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1''Tropes specifically having to do with use of language, including translations.''
2
3See also: {{Dialogue}}, InnuendoTropes, OralTradition, IncoherenceIndex, the Language UsefulNotes, and Administrivia/HomePagesByLanguage (for this site in other languages).
4----
5!!Tropes:
6[[index]]
7[floatboxright:
8'''Categories:'''
9+ AccentTropes
10+ ArtisticLicenseLinguistics
11+ BodyLanguage
12+ {{Dialogue}}
13+ {{Engrish}}
14+ GratuitousForeignLanguage
15+ IncoherenceIndex
16+ NamingConventions
17+ PoetryTropes
18+ ThePowerOfLanguage
19+ {{Pun}}
20+ TranslationTropes
21]
22* AccentUponTheWrongSyllable: A character emphasizes the wrong parts of a word when pronouncing it.
23* AcquiredErrorAtThePrinter: A minor mistake in a printed sign renders the meaning completely different, usually something inappropriate.
24* AcronymConfusion: One abbreviation is mistaken for another.
25* AcronymAndAbbreviationOverload: A character has a tendency to use acronyms and abbreviations constantly.
26* AcronymsAreEasyAsAybeecee: A character mishears or miswrites an acronym as if it's a normal word.
27* AICronym: AI/Robots/machines are often given names. These names are typically an acronym for a phrase at least tangentially related to their purpose.
28* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Aliens are already able to speak English in spite of never visiting Earth before.
29* TheAllConcealingI: A story is in a first-person narrative so that the protagonist's true nature can be revealed in a twist ending.
30* {{all lowercase letters}}
31* AlternateCatchphraseInflection: When a character says their catchphrase in a different tone of voice than normal.
32* AlternateCharacterReading
33* AmbiguousSyntax: The phrasing of a sentence allows for more than one interpretation of what the sentence means.
34* AnimalTalk: All animal species can communicate with each other, except for humans.
35* AntiquatedLinguistics
36* ArabBeobleTalk
37* ArtificialScript
38* AsianSpeekeeEngrish: East Asian people speaking in broken English.
39* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign
40* AtomicFBomb: Someone hollers the word "fuck" or another swear word as loud as they can.
41* AuthorVocabularyCalendar
42* AutoIncorrect: Autocorrect or speech-to-text software screws up a statement.
43* BabyLanguage: Babies have their own language.
44* BabysFirstWords: A baby's first words, which are often heartwarming or funny.
45* BabyTalk: Babies and toddlers speak, but have speech impediments because of their age.
46* BilingualAnimal: An animal that speaks both a human language and its animal language.
47* BilingualBackfire
48* BilingualBonus: A work has some untranslated words in a different language.
49* BilingualDialogue
50* BilingualRhyme
51* BiteTheWaxTadpole
52* BlackSpeech: An evil language that hurts non-evil listeners.
53* BlindIdiotTranslation: Something ends up translated too literally.
54* TheBodyPartsThatMustNotBeNamed: People avoid directly naming the genitalia.
55* BrandNameTakeover: A brand becomes the generic word for something.
56* BuffySpeak: Someone doesn't know the word for something and does things like add "Y"s on the end, call it a "thingy", etc.
57* BusmansVocabulary: Someone's vocabulary coincides with their job.
58* ByNoIMeanYes
59* CalculatorSpelling: Using the seven-segment display on a calculator (usually turned upside-down) to spell out something.
60* CallAHumanAMeatbag: A slur that means "human".
61* CallAPegasusAHippogriff
62* CallARabbitASmeerp: A mundane animal is given an unusual name.
63* CallASmeerpARabbit: A bizarre creature is given the name of a mundane animal.
64* CanisLatinicus: Butchered Latin.
65** BinomiumRidiculus
66* ClassicalTongue
67* {{Cloudcuckoolanguage}}: A goofy character has their own language.
68* ClusterFBomb: Someone repeatedly uses cuss words (commonly the F-word, hence the name) in a single sentence.
69* CommonTongue: Disparate groups, which might have their own cultural languages, nevertheless use a shared language to communicate.
70* CongestionSpeak: A character's written dialogue is misspelled (for instance, replacing "N"s with "D"s) to indicate they have a stuffy nose.
71* ConLang: A language that has been intentionally designed instead of developing organically.
72* ConstantlySpellsTheirName: Someone who often spells their name.
73* ConvenientlyPreciseTranslation
74* ConversationHog: When a character keeps another from getting a word or a defense in-edgewise.
75* CountryMatters: The infamous "C word" (cunt) and its effects in different cultures.
