Pokémon-Speak: Difference between revisions

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[[File:~~Pokemon_Speak_744~~.jpg|link=Pokémon|frame|[[Pokémon: The Abridged Series|"So, all you can say is your name? Your conversations must be really lame. I know, like, 30 words, and my conversations still suck."]]]]

[[File:Pokemon Speak 744.jpg|link=Pokémon|frame|[[Pokémon: The Abridged Series|"So, all you can say is your name? Your conversations must be really lame. I know, like, 30 words, and my conversations still suck."]]]]

{{quote|''Editor! Editor editor! Editor... editor? Editor editor, editor editor editor.''|'''Editor's note''' on [http://www.brunching.com/pokemonmoviereview.html The Brunching Shuttlecocks' review] of ''[[Pokémon: The First Movie|Pokémon the First Movie]]''}}

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The symptom is repeating its own name or a part thereof over and over. It's especially strange when one considers that dogs don't go around saying "Dog! Dog!" et cetera.<ref>Amusingly, the English word "dog" comes from the Old English "dodga," an onomatopoeia of the sound of a dog's deep bark. That said, dogs don't go around saying "Canis! Canis!"</ref> Sometimes it's [[Calling Your Attacks|part of an attack]] or an [[The Kid with the Remote Control|affirmative of master's commands]]. Often it's the only thing the monster ever says, which may require [[Repeating So the Audience Can Hear]].

Can be a [[Justified Trope]] if the monsters in question [[Verbal Tic Name|made their sounds before people named them, and decided to name them that]] ~~-- which~~ happens once in a while in real life. For example, the Chinese word for cat is Mao. In Egyptian, it's called Mau.

Can be a [[Justified Trope]] if the monsters in question [[Verbal Tic Name|made their sounds before people named them, and decided to name them that]]—which happens once in a while in real life. For example, the Chinese word for cat is Mao. In Egyptian, it's called Mau.

According to the style of writing PoKéMoN in the ''Pokémon'' games, [[Leet Speak]] and UnrEaDaBLe INTerNet wr1tINg are called "Pokémon Speech" in Poland.

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== Anime & Manga ==

* Almost all Pokémon in the ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' anime, who can say only their names or parts thereof, [[Trope Namer|hence the name]]. For example, Bulbasaur might be named Bulbasaur simply because the sound it makes is "Bulbasaur," or a variation thereof. <ref>Which leads to [[Fridge Logic]]: So these creatures consistently make sounds that just happen to be puns on their nature in a human language, even though many of them have been around longer than humanity? What are the odds?</ref><ref>[[Fridge Brilliance]]: Humans based their understanding of nature on the Pokémon around them (e.g. naming bulbs after Bulbasaur)</ref> With a little careful listening to regular cast members (such as Pikachu) in the original Japanese, though, it's possible to make out patterns. Ash (Satoshi) is "Pikapi" while Togepi, during the seasons that Misty was with them, was "Pipipi." Likewise, Misty (Kasumi) herself is "Pikachupi" and after Team Rocket finishes their motto it says "Pi-Pikachu."

* Almost all Pokémon in the ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' anime, who can say only their names or parts thereof, [[Trope Namer|hence the name]]. For example, Bulbasaur might be named Bulbasaur simply because the sound it makes is "Bulbasaur," or a variation thereof.<ref>Which leads to [[Fridge Logic]]: So these creatures consistently make sounds that just happen to be puns on their nature in a human language, even though many of them have been around longer than humanity? What are the odds?</ref><ref>[[Fridge Brilliance]]: Humans based their understanding of nature on the Pokémon around them (e.g. naming bulbs after Bulbasaur)</ref> With a little careful listening to regular cast members (such as Pikachu) in the original Japanese, though, it's possible to make out patterns. Ash (Satoshi) is "Pikapi" while Togepi, during the seasons that Misty was with them, was "Pipipi." Likewise, Misty (Kasumi) herself is "Pikachupi" and after Team Rocket finishes their motto it says "Pi-Pikachu."

