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Translator Microbes: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
[[File:18774823_6722.jpg|link=The
Also known as a "[[Universal Translator]]", this is a special kind of [[Applied Phlebotinum]] that automatically translates communication from the speaker's language into the listener's, thus removing those pesky "language barriers" from between people of different countries, times, species or planets.
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See also [[Aliens Speaking English]] and [[Common Tongue]]. Compare [[Bilingual Dialogue]]. See also [[Omniglot]], when a character can do this by training or super power.
{{examples
== Anime and Manga ==
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*** He also decides to give them a little message in smuggler's code, so the 'smugglers' will know that he wasn't fooled one bit, thus explaining the nonsensical 'joke' he tells as a signoff. That whole scene makes so much more sense in the novelization.
* Similar to ''[[Star Wars]]'', ''[[District 9]]'' has aliens speaking their own language and humans speaking English, but both fully able to understand and communicate with one another. This is rather necessary, as the aliens' physiology means they're incapable of pronouncing human words, and vice versa.
** Especially notable is the [[In
* In ''[[Battlefield Earth (Film)|Battlefield Earth]]'', the Psychlos have a device that can teach humans their language, which they only use on one human because they didn't consider the "man-animals" intelligent enough to teach, despite all contrary evidence.
* Star Trek parody ''[[Galaxy Quest (Film)|Galaxy Quest]]'' has some sort of translators. They appear to work for the Thermians (the friendly aliens) in a similar way to Klingons, with exclamations in their alien language often remaining untranslated. Oddly, the translators are devices used by the Thermians to make themselves understood, yet the antagonist aliens (an unnamed reptilian species) also appear to speak English despite never having even heard of humans before. Being a comedy, it probably shouldn't be expected to make too much sense.
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* Ponter from ''[[Hominids]]'' a neaderthal from an alternate universe where Neanderthals and not humans survived uses his implant to communicate with peopl from a universe like our where english is spoken and homo sapiens survived.
* In the ''[[Alcatraz Series (Literature)|Alcatraz Series]]'', a pair of magical glasses that grant this power is considered one of the most dangerous objects in the world, on the basis that knowledge is power.
* ''[[The
** The babel fish, as it is known, subsists entirely on sound waves. A side effect is that these sound waves are converted into brain waves, which are excreted by the fish, into your brain.
** It also proves the non-existence of God, much to God's consternation.
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** In several episodes, this is used as a plot point, as D'Argo at one point starts a program in his ship that speaks in an archaic form of his own language. He can't understand it, and has to have the computer research the language and inject him with new microbes just so he can make out a few words.
** There are three known languages besides ancient Luxan that can't be translated by the microbes: Pilot, Diagnosan, and at least one dialect of Scarran.
*** Pilot ''can'' be translated, but it has to be downshifted to their equivalent of ''[[Translation: "Yes"|Dick and Jane on Valium]]'' for the audience to keep up.
** The inverse happens as well: Sikozu's race is incompatible with translator microbes, but fortunately, is able to learn languages extremely easily. Her first scene with Crichton involves him teaching her English (presumably, she's already learned most of the other species' languages). This [[Chekhov's Skill|comes in handy later]] when Moya arrives at Earth without Crichton, and Sikozu is able to establish communication with humans (who don't have translator microbes).
** The rationalization for a universe full of aliens speaking Australian English is forgotten when convenient, such as when Crichton wants to impersonate a Peacekeeper by putting on an [[Evil Brit]] accent.
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** Likewise, ''[[Star Trek Enterprise]]'' had several instances where their more primitive universal translators needed some time and calibration (sometimes by a professional linguist) to figure out a new language.
** Also subverted in the ''[[Star Trek the Next Generation]]'' episode "Darmok", where despite translating the individual words, the [http://rec.horus.at/trek/lists/darmok.html resulting speech] was still incomprehensible. The language was too steeped in [http://www.totse.com/en/ego/science_fiction/darmok1.html cultural metaphors].