76* {{Crunchtastic}}: An ad uses nonsense adjectives that sound positive, either as WeaselWords or for comedy.
77* CunningLinguist: A linguist who's strategic (not related to the dirty joke).
78* CurseOfBabel: A character loses the ability to speak intelligibly.
79* CurseOfTheAncients: Elderly people shout old-timey exclamations.
80* CypherLanguage
81* DeadlyEuphemism: Killing is referred to using other words, so as to sound less brutal or conceal the intent from those not in the know.
82* DelusionsOfEloquence
83* DidNotDoTheBloodyResearch: A work imported to the United Kingdom causes controversy over using words that are unintentionally offensive towards Britons.
84* DinnerOrderFlub: A waiter gets an order wrong.
85* {{Dissimile}}
86* DoesNotSpeakCommon: A character mostly speaks in a different language from the rest of the cast.
87* DontCallMeSir: A person doesn't like formal titles.
88* EitherWorldDominationOrSomethingAboutBananas: A character translates another character as having said either a logical phrase or a silly one.
89* ElectiveBrokenLanguage
90* ElectiveUnintelligible
91* ElNinoIsSpanishForTheNino
92* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: A speech impediment where Ls and Rs are pronounced as if they were Ws.
93* EloquentInMyNativeTongue
94* ElSpanishO: Butchered Spanish.
95* EnslavedTongue
96* EntendreFailure: The more risque meaning of a DoubleEntendre is lost on someone.
97* EternalEnglish
98* EvenTheSubtitlerIsStumped: When subtitles show up to translate the dialogue of someone speaking a foreign language, there will eventually be subtitles left blank because it's become impossible to translate the current saying.
99* EveryoneKnowsMorse: All the characters know Morse Code.
100* EverythingSoundsSexierInFrench: The French language is sexualized.
101* ExpositoryPronoun
102* FamiliarSoundtrackForeignLyrics
103* FanSub: A foreign work is unofficially given translating subtitles by fans.
104* FangThpeak
105* FanTranslation
106* FantasticMeasurementSystem
107* FantasticSlurs: Slurs aimed at people who are discriminated for their species rather than their ethnicity.
108* FauxFluency
109* {{Fictionary}}
110* FloweryElizabethanEnglish
111* FloweryInsults: Someone uses a well-developed and highly detailed insult.
112* FontAnachronism
113* ForeignCussWord
114* ForeignersWriteBackwards
115* ForeignLanguageTirade: When the Bilingual Bonus is an angry rant.
116* ForeignLookingFont
117* FormalCharactersUseKeigo: The association with formal UsefulNotes/{{Japanese|Language}} speech with people who are polite, old-fashioned, mild-mannered, refined, or a combination thereof.
118* FromTheLatinIntroDucere
119* FunWithAcronyms: Acronyms that stand for or spell out something funny.
120* FunWithForeignLanguages
121* FunWithHomophones: Confusion between two different words that sound the same.
122* FunWithPalindromes
123* FunWithSubtitles: The subtitles are used in humorous ways.
124* FutureSlang: The future has new slang words.
125* GayEuphemism: Avoiding directly using homosexuality-related terms.
126* GenderVocabularySlip
127* {{Gesundheit}}: Mistaking a word for a sneeze.
128* GetTheeToANunnery: Things that were meant to sound dirty in the past, but sound clean now.
129* GoodBadTranslation
130* GoshDangItToHeck: Non-profane exclamations stand in for profanity.
131* GotMeDoingIt: A character complains about slipping into the vocabulary habits they just berated another person for using.
132* GoToTheEuphemism: A character uses a euphemism for "bathroom" or what you do there.
133* GratuitousIambicPentameter
134* HashHouseLingo: Restaurants have their own slang for menu items.
135* HaveAGayOldTime: Phrases that sound dirty now because of the evolution of language.
136* HidingBehindTheLanguageBarrier
137* HoldYourHippogriffs: A work of fiction has the characters use different versions of familiar phrases and figures of speech due to the setting preventing the normal versions of the statements from making any sense.
138* HollywoodSpelling
139* HowDoYouSay
140* HulkSpeak: A character speaks in third person and uses incomplete sentences.
141* HurricaneOfPuns
142* IDoNotSpeakNonverbal
143* IJustLikeSayingTheWord
144* IncidentalMultilingualWordplay
145* InconsistentSpelling: A name or term from a work doesn't have a consistent official spelling.
146* InexplicableLanguageFluency: A character understands a language they've never seen/heard before.
