Skip to main content

star wars - Why does C-3PO talk to R2-D2 in English?


Whenever we see C-3PO talking to R2-D2, he talks in English (well, that's what we hear) so at least not in the 'binary' beeps that R2-D2 uses.



Why doesn't C-3PO talk in R2's 'beeping' language when they're together and there's no need for a translation? Surely C-3P0 could speak in that language, being both a translator and a droid. I'm looking for in-universe answers, because of course it's done on-screen for our benefit of understanding what R2 is saying!



Answer



C-3PO is programmed for etiquette and protocol; so undoubtedly he would speak Galactic Basic to R2-D2 if any others are present, so that everyone can understand what he is saying. However this doesn't explain why he speaks it to R2-D2 when no one else is around, for example when they are alone in the desert wastes of Tattooine.


We know C-3PO prefers some languages to others. In TESB he complains about the Millennium Falcon's communication:



C-3PO (to Han): Sir, I don't know where your ship learned to communicate, but it has the most peculiar dialect.



It is possible he finds R2-D2's "beep language" ugly or has some other prejudice against it. Given his frequent efforts to insult and belittle R2-D2, C-3PO may consider beep language to be beneath him.


Also, as Numaroth says, speaking Galactic Basic may simply be a habit for C-3PO. It appears to be the language he uses to talk and grumble to himself, for example in the opening scene of ANH when he mutters "I'm going to regret this" as he climbs into the escape pod.


One thing which seems to be evidence of this, but really isn't, is C-3PO speaking Basic to Jabba the Hutt in ROTJ. According to the answer to this question, he is not considered worthy to speak Huttese to Jabba and would have been severely punished if he tried.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...

futurama - How much time is lost in 'Time Keeps on Slippin''

In time Keeps on Slippin' , Farnsworth creates a basketball team which he matures by abusing Chronitons. This leads to time skipping forward by random, but ever increasing amounts. How much time was skipped in this way? Answer Unfortunately, I don't think a good estimate can be made for this, for two reasons: Many of the time skips move forward by an indeterminate amount of time. At one point, the Professor mentions localized regions of space skipping forward much more than others. We then see two young boys on the street below complaining about having to pay social security, only to suddenly become senior citizens and start complaining about wanting their money. Thus, each individual could have experienced a different amount of time skippage.

aliens - Interstellar Zoo story

I vaguely remember this story from my childhood: it was about an interstellar zoo that came to Earth with lots of bizarre and unusual species, and humans would file through and gape at all the crazy looking creatures from other planets. The twist came at the end when the perspective shifted to the other side of the bars and we discovered that the "creatures" were traveling through space on a kind of safari. They thought they were the visitors and we were the animals. Neither side knew that the other side thought they were the zoo creatures. Answer Got it. Zoo, by Edward D. Hoch. Published in 1958. Link to Publication History Link to PDF

tolkiens legendarium - Did Gandalf wear his Ring of Power throughout the trilogy?

After Gandalf discovered that Sauron was back and sent Frodo on his quest to Rivendell, did he continue to wear Narya (one of the Three Rings)? It seems like a huge risk to continue to wear it after the Nazgûl (Ringwraiths) started to try and reclaim the One Ring; if they managed to get the ring to Sauron, couldn't he be corrupted by his power? Whatever powers Narya bestows upon him couldn't possibly be worth the huge risk, could it? Answer When Sauron forged the one ring and put it on his finger, the other ring bearers were immediately aware of him and his intentions and removed their own rings. There is no reason why they couldn't merely do so again. As soon as Sauron set the One Ring upon his finger they were aware of him; and they knew him, and preceived that he would be master of them, and of all they wrought. Then in anger and fear they took off their rings. "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," Silmarillion