** [http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ash%27s_Pikachu#Pikachu.27s_language Here] is a collection of what's been discerned with fair certainty.

** Chikorita had one for Ash before she evolved into Bayleef ("Chikori~").

** Lampooned (of course) in ''[[Pokethulhu]]'', which basically says that this is either because the titular [[Eldritch Abomination]] [[Mons]] communicate with a [[Starfish Language]], or because they're just not very bright.

** In "Island of the Giant Pokémon," Ash's and Team Rocket's Pokémon were all separated from their trainers and spoke in Pokémon Speak. Subtitles were provided, but no real pattern was existent for Pokémon other than Pikachu.

** Notably, the cuter or more humanoid a Pokémon was, generally the more it used [[Pokémon-Speak]]. Certain Pokémon (especially [[Olympus Mons|legendaries]]) could speak telepathically. Beastly and monstrous Pokémon simply roar, screech, trill or bellow. A few Pokémon are in-between; they make animal-like cries that sound vaguely like their names<ref>Japanese or non-Japanese; in some cases, the Japanese cry is retained in dubbed versions</ref>, [[Fridge Brilliance|just like some real animals]].

** Notably, the cuter or more humanoid a Pokémon was, generally the more it used Pokémon-Speak. Certain Pokémon (especially [[Olympus Mons|legendaries]]) could speak telepathically. Beastly and monstrous Pokémon simply roar, screech, trill or bellow. A few Pokémon are in-between; they make animal-like cries that sound vaguely like their names,<ref>Japanese or non-Japanese; in some cases, the Japanese cry is retained in dubbed versions</ref> [[Fridge Brilliance|just like some real animals]].

** Results in a somewhat disturbing [[Accidental Innuendo]] for speakers of Icelandic, as Pikachu runs around shouting "Píka, píka!" which translates to "[[Country Matters|Cunt, cunt!]]" There was even a t-shirt with Pikachu and a speech bubble with "Píka, píka!" in it.

*** And, in brazilian portuguese, "Pica" is a slang for "dick". Yeah...

** Played with in Shaymin's case; it speaks in regular [[Pokémon-Speak]], but can communicate telepathically in Japanese/English/the viewer's language. One presumes that this is the case with Zorua and Zoroark too, though we've only seen Zorua use telepathy and Zoroark use [[Pokémon-Speak]] (provided by [[Romi Park]], no less).

** Played with in Shaymin's case; it speaks in regular Pokémon-Speak, but can communicate telepathically in Japanese/English/the viewer's language. One presumes that this is the case with Zorua and Zoroark too, though we've only seen Zorua use telepathy and Zoroark use Pokémon-Speak (provided by [[Romi Park]], no less).

** There's a strange incidence regarding Pidgeotto and Pidgeot in the series, as Pidgeotto seems to scream "PIDGEOOOOOOT" where Pidgeot screams "PIDGEOT-TOOOOOOOO". [[Non Dubbed Grunts|They're saying their Japanese names]].

** While played straight in the anime and most other adaptations, the original ''[[Pocket Monsters (manga)|Pocket Monsters]]'' manga subverts this, with the exception of Red's Pikachu who plays it straight.

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** Some [[Monster of the Week|Monsters of the Week]] in ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' do this. (Those that don't generally have their name or part of it as a [[Verbal Tic]].)

* Lucy in ''[[Elfen Lied]]'' was named Nyu when Kouta and Yuka found her at the start of the series for the same reason as the above two examples. Gradually she learns to speak properly, and after a 4 month time skip she is shown to be able to hold normal conversations.

* Baby level ''[[Digimon]]'', in most seasons. (''[[Digimon Adventure 02]]'' and ''[[Digimon Frontier]]'' had perfectly articulate Baby Digimon.) Various characters and season have had their share of [[Verbal Tic~~|Verbal Tics~~]], however.

* Baby level ''[[Digimon]]'', in most seasons. (''[[Digimon Adventure 02]]'' and ''[[Digimon Frontier]]'' had perfectly articulate Baby Digimon.) Various characters and season have had their share of [[Verbal Tic]]s, however.

** The first Frigimon encountered in the series had a ''fondness'' for yelling his own name, but could speak just fine besides (especially after getting un-[[Brainwashed]].)

** Meramon, when under the control of a Black Gear, shouted "Burning!" a lot, which in Japanese would have been "Mera," making it Pokespeak ''there.'' (In English, yelling "Burning! BURNING!" made him sound [[Ax Crazy]]... which he was at the time, driven mad by his own flame burning him and being [[Nightmare Fuel|a bit scary]].)

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* ''[[Where's Wally?]]'' (or ''[[Where's Waldo|Where's Waldo?]]'' if you prefer) has Woof the dog.

* Oy the billy-bumbler from ''[[The Dark Tower]]'' actually ''does'' have the ability to speak, or at least to parrot human words. He's still named for his most common exclamation, however.

* In the children book ''Dinosaur with an Attitude'' the main character's pet ''Compsognathus'' can only say portions of its name right after hatching<ref>"Omps" is an affirmation, "Comps!" is surprise, "O?" is a question, and "Gnathus!" is that it is annoyed</ref>, but it acquires fluency in its owner's language very soon. It reverts to [[Pokémon-Speak]] when it is annoyed, however ([[Jerkass|which is quite often, actually]]).

* In the children book ''Dinosaur with an Attitude'' the main character's pet ''Compsognathus'' can only say portions of its name right after hatching,<ref>"Omps" is an affirmation, "Comps!" is surprise, "O?" is a question, and "Gnathus!" is that it is annoyed</ref> but it acquires fluency in its owner's language very soon. It reverts to Pokémon-Speak when it is annoyed, however ([[Jerkass|which is quite often, actually]]).

* Eriond in [[The Belgariad]]. When he's first introduced, all he knows how to say is "Errand" in different tones of voice. The rest starts calling him Errand because they can't keep calling him "boy". Later on in [[The Mallorean]] he learns to speak properly.

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*** Their Japanese names, at least, sometimes and Pikachu has said "Pikachu" in some games. In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', the Pokémon all say their names (except Lucario, who can pronounce English, presumably having something to do with Aura; Charizard, who merely roars and growls; and Mewtwo, who speaks in the Japanese version and doesn't say anything at all beyond [[Voice Grunting|grunts]] and other wordless vocalizations provided by the Japanese seiyuu in the English version).

**** Interestingly, in a [[Translation Train Wreck|Vietnamese bootleg translation]] of ''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver|Crystal]]'', a Pidgey's "Po po!"<ref>Pidgey's Japanese name is "Poppo", an onomatopoeia for a pigeon cooing</ref> is rendered as "{{spoiler|LITTLE STRAWBERRY ME BABY}}".

** In the Spanish translations of the games, all Pokémon have [[Pokémon-Speak]]. Whether this counts as [[Woolseyism]] or [[They Just Didn't Care]] is up to you.

** In the Spanish translations of the games, all Pokémon have Pokémon-Speak. Whether this counts as [[Woolseyism]] or [[They Just Didn't Care]] is up to you.

** Used for [[Voice Grunting]] in ''[[Poke Park Wii]]'', but all of the Pokémon in the game can speak (possibly [[Translation Convention]]).

* In the computer game ''[[Diablo]] 2'', various fallen repeatedly call the names of some of their greatest heroes (boss critters). Especially said bosses themselves, Rakanishu, Bishibosh, and Colenzo. Notably when the PC approaches the Fallen to attack, they usually scream something like "Back off!"

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* ''[[Dragon Quest VIII]]'' has a scene after you beat a moleman boss of his subordinates speaking in nothing but "dig" and "dug." You can understand them just fine in the dialog box text, despite this.

