History Main / SuddenlyFluentInGibberish

* In {{Persona 3}}:

SuddenlyFluentInGibberish refers to a character displaying the unexpected ability to communicate with somebody or something that should be impossible to speak to. The conversation is always done in gibberish, whether that includes beaver talk, Martian talk or anything similar. The skill comes without any prior [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowing]] and is almost invariably PlayedForLaughs. When asked how they learned it, TheDitz will more often than not respond that they [[SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat always knew that]]. The other characters will usually be left aghast and try not to think how it makes sense.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* [[BunnyEarsLawyer Angie]] from ''{{PS238}}'' can somehow understand what [[TheUnintelligible Prospero]] is saying. Nobody knows how.

[[folder:{{Film}}]]

* ''FindingNemo'': Dory claims to speak whale language. Marlin is less than impressed, until it actually gets them to Sydney. Dory also seems to know how to read English.

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* In ''{{Zoey 101}}'', Quinn, the MadScientist CloudCuckooLander, is very concerned about her pet alpaca, Otis, whom she left back home. Zoey arranges for Otis to come to school. Quinn makes alpaca noises at Otis, and Otis makes the noises back. Nicole says, "Quinn speaks alpaca?" Zoey's response: "Are you surprised?" (We later see Quinn and the animal playing chess.)
* In ''HappyDays'', Richie has an unexpectedly rough first day at work and he is so tired coming home that he can't speak coherently. Fortunately, Fonzie is fluent in Tired and provides translations.

[[folder:VideoGames]]

[[folder:{{Webcomics}}]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]
* NarutoTheAbridgedSeries: Naruto's group come face to face with Zabuza... except they initially can't understand a word he says because of his face mask. Cue Kakashi revealing he can speak muffle.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

* In ''CodenameKidsNextDoor'', the kids are trying to save babies at a hospital. Numbuh Three, TheDitz, reveals that "I speak baby," and indeed she does.

* Happens in an episode of ''{{Spongebob Squarepants}}'': (as Patrick is whistling) "Patrick, I didn't know you spoke bird!" "No, that's Italian, Spongebob."

* A variant occurred in ''{{Fallout}} 2'': In the first town you reach after leaving home, you encounter a mentally stunted man who with great difficulty tells you to help safeguard some livestock. If your character has a very low intelligence score, you will be able to converse with him in very erudite grunting (the translation is given in parentheses), conveying fairly complex information.

'''Bucky''': ''*squirrel noises*'' [[hottip:note:[[RuleOfFunny Not actual squirrel noises, though]]]]\\

** To be fair, the Doctor is fluent in everything.

* In ''DoctorWho'', the Doctor can apparently speak baby... or at least enough to tell Craig that his son Alfie prefers the name Stormageddon, Master of all.

SisterTrope to SuddenlyBilingual, which involves sudden fluency in an actual language.

* [[RulesLawyer Nelson]] from FullFrontalNerdity, as is his wont, figures out a way to [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ffn/index.php?date=2011-10-13 powergame this]].
--> '''Nelson:''' A hundred squirrels acting in concert could bring down our nation's power grid.

** The gag carries over to ''TheEmperorsNewSchool'', where the Kuzco Academy has lessons in squirrelese.

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[[quoteright:350:[[SquirrelGirl http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/squirrelgirl_480_poster_6670.jpg]]]]

* ''MeteorMan'': Speaking with animals turns out to be one of the meteor's powers, learned when casually asking the dog what he wanted to eat.

** More generally, Fluttershy's ability to communicate with ''any'' animal "on a higher level." Including monsters such as manticores and dragons. She's always had it during the show itself, but in the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E23TheCutieMarkChronicles flashback]] to when she got it, we see it came on suddenly with no training.

* In ''{{Zoey 101}}'', Quinn, the MadScientist CloudCuckooLander, is very concerned about her pet alpaca, Otis, whom she left back home. Zoey arranges for Otis to come to school. Quinn makes alpaca noises at Otis, and Otis makes the noises back. Nicole says, "Quinn speaks alpaca?" Zoey's response: "Are you surprised?" (We later see Quinn and the animal playing chess.)
** Used again that season in the episode "Closing Time". Craig seems equally disbelieving as he holds a conversation with his son Alphie (or, if you'd prefer, '''Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All''').

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Pinkie Pie interprets a frog's ribbit for Twilight: "Nice catch." Though this hasn't proven particularly useful to anypony yet.\

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Pinkie Pie interprets a frog's ribbit for Twilight: "Nice catch." Though this hasn't proven particularly useful to anypony yet.

* One episode of [[TotalDramaIsland Total Drama World Tour]] has Izzy, the queen ClouCcuckoolander, is able to talk to a camel. Its even been confirmed that camel is her favorite foreign language.