147* InexplicablySpeaksFluentAlien
148* InMyLanguageThatSoundsLike
149* IndoEuropeanAlienLanguage
150* InformedObscenity: A nonsensical or innocuous word is treated as if it were a profanity.
151* InherentlyFunnyWords
152* IntentionalEngrishForFunny: Bad English is put in for comedy.
153* IntentionallyAwkwardTitle
154* InternationalPopSongEnglish
155* InTheLocalTongue
156* InventedLinguisticDistinction
157* ItIsDehumanizing: Calling a person "it" to show that you do not consider them human.
158* JapaneseRanguage: The stereotype that Asians can't distinguish between "L" and "R" sounds.
159* JiveTurkey: A character speaks in jive.
160* LanguageBarrier: Trouble arises because people don't speak the same language.
161* LanguageDrift
162* LanguageEqualsThought
163* LanguageFluencyDenial
164* LanguageOfMagic
165* LanguageOfTruth
166* LastSecondWordSwap: Replacing the last word you intended to say at the last minute.
167* LearntEnglishFromWatchingTelevision: Non-humans learn to speak English from watching television broadcasts.
168* LeastRhymableWord: Someone tries to find a rhyming word to a word that has little or no known rhymes.
169* LeetLingo
170* LeftFieldDescription: Describing important bits in unconventional ways that don't necessarily jump out to the reader.
171* Letters2Numbers
172* LikeIsLikeAComma: A character says, "like" in between every other word.
173* LostLanguage
174* LuckyCharmsTitle
175* LyricalTic
176* MagicalForeignWords
177* MagicalProfanityFilter: A magic spell or other in-universe effect that prevents characters from swearing.
178* {{Magick}}
179* MametSpeak
180* MedievalUniversalLiteracy: Most people in a MedievalEuropeanFantasy setting seem to know how to read and write (in contrast to the real-life medieval era where the opposite was true).
181* {{Metaphorgotten}}: A character starts off with a metaphor or analogy, but then gets sidetracked by what the metaphor or analogy implies.
182* {{Microts}}
183* MilitaryAlphabet: Words used instead of letters to spell another word out.
184* MisspellingOutLoud: A character tries to spell a word out loud, but either gets it wrong or unintentionally spells a completely different word.
185* MixedMetaphor
186* MondegreenGag: A statement is misheard.
187* MouthingTheProfanity
188* MultilingualSong
189* MultipleLanguagesSameVoiceActor: The different dubs of a work have one actor reprising their role for the translations.
190* MultipleReferencePun
191* MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels: A character attempts to speak a foreign language, but ends up getting someone mad by unintentionally saying an insulting phrase or embarrassing themselves because their statement translates as meaningless nonsense or a humiliating phrase.
192* NarrativeProfanityFilter: The narrator implies or outright confirms that a character swore when the audience doesn't hear the character use profanity.
193* {{Neologism}}: A made-up word.
194* {{Neologizer}}
195* NerdsSpeakKlingon
196* NeverLearnedToRead: A character is illiterate.
197* NobleTongue
198* NoLongerWithUs: A common euphemism for death turns out to be meant literally or is mistaken for being literal by a naive listener.
199* NonIndicativeName: A character's name does not match who they are.
200* NoPunctuationIsFunnier
201* NoPunctuationPeriod
202* NuSpeling: In the future, words are spelled as if they were written or typed by barely-literate children.
203* ObligatorySwearing: A work features profanity just because it's an adult story.
204* OhMyGods: Parodies of religion-related expressions like "Oh my God!" or "Saints alive!".
205* YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe
206* {{Omniglot}}: A character who can speak many languages.
207* OnceForYesTwiceForNo
208* OneTwoThreeFourGo
209* OrphanedEtymology
210* OtherworldlyCommunicationFailure: Speaking a language not known to humans may be the cause of this trope.
211* OverlyLiteralTranscription
212* PardonMyKlingon: Alien swear words.
213* PerfectlyCromulentWord: People using made-up words.
214* PeriodPieceModernLanguage: The production is a posh historical one, the language is not.
215* PersonAsVerb: A person's name is used as a verb pertaining to an action appropriate to the person's behavior and reputation.
216* PhantasySpelling
217* PigLatin: A language where you move the first consonant or consonants at the beginning of every word to the end followed by "ay", or just "ay" if the first letter is a vowel. (example: "I-ay ould-way ike-lay o-tay ing-say.")
218* {{Pluralses}}
219* PointOfView
220* PoirotSpeak: A character has difficulty properly speaking the English language.
221* PokemonSpeak: A character never says anything other than their own name.
222* PopularSayingBut
223* {{Portmanteau}}: A word that is a combination of two or more individual words.
