as a series, the film follows Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou in her work for Section 31.
• Rachel Garrett captained the USS Enterprise-C in the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Yesterday's Enterprise."

Details on Paramount+'s upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie have so far been as top-secret as its namesake Starfleet spy agency. But now we know one of the characters who will encounter Michelle Yeoh 's Philippa Georgiou - and she's an important part of Star Trek history. A new feature in Variety goes behind the scenes of the filming of the streaming-original film, which recently wrapped filming , and reveals that previously-announced cast member Kacey Rohl ( Hannibal ) will be playing Rachel Garrett, a character who captained the USS Enterprise-C in the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Yesterday's Enterprise".

Little else is known about the upcoming film; it was originally planned as a series, but with Yeoh's busy schedule following her groundbreaking Best Actress Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All At Once , it was compressed into a single standalone film. It will follow Georgiou's work for the shadowy Starfleet intelligence agency Section 31, following her return to the 23rd century in the third season of Star Trek: Discovery . In addition to Yeoh and Rohl, it will also star Omari Hardwick , Sam Richardson , Sven Ruygrok , Rob Kazinsky , Humberly Gonzalez , James Hiroyuki Liao , Joe Pingue , Miku Martineau , and Augusto Bitter .

Who is Rachel Garrett?

In "Yesterday's Enterprise", which aired in 1990 as part of The Next Generation 's third season, the 24th-century Enterprise-D finds itself confronted with its long-thought-destroyed predecessor, the Enterprise-C , captained by Rachel Garrett ( Tricia O'Neil ). Somehow, the Enterprise-C being thrown into the future has altered the future; instead of the relatively peaceful galaxy familiar to the show's viewers, the Federation is embroiled in a desperate war with the Klingon Empire . The crew soon realizes that the Enterprise-C must respond to a Klingon distress call in its own timeline, even though it means the ship will be destroyed by the Romulans ; Garrett is soon killed in an ambush by the future Klingons, forcing helmsman Richard Castillo ( Christopher McDonald ) to take over the ship with Enterprise-D security officer Tasha Yar ( Denise Crosby ), leading it to its fate in the past. Ultimately, the Enterprise-C 's sacrifice averts war with the Klingons and restores the Enterprise-D 's future to its rightful state, while Garrett and her crew are remembered as heroes. However, the Enterprise-C 's legacy later came back to haunt the Enterprise-D ; Yar survived and bore a half-Romulan daughter, Sela, who would become one of the crew's recurring foes.

"Yesterday's Enterprise" is considered to be one of The Next Generation 's finest episodes. Collider's Liam Gaughan deemed it to be the best episode of season 3 , calling it a "fascinating look at a darker version of the setting we know and love" while also serving as a proper sendoff for Tasha Yar, who had been unceremoniously killed off in the show's first season.

Star Trek: Section 31 is now in post-production, and has not yet set a release date . Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

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In Lakota Nation, people are asking: Who does a language belong to?

Christina Cala

Xavier Lopez

B.A. Parker

Leah Donnella

Courtney Stein

Dalia Mortada

Lori Lizarraga

Veralyn Williams

What's the best way to revitalize a language? In the Lakota Nation, that's very much up for debate. Jackie Lay/NPR hide caption

What's the best way to revitalize a language? In the Lakota Nation, that's very much up for debate.

Many Lakota people agree: It's imperative to revitalize the Lakota language. But how exactly to do that is a matter of broader debate. Should Lakota be codified and standardized to make learning it easier? Or should the language stay as it always has been, defined by many different ways of writing and speaking? We explore this complex, multi-generational fight that's been unfolding in the Lakota Nation, from Standing Rock to Pine Ridge.

This episode was reported and co-hosted by Christina Cala. It was produced by Xavier Lopez. It was edited by Courtney Stein and Leah Donnella.

Correction March 28, 2024

A previous version of this story incorrectly said that Jan Ulrich and Wilhelm Meya founded and currently run The Language Conservancy. In fact, they did found the organization, but no longer run it.