Clone Wars: 2X7 "Legacy of Terror" (spoilers)

[Greylock Crescent]

^ If you like Ahsoka as a character, you'll likely enjoy her exploits in the next episode, "Brain Invaders."

 

[Kegg]

That's good to know. And yes, I do.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

I'm less keen on the increased tendency for non-Basic speaking aliens to speak Basic in the series, though - to date we've had a Hutt (Ziro), a Mon Calamari (Nahdar Vebb) and now a Genosian (Karina the Great).

Mon Calamari were first seen speaking basic in their debut in RETURN OF THE JEDI. "IT'S A TRAP!"

Of course, I know what your saying. I found it odd hearing the weequay pirates talk at all last season, since no member of the species ever has except maybe a scream in ROTJ.

 

[Kegg]

Mon Calamari were first seen speaking basic in their debut in RETURN OF THE JEDI. "IT'S A TRAP!"

Oh, right yeah. I was grouping them in because he didn't have the sort of slurping noise Akbar had, but you're absolutely right.

Corrected.

Of course, I know what your saying. I found it odd hearing the weequay pirates talk at all last season, since no member of the species ever has except maybe a scream in ROTJ.

I rolled with the Weequay, Trandoshan, Duros etc. because while it's true we haven't seen them speak Basic, they basically don't speak at all in the movies. Alright, there's a handful of Duros bantering in the corner in Mos Eisley, but that's not quite the same as Poggle or Jabba.

Hm. The Rodians would be a more pertinent example. We've had some English speaking Rodians, and who doesn't remember poor crispy, deep fried Greedo?

 

[Mr Light]

Dude, not cool. Greedo had a speech impediment.

 

[Christopher]

While Jabba didn't speak English (or whatever the language we hear as English is called), his Huttese speech did employ humanlike phonetics. So there's no anatomical reason why a Hutt couldn't speak English; it's only a question of whether he (or she?) has learned it and chooses to use it. I believe the same goes for Greedo's people (Rodians, was it?). It's only a problem with the Geonosians and other species whose natural speech employs exotic, inhuman sounds.

At least going by the Special Edition of ANH, and possibly by ROTJ as well, it's clear that Jabba can understand "English," and thus could probably speak it if he chose. But it seems to be fairly common in the SW-verse for bilingual conversations to occur -- for both participants in a conversation to speak in different languages yet mutually understand one another. Which is a logical skill to develop when so many of the aliens you may interact with would be incapable of reproducing your speech sounds. I always figured Jabba's use of a translator droid was more an affectation than anything else -- "I'm in charge here, I'm the guy with all the power, so I don't have to bother thinking or speaking in any language but my own."

 

[Greylock Crescent]

The Geonosians are the perfect example of bilingual conversation -- or, at the very least, Poggle is. His conversations in AOTC with Count Dooku, for example. They both speak their "native" language and seem to perfectly understand one another.

Still doesn't explain how Geonosians are capable of speaking Basic, though -- aside from it simply being narrative expediency. Even so, it doesn't bother me so much in this instance because the rest of the episode is enjoyable and meaningful.

 

[Kegg]

It's a quibble, yes, Walters, I did say as such. But it does seem doubly ridiculous to me that apparently the only Geonosian who can speak Basic is the one who apparently very seldom gets the opportunity to try that out. Obviously, someone had to speak for her, and the sheer oddity of it didn't quite strike me until I realised there stood Poggle, still completely incapale of Basic speech.

While Jabba didn't speak English (or whatever the language we hear as English is called), his Huttese speech did employ humanlike phonetics.

Quite, but I directed that specific criticism solely at the Geonosians, whose speech is not humanlike.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

It's a quibble, yes, Walters, I did say as such. But it does seem doubly ridiculous to me that apparently the only Geonosian who can speak Basic is the one who apparently very seldom gets the opportunity to try that out. Obviously, someone had to speak for her, and the sheer oddity of it didn't quite strike me until I realised there stood Poggle, still completely incapale of Basic speech.

Well, it's certainly a legitimate point for criticism. As I said above, it seems the decision was made purely for expediency's sake. I was just mentioning that, while it is a criticism (or quibble, if you prefer), it's not enough to detract from the episode, for me, at least.

 

[Mr Light]

My assumption was that Queen was physiologically different enough to have vocal chords to speak Basic. After all she looks nothing like a normal Geonosian, her body and her organs are completely different.

 

[Kegg]

My assumption was that Queen was physiologically different enough to have vocal chords to speak Basic.

Quite, but the reason she does have that because it's incredibly conveinent. Feh... we'll have Basic-speaking Woookiees before this show is through (yes I know there is one in the EU).

 

[Basill]

We also don't know enough about this queen (much less the Geonosian civilization) to make any assumptions about her capabilities. Even though she is seen as something of a legend or myth now, she might have been her own Poggle the Greater once upon a time. She may have once been at the forefront of Geonosian politics in her past before shedding that persona and taking on her rightful place as the the big egg layin' mama. No one need know who she truly is but those few that interact with her now. Pure speculation of course, but it could explain why she might have a little more skill than her minions. We don't know enough about the mind parasites and what abilities they give her and her hive mind. Are they a separate species or part of the Geonosian life cycle? Conjecture and imagination is all I have at the moment.

 

[Kegg]

We also don't know enough about this queen (much less the Geonosian civilization) to make any assumptions about her capabilities.

I'm making a complaint about conception, not continuity. Of course she could be rationalised in such a way that makes sense (perhaps even the aforesaid cockup in "Senate Spy" could also be rationalised in a way that makes sense); but it doesn't rub me the right way as an idea.