Cold War-era crates bearing inscriptions in Neimoidian Basic
The so-called Trade Federation Basic alphabet found its origin in the writing system of the Neimoidians, a Near-Duros species from Neimoidia. Unlike their Duros ancestors, who spoke a phonetic language, the Neimoidians had developed the Pak Pak, a new language made of modulated croaks. Because of that, the old Durese syllabary had become unusable, which prompted them to create a new writing system that could accurately express the sounds of Pak Pak. When the Neimoidians started with the wider galactic community, they realized their language was unspeakable by most offworlders, and they started learning Galactic Basic Standard while still using their own alphabet to transcribe it. A form of that alphabet existed as early as of the Cold War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire, around 3643 BBY. At the time, inscriptions in Trade Federation Basic appeared on some crates that could be found on various locales, including Hutta, Korriban and Hammer Station. The text, however, featured some characters that did not correspond to later versions of the alphabet, and what could actually be deciphered reads as gibberish.
In 350 BBY, the Neimoidians were among the founding members of the Trade Federation, a shipping corporation and cartel. As centuries went by, their influence in the Federation became stronger and stronger, and their idiosyncratic script ended up being endorsed throughout the organization. Because of that, it was dubbed Trade Federation Basic from then on.
When a Neimoidian activated the Trade Federation Droid Army during the Battle of the Great Grass Plains, Trade Federation Basic characters could be seen on the computer screen. Later during the battle, when the Gungans realized the battle droids had shut down, a battle droid pushed over by Jar Jar Binks has "1138" in Trade Federation Basic numerals on its backpack. Before the battle, the display on Darth Maul's macrobinoculars showed Trade Federation Basic, but the text was gibberish.
A few years later, a screen in the Eastport processing station said "GATE 24".
During the Battle of Geonosis, a B1-Series battle droid that was firing at opposing Jedi while Mace Windu deflected a blaster shot into a OOM command battle droid, had 1138 printed on its booster pack.
Text in Jedi Temple blueprints was written with Aurebesh letters and Trade Federation Basic numbers. The blueprints of the temple hangar included the text "AB281", "DELTA-7" and "DELTA-7 AETHERSPRITE." The blueprints of the Analysis Rooms include "FLOOR 47" and "3263827 ANALYSIS". The specifications of the Sp-4 analysis droid includes the text "IC-GR8 ANALYSIS DROID".
Trade Federation Basic on Separatist computer screens.
The T-series tactical droid has the letter L on its chest. One version also had the letter on its head.
During the mission to the citadel, a tactical droid's computer screen read "SEPARATIST ESCORT SHUTTLE CLASS TYPE B" . "SCAN COMPLETE" . "SUPPLIES" . "BEVERAGES" . "FOOD" . "MORE FOOD" . "GUNS" . "GENERAL SUPPLIES" . "FROZEN RATIONS" . "ANAKIN SKYWA" . "CARBONITE" . "METAL". The bottom of the screensaid "DESTROY" and "LET PASS".
When Anakin Skywalker is talking to Asajj Ventress in the Coruscant underworld, a large sign showed Trade Federation Basic. It said "CATO."
Toward the end of the Clone Wars, Trade Federation Basic was seen on the monitors of General Grievous' flagship, the Invisible Hand, as Captain Lushros Dofine said, "Two Jedi have landed in the main hangar bay. We're tracking them."
A restaurant menu in Galactic City read:
- Star Wars: Episode I The Visual Dictionary
- Secrets of Naboo
- "Force Feedback" — Star Wars Gamer 4
- "Bounties to Die For" — Star Wars Gamer 6
- Inside the Worlds of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Written Word on Hyperspace
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Expanded Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars: The Secret Life of Droids
- The Essential Guide to Warfare