Why can't R2 speak English?

[Samurai8472]

Could you make it pronounce swear words?

Kor

 

[publiusr]

On droids https://techxplore.com/news/2022-05-star-wars-movies-wrong-androids.html

https://www.space.com/star-wars-robots-sci-fi-versus-reality

 

[fireproof78]

These robots in this fantasy series are not accurate...


...where's my "what an odd thing to say " gif?

 

[ED-209]

Because he BEEPing can’t.

 

[Ridcully]

Then you do not need to beep out the.....erm so-called colourful words.....buggeritbeep!

 

[Noname Given]

Is this just for story purposes, or is there a specific reason R2D2 can't speak English?

I mean, obviously he can play back recorded messages, so it would seem he should be able to speak English if he wants to. Does he just...never want to?

And how can human characters understand his beeps and boops?

It appears the main articulatable vocal component of an R2 unit in STAR WARS is a simple MIDI synthesizer.

 

[Captrek]

On a related note, what about 3PO and Sith? He says:

Unfortunately it is written in the ruling language of the Sith. My programming forbids me from translating it…. I am mechanically incapable of speaking translation from Sith. I believe the rule has been set by the Senate...

But 3PO was an off-the-books project by a slave kid on Tattooine, where the Republic had no effective jurisdiction. Why would Ani design his droid to be mechanically incapable of translating Sith?

 

[Ithekro]

3PO was built/rebuilt from salvaged parts by Anakin Skywalker as a boy. This means that 3PO's brain is still a regular one build under code by Cybot Galactica sometime before it ended up on Tatooine. Probably salvaged by Jawas from a shipwreck.

 

[fireproof78]

But 3PO was an off-the-books project by a slave kid on Tattooine, where the Republic had no effective jurisdiction. Why would Ani design his droid to be mechanically incapable of translating Sith?

Base programming probably was intact.