* In the "Underfist" special of ''TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', Irwin pleads to Hoss, Skarr, and Jeff that, among other things, Mindy was kidnapped by a marshmallow bunny. However, his wussy sobbing couldn't be understood, save by Jeff, who speaks "crybaby."

* At one point in ''PhineasAndFerb'', while Phineas and Ferb are helping Buford search for his lost goldfish, Phineas mentions that Ferb can [[InformedAbility communicate with dolphins.]] Another episode also reveals that Ferb can also speak martian.
* One episode of [[TotalDramaIsland Total Drama World Tour]] has Izzy, the queen Cloudcuckoolander, is able to talk to a camel. Its even been confirmed that camel is her favorite foreign language.

SisterTrope to SuddenlyBilingual. The difference being, SuddenlyBilingual has to do with actual languages, and not gibberish.

SuddenlyCommunicatesInGibberish refers to a character displaying the unexpected ability to communicate with somebody or something that should be impossible to speak to. The conversation is always done in gibberish, whether that includes beaver talk, Martian talk or anything similar. The skill comes without any prior [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowing]] and is almost invariably PlayedForLaughs. When asked how they learned it, TheDitz will more often than not respond that they [[SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat always knew that]]. The other characters will usually be left aghast and try not to think how it makes sense.

The heroes meet a source of information but can't communicate because of language difficulties. This might be because they are talking to an alien, or an animal or a foreigner.

The heroes are at a loss. Then TheDitz (or {{Cloudcuckoolander}}) steps forward and proceeds to communicate. Everyone is stunned that CCL appears to [[SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat Suddenly Always Have Known That]]. Sometimes this is the start of upgrading TheDitz to GeniusDitz.

Sometimes followed by an exchange when other heroes comment, "I didn't know you could speak [that animal's language]!" And {{Cloudcuckoolander}} replies, "Oh I can't, I [insert irrational explanation here]."
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* GentleGiant Apachai Hopachai does this a lot in KenichiTheMightiestDisciple
* In the ''LoveHina'' manga, Mutsumi occasionally talks to Tama-chan the turtle, and appears to understand the responses. She will then deny that she speaks turtlease and claim to have found any information she receives via some other source. The only occasion that she indirectly admits to speaking turtlease is when Keitaro and Naru are explaining the need to be good at a foreign language, specifically English, to pass the Tokyo U exams, whereupon she asks whether turtlease counts. And is assured that it doesn't.

* SquirrelGirl of the MarvelUniverse has exactly this among her powers.

[[folder:FanFiction]]
* JustImagineStanLeeCreatingRanma1/2 gives this power to Ranma, as a result of being raised by a panda in the wilds of China. After rejoining society, he retains the ability to speak to all animals, including squirrels.
[[/folder]]

* A lot of the heroines of Disney animated films seem to be able to speak to their DisneyCreaturesOfTheFarce. ''Disney/{{Cinderella}}'' can understand the mice and birds, though the mice have learned a variation of English.

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]
* Part of the plot of the {{Discworld}} novel ''The Truth'' centers around getting a witness's testimony. The witness? Lord Vetinari's dog Wuffles.
** Note however that the one doing the translating is [[TalkingAnimal Gaspode the Wonder Dog]]. And the Watch has [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Angua]] on staff in case they need to question something fluffy.
** Also a dog is questioned as to a break in at the City Bank in ''Making Money''. When the Ankh-Morpork city guard say they're looking for a dog to help with their enquiries they're not kidding.
* Several characters in the ''{{Belgariad}}'' can talk to wolves. You learn it automatically if you turn ''into'' one, but it's possible to pick up the knack in other ways. Polgara can also speak to birds.
** Eventually the sheer number of characters who can talk to wolves is lampshaded by the DeadpanSnarker: ''"Does everyone in the world except me speak Wolf?"'' He isn't amused when Garion offers him lessons.
** The manner in which everyone learns Wolf actually starts a debate: If you use a transformation spell to change ethnicity, will you learn the native tongue of that culture? The debate goes on for centuries, and everyone involved had so much fun debating the issue that they never got around to actually trying the experiment.
* As he starts listening more to what others say, ''TheKnightInShiningArmor'' becomes able to do this.
* In the ''RiftwarCycle'', Pug's son William can talk to animals. He doesn't use it very often. Apparently most animals aren't very interesting conversationalists.
* Solomon's ring in ''Open Sesame'' by Tom Holt not only allows the wearer to talk to animals but household appliances too.
* ''HitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' After spending time on Krikkit Arthur Dent learns to speak to birds but regrets it when he realizes that they chatter endlessly all the time.
[[/folder]]

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "A Good Man Goes to War", the Doctor claims to speak baby. When this surprises Rory and Amy he says "I speak everything."
** Used again that season in the episode "Closing Time". Craig seems equally disbelieving as he holds a conversation with his son Alphie (or, if you'd prefer, '''Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All''').

