Klingons

Is it true that in the early days of trek the actors who had to speak Klingon just made it up as they went along?
then a language was made up later as fans wanted to know the language?

I heard that as a rumour but I don't know if it's true

 

Not quite- ISTR Mark Lenard in TMP just spoke English, and Jimmy Doohan, dubbing him, made up the alien-sounding words to match Lenard's lip movements.

Marc Okrand then created the language for TSFS, using Doohan's Klingon words as a base.

 

thanks. good to know.

 

Hell, in the early days we didn't even have sound. All the dialogue was on title cards!

Seriously, to me, “the early days of Trek” means the original series. On that show, everyone spoke English. And the Klingons had swarthy greasepaint on their faces and no forehead ridges. And belt buckles made of bubble wrap.

 

There's...

Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow
There's Klingon's on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Captain

 

But they were speaking Klingon during the motion pictures

 

Sure there was sound, there was the guy down front playing the piano.

 

Scrape 'em off, Jim!