224* ThePowerOfLanguage
225* PrecisionFStrike: A character who doesn't usually swear ends up saying a curse word out of the blue, or a work that usually doesn't feature profanity features some at one point (or alternatively, a work that usually features mild profanity features a case of strong profanity).
226* PrepositionsAreNotToEndSentencesWith: The misconception that ending a sentence with a preposition (a direction-related word like "to" or "through") is grammatically incorrect.
227* PretentiousLatinMotto
228* PretentiousPronunciation: A word gets pronounced in a pseudo-foreign manner in an attempt to sound fancy.
229* TheProblemWithPenIsland: Because website [=URL=]s do not have spaces between words, certain website names can be misread as something else.
230* PronounTrouble
231* PropheciesRhymeAllTheTime: Prophecies are in rhyme.
232* PsmithPsyndrome
233* PrimordialTongue: One language spoken by the first humans that is the ancestor of all existing languages.
234* {{Pun}}: A play on words.
235* PunctuationChangesTheMeaning
236* PunctuationShaker: Names with punctuation marks in them.
237* TheQueensLatin
238* RapidFireDescriptors
239* RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic: Fictional characters speak without using [[LikeIsLikeAComma filler words]], tripping over words, awkward pauses or interrupting each other mid-sentence.
240* RecursiveAcronym
241* RecursiveTranslation
242* RepeatedRehearsalFailure
243* RichLanguagePoorLanguage: Rich and poor characters are distinguished by their accents and/or dialects.
244* {{Riddle}}: Word puzzles with nonintuitive answers.
245* RoboSpeak
246* RomanticHyperbole
247* RougeAnglesOfSatin: A spelling mistake results in a whole different word.
248* RoyalWe: Using "we" instead of "I", famous for being how the Queen talks.
249* SacredLanguage
250* {{Scanlation}}
251* ScareQuotes
252* ScaryScienceWords: A character is intimidated by technical-sounding words.
253* SdrawkcabSpeech
254* SeparatedByACommonLanguage: American English and British English have certain differences in the terms used.
255* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: A character tends to use big words.
256* SexualEuphemism
257* ShoehornedAcronym: A poorly-constructed acronym.
258* ShoehornedFirstLetter
259* SingleLanguagePlanet
260* SmartPeopleKnowLatin
261* SommelierSpeak
262* SonOfAnApe
263* SophisticatedAsHell: A character who usually speaks sophisticated and politely suddenly resorts to using slang and profanity.
264* SpaceX
265* SpeechImpededLoveInterest
266* SpellMyNameWithAThe: A character is frequently addressed with "The" in front of their name.
267* SpeakingLikeTotallyTeen
268* SpeakingSimlish
269* SpeaksInBinary
270* SpeaksInShoutOuts
271* SpeechCentricWork
272* SpellingForEmphasis: Spelling out a word to emphasise it.
273* SpockSpeak
274* {{Spoonerism}}: Switching the first letters of two words (e.g. saying "whack and blight" instead of "black and white")
275* {{Sssssnaketalk}}: Snakes and snake-like characters emphasize their Ss by hissing.
276* StarfishLanguage
277* StealthPun: A play on words that is subtle.
278* StrangeSyntaxSpeaker
279* StupidlyLongFillerSound: A ditzy character exaggerates their speech disfluency when ask even in the simplest of questions.
280* StutterStop: A character who usually stutters doesn't when things are serious.
281* SuddenlyBilingual
282* SuddenlyFluentInGibberish: It's suddenly revealed that a character SpeaksFluentAnimal or can speak a made-up language.
283* SuddenlySpeaking: A silent character finally talks.
284* SugarWiki/SurprisinglyGoodForeignLanguage
285* SwitchToEnglish
286* TWordEuphemism: Referring to a word as "the [letter] word".
287* TactfulTranslation
288* TalkingIsAFreeAction
289* TalkLikeAPirate: Pirates use expressions like "Arrr!", "Shiver me timbers", "ye", "me hearties", and "be" in the place of "is".
290* TeasingFromBehindTheLanguageBarrier
291* TechnicalEuphemism: Speaking euphemistically using technical language.
292* UsefulNotes/{{Tenses}}
293* TerseTalker
294* ThatSoundsFamiliar
295* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: A character insists on being addressed formally.
296* ThievesCant
297* ThirdPersonPerson: Somebody refers to themself in the third-person.
298* TongueTwister
299* TotallyRadical: Cheesy slang.
300* TranslatedCoverVersion
301* TranslateTheLoanwordsToo
302* TranslationByVolume
303* TranslationConvention
304* