In Star Wars, how do they understand R2?

[comicbookwriter]

I was wondering about this because sometimes it seems that the other characters understand what R2 is saying, and other times, C3PO has to translate.

Does anyone know what's going on with that?

Or is it one of those Garfield or Stewie Griffin types of arguments about whether or not people can "hear" them.

CBW

 

[TemporalFlux]

I think George Lucas must have liked watching Lassie when he was a kid.

 

[davejames]

Forget R2, I want to know how Han understood what the heck Chewie was saying! That didn't even sound like an actual language he was using. It was just a bunch of grunts and growling. lol

 

[comicbookwriter]

Forget R2, I want to know how Han understood what the heck Chewie was saying! That didn't even sound like an actual language he was using. It was just a bunch of grunts and growling. lol

LOL

True, at least R2 had some rhythm to his sounds, Chewie was wailing half of the time.

CBW

 

[The Wormhole]

Actually, only C-3PO can understand R2. The only exception to this is when R2 is riding in Luke's X-Wing, whatever R2 is saying is translated on a screen in the cockpit.

And yeah, how Han understands Chewie is beyond me. I wonder is someday Lucas is going to include subtitles for Chewie and R2?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

We always used to joke that Luke had no idea what R2 was saying and just projected whatever he felt onto him, "Yeah, R2, I'm scared too.".

 

[Trekker4747]

Actually, only C-3PO can understand R2. The only exception to this is when R2 is riding in Luke's X-Wing, whatever R2 is saying is translated on a screen in the cockpit.

And yeah, how Han understands Chewie is beyond me. I wonder is someday Lucas is going to include subtitles for Chewie and R2?

I swear to God, if that happens now...

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Subtitled in Aurebesh...

 

[The Wormhole]

This thread reminded me of a joke me and some friends made about the Wookie senators in the prequels. Just what would a political debate with a Wookie be like?

"How do you vote on this matter, Senator?"
"ROAR!!"

 

[Sephiroth]

there were subtle nuances in chewie's roars, and with there being over 6,000,000 forms of communication in the SW universe, I guess that alot of them are digital droid languages

 

[comicbookwriter]

Actually, only C-3PO can understand R2. The only exception to this is when R2 is riding in Luke's X-Wing, whatever R2 is saying is translated on a screen in the cockpit.

When Luke and R2 are alone on Dagobah, they have a conversation back and forth.

Its when Luke describes Dagobah as "familiar."

CBW

 

[Trekker4747]

Clearly all hominids in the SW universe are implated with a 4-bit modem.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

We always used to joke that Luke had no idea what R2 was saying and just projected whatever he felt onto him, "Yeah, R2, I'm scared too.".

That's the way the writers treated it to be sure. However, if you listen to the beeps and whistles, it's amazing how much character and emotion they actually portray. You can definitely get a sense of what R2 is "feeling" or "saying" from them.

 

[Broccoli]

Actually, only C-3PO can understand R2. The only exception to this is when R2 is riding in Luke's X-Wing, whatever R2 is saying is translated on a screen in the cockpit.

When Luke and R2 are alone on Dagobah, they have a conversation back and forth.

Its when Luke describes Dagobah as "familiar."

CBW

That really wasn't a conversation. That was more of Luke monologuing.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Some behind the scenes/making of footage shows Peter Mayhew saying as Chewbacca "Is that old man crazy?" (referring to Obi-Wan).

Subtitles might make Chewbacca less likable.

 

[felixofgolden]

On the A&E special about the making of the 3 movies, they shows some uncut footage of Star Wars, specifically the scene in the Death Star with Han and Chewie. Peter Mayhew was talking english when they shot it. He had lines which were then dubbed over with growls and so on.

 

[CommodoreKong]

Forget R2, I want to know how Han understood what the heck Chewie was saying! That didn't even sound like an actual language he was using. It was just a bunch of grunts and growling. lol

I've always assumed Han could understand the Wookie language but just not speak it like how Chewie could obviously understand English but just not speak it.

For example when I've seen unedited video interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto and he can understand English, the translator wouldn't tell him what the question was in Japanese, but he obviously has some problems or was unconformable speaking it, since he would mostly answer in Japanese.

 

[Harvey]

If they subtitled the Wookie language, it might at least make the beginning of the Holiday Special tolerable.

Okay, now I have to run and hide.

 

[Oso Blanco]

Babel Fish?

 

[chrisspringob]

This is something that I always wanted to do....go through all six movies to see if there's any consistency with regard to who can understand both R2 and Chewbacca, or if they're just kind of winging it. Clearly, 3PO can understand both R2 and Chewie, and Han can understand Chewie.

But are there other cases (in any of the six movies) where another character can understand one of them, and are they consistent about that?