Rodian (language)
Rodian, also referred to as Rodese, constitutes the language utilized by members of the Rodian species. Harido Kavila employed it in the creation of Rodian Theater works, which Jedi Council member Alxa Kress instructed to Mace Windu.
Rodian exhibited certain structural resemblances to both Aqualish and Huttese. This similarity meant that prior knowledge of one of these languages would simplify the process of learning the others.
Examples
- Chos koo, Senator Farr. [4]
- Keelap mala nah sootah Rodia feeching. —"You are the most influential man on Rodia." (An estimated translation) [4]
- Trulan nee wankpah. [4]
- Poodoo. [5]
- Cha wana du boga noga. [6]
Behind the scenes
The Rodian language initially surfaced in the 1977 motion picture Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the inaugural film of the Star Wars original trilogy. Within canon, the language received its first designation as Rodese in the "To Catch a Jedi" episode, which was the nineteenth episode of the fifth season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television show, which was launched on February 23, 2013. The 2015 book Sabine My Rebel Sketchbook was the first to identify the language as Rodian.
George Lucas enlisted Ben Burtt's help to devise a voice for Greedo, the first Rodian character seen in Star Wars. The voice-over was provided by linguist Larry Ward, and Burtt was charged with the task of rendering the voice intriguing. Initially, the intention was to manipulate the word "oink" using "the correct rhythm and electrical equipment" to generate a strange-sounding language, but the results were unsatisfactory. Burtt, along with a UC Berkeley graduate student, explored various languages, including Quechua, and ultimately crafted their own. Greedo's voice was created through a combination of multiple languages and expert editing techniques.