[[folder:Music]]
* Beck's song, "Whiskey Clone, Hotel City 1997" features the line "She could talk to squirrels."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* In ''IntoTheWoods'', Literature/{{Cinderella}} can talk to birds.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]
* Nuju and Kualus from ''{{Bionicle}}'' can communicate with birds.
[[/folder]]

* Ness from ''{{Earthbound}}'' can understand animals, possibly because he's telepathic. Jeff can understand the Bubble Gum Monkey, possibly because he's a genius.

* VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}} brings us Dogan. Some campers [[PlayingWithFire set stuff on fire with their minds]], [[{{Invisibility}} cheat at hide-and-seek]] or [[{{Telepathy}} listen in on other campers' thoughts]] ([[OhGodDidSheJustHearThat intentionally or not]]). Dogan hears the thoughts of squirrels. And he doesn't like what they're saying about him one bit. [[YourHeadAsplode He does get his revenge]], but [[spoiler: regrets the action later on, when he realizes that they were talking about Coach Oleander's plot, and not him.]] For what it's worth, Elton also talks to fish.

* Grace from ''ElGoonishShive,'' being [[HalfHumanHybrid part human,]] [[JustifiedTrope part squirrel,]] and two parts alien, once had to help negotiate with the squirrels that were taking over the birdhouse. And once [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-01-22 for navigation]].

* Erika from MegaTokyo [[http://megatokyo.com/strip/1222 can see]] and [[http://megatokyo.com/strip/1224 make casual small talk]] with Boo the Hamster, who is Largo's assigned [[GoodAngelBadAngel Conscience Enforcement Authority agent]], even though Largo himself can't understand Boo's squeaks and every other character in the cast can't even see other people's consciences. This may end up plot-relevant, since WeirdnessCensor is a major part of MegaTokyo, but so far it looks like a one-off joke suited to Erika, a BrokenBird who's SeenItAll.

* In the WhateleyUniverse, Aquerna can literally [[TheDoctorDolittle communicate with squirrels and give them commands.]] Since she is at [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]], this is pointed out as one of [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway the lamest powers ever]]. Until her combat final, when everyone sees just what you can do if you can talk to squirrels.
** Also, Arachne can talk to spiders, even if they're not all that smart.
* NarutoTheAbridgedSeries: Naruto's group come face to face with Zabuza... except they initially can't understand a word he says because of his face mask. Cue Kakashi revealing he can speak muffle.

* Trope name comes from ''ThePowerpuffGirls'', where Bubbles has the ability to speak to squirrels, [[{{Omniglot}} among other things]], which comes in handy on occasion.

* ''TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo'': Our heroes can't speak Japanese, so Starfire grabs a random passerby and [[FetishFuel kisses him to learn the language]]. Good thing Tamaranians can transmit information via lip contact, huh?
** The fact that this passerby is cosplaying as Robin makes it somewhat awkward for the real Robin to watch.
** Tamaranians transmit information by skin contact in the comics too. Starfire kisses people because she thinks that way is more fun. This troper remembers seeing a panel from a ''ComicBook/TeenTitans''[=/=]''ComicBook/XMen'' crossover which had Starfire learning Russian from Colossus, with Nightcrawler in the background wondering if she wanted to learn German. "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?"
* In ''CodenameKidsNextDoor'', the kids are trying to save babies at a hospital. Numbuh Three, TheDitz, reveals that "I speak baby," and indeed she does.

* ''HiHiPuffyAmiYumi'' Yumi speaks squirrel, [[NegativeContinuity despite the fact that she's been afraid of them since age five...]]
* In ''{{Super Mario Bros Super Show}}'' In episode 4 Durring the Cartoon Mario Luigi and the Princess are riding a magic carpet being attacked by a bird whose favorite food is carpeting. Luigi says, "Hey I remember, I speak Pigit!" and convinces the birds to leave them in favor of Bowser's Tasty Carpet.

* At one point in ''PhineasAndFerb'', while caged up next to a beaver dam, Perry manages to enlist the aid of the beavers to escape. Apparently, not being able to speak human languages does not restrict learning other mammalian tongues. Or maybe it's the tail.
** AnimalTalk is much more likely.
** In another episode, while Phineas and Ferb are helping Buford search for his lost goldfish, Phineas mentions that Ferb can [[InformedAbility communicate with dolphins.]] Another episode also reveals that Ferb can also speak martian.

The Trope comes from ''ThePowerpuffGirls'', since as the seasons went on, each girl got a special super power all to her own.

* In the WhateleyUniverse, Aquerna can literally [[TalksToSquirrels communicate with squirrels and give them commands.]] Since she is at [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]], this is pointed out as one of [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway the lamest powers ever]]. Until her combat final, when everyone sees just what you can do if you can talk to squirrels.