*** Yes, an [[Planet of Hats|entire planet]] of [[
*** Similarly, the season 1 ''Deep Space Nine'' episode "Babel" has pretty much the entire station affected by a disease that causes aphasia. There's nothing the translators can do when your brain tells you the word for "chair" is "buggy".
** These examples suggest that, even if not everyone in the [[Trekverse]] speaks English, most speak something similar to Earth languages.
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** There is also Interlac, a "common language" designed for easy translation. Many signs aboard the station are printed in three languages -- English, Interlac, and Minbari.
** In fact, this trope is used as a plot point when a Minbari ship meets a new alien race, and sends them language files on Interlac, and the aliens respond in ''Minbari'', leading them to realize that they are not the first Minbari ship these aliens have met.
* An episode of the Australian 1980's science show ''Towards 2000'' about translator software had a skit in which various international businessmen (all [[Wig, Dress, Accent|played by the host]]) tried to negotiate a deal but got stymied by the too-literal translation of what they were saying. Eventually the computer blows up when called upon to translate [[G Day Mate|the most incomprehensible language in the world]].
* In one episode of [[The Dead Zone]], Johnny briefly dies. He is amazed that he and the Native American ghost that he had been hanging around with can finally understand each other. The ghost explains that everyone sounds the same in the land of the dead.
* In an episode of ''[[Andromeda]]'' where Harper has a massive database downloaded into his brain he starts speaking in various languages and suggests that someone make some kind of nanite that lets you speak any language.
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If you are *campers* you will enjoy *the change*, but maybe not yet.<br />
It is best if many happy Orz are coming to your *house*." }}
** Not only that, Earthlings managed to make an ''entire race'' our enemies by thinking that translators didn't work. On the first meeting. In case you are wondering, said race is VUX. The Earthling captain told his assistant that VUX must stand for "Very Ugly Xenomorph." Which, unfortunately, was clearly broadcasted ''and'' translated to the VUX ship. [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|Way to go, humans.]]
*** While the Insult ''was'' spoken, it was [[Lame Excuse|just a convenient excuse]] to avoid having anything to do with [[Fantastic Racism|those hideous Earthlings]].
* In [[Excelsior Phase One Lysandia]], you need to obtain the Miracle Ear to speak to the inhabitants of the [[Monster Town]] Grethal.
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* In ''[[Star Ocean]]'', advanced species have universal Translator devices (that when necessary can double as [[Made of Explodium|EXPLOSIVES]]). They understand the people who aren't yet inducted to the Pangalactic Federation/Terran Alliance because they've documented and recorded them behind the scenes (read: from orbit). As such, they can speak to anyone (there are no unknown groups in the galaxy) except the Aldians, who are already space-capable and wholesomely unfriendly {{spoiler|until their entire species is blown up in ''[[Star Ocean Till the End of Time]]''.}}
* ''[[Conquest Frontier Wars]]'' mentions a translator to begin with but ignores it later. The Calareons are smart enough to not need one but the Mantis occupationally speak in the wrong order (partially justified due the fact English is in the wrong order compared to several other languages).
* While riding the [[Conveyor Belt O' Doom]] on his way to being [[Involuntary Transformation|turned into one of the bad guys]], the player character of ''[[Quake IV (Video Game)|Quake IV]]'' gets injected in the head, and a monitor overhead which had been displaying incomprehensible gibberish turns into English. Similarly, after that the overhead announcements and threats of the [[The Virus|Strogg]] become garbled English.
* In ''[[Halo]]: Combat Evolved'', the Grunts' speech is translated, but the Elites are mostly unintelligible. In the second game, the Elites are finally heard in English due to advanced UNSC translators. The Covenant, however, are also heard speaking English to each other when there are no humans around, which is obviously [[Translation Convention]].
* In ''[[Space Quest]] I'', ridiculously awful janitor Roger Wilco can't naturally understand anyone. However, early in the game he gets an item literally called the Strange Gizmo. Turning it on (which requires a bit of inventive thinking) allows him to understand any alien speech. In ''Space Quest 2'', he still carries the same device, only this time, it's called the Dialect Translator and cannot be turned off. It's only useful once in that game, while ''Space Quest 1'' requires it to be on for the entire game.
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