* [[Strange Journey|Bugaboo! Bug! Bug! Boo!]] [[Character Development|Jimenez!]]

* In ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]'', Vyse's loyal dog... um, "[[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|huskra]]" is named Pow. <ref>Huskra vocalizations are rendered a little Smeerpy as well - "Pow!" for "Bark!", "Pururururu" for howling, etc.</ref>

* In ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]'', Vyse's loyal dog... um, "[[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|huskra]]" is named Pow.<ref>Huskra vocalizations are rendered a little Smeerpy as well - "Pow!" for "Bark!", "Pururururu" for howling, etc.</ref>

* In the English version of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap]]'', the Minish merely speak bits of the word "Picori". After acquiring the [[Translator Microbes|Jabber Nut]], they appear to speak normally.

* The [[Elite Mooks]] in ''[[Gears of War]]'' sometimes speak only their own name "BOOM" "GRIND" and the like.

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* Parodied in ''[[Re Boot]]'', since no ''Pokémon'' parody would be complete without this. When the hero's reboot in the ''Pokémon''-style game ''Frisket'' becomes a Pikachu expy, instead of barking he would say "frisket."

* Bjornbot, Bjorn Bjornson's robot double from ''[[Robotboy]]'' can only say "Bjorn!!" (usually with as much pathos as [[South Park|TIMMMEH]]) - And [[Verbal Tic|"Ja!!"]]. Since his only purpose is to be the world's greatest fighting robot, it is possible that Bjornson just didn't bother to program him to say anything else.

* In-universe example: Guano from ''[[Kappa Mikey]]'' engages in [[Pokémon-Speak]] on [[Show Within a Show|Lily-mu]].

* In-universe example: Guano from ''[[Kappa Mikey]]'' engages in Pokémon-Speak on [[Show Within a Show|Lily-mu]].

* ''[[Dexter's Laboratory]]'': Something similar happened to Dexter in the episode, "The Big Cheese", when he attempted to use science to cheat on a French test by uploading his vocabulary phrases straight into his brain. The audiobook he was using became stuck on "Omelette du Fromage", and when he awoke in the morning he could only say "Omelette du Fromage" for the remainder of the episode. At first those around him were swayed by his apparent class and sophistication, landing him popularity, money, and sponsorship deals, but it also rendered him unable to speak the password to access his lab, {{spoiler|which caused it to [[Self-Destruct Mechanism|blow up.]]}}

** [[Fridge Logic|which is odd, considering the number of methods we've seen him use to get in that don't involve talking at all.]]

* Moe and Spewter in ''[[Mutant League]]''. Of course, they are so dumb that all Moe can say is "Eat dirt," and all Spewter can say is "Dead meat."

* Shnitzel from ''[[Chowder]]'', can only say "Radda." When he drew a card in a board game and read it, the card contained the text; "Radda radda radda."

* The coffee bean from ''[[Regular Show]]'' only said "coffee", and he had Mordecai and Rigby sign a contract written in [[Pokémon-Speak]]. Possibly lampshaded by the fact that his translator is Japanese.

* The coffee bean from ''[[Regular Show]]'' only said "coffee", and he had Mordecai and Rigby sign a contract written in Pokémon-Speak. Possibly lampshaded by the fact that his translator is Japanese.

* Snarf in ''[[Thundercats 2011|ThunderCats (2011)]]'' can only say his name and make animal noises, as a [[Casting Gag]] (his voice actress plays Togepi and Pichu in ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]])'', and a [[Mythology Gag]] to the [[Thundercats|original]]'s [[Verbal Tic]].

* [[Our Ghosts Are Different|Secret]] from ''[[Young Justice (animation)|Young Justice]]'' speaks this way. Apparently, it's due to the circumstances surrounding her death: the last thing she saw before being murdered was the word "secret" on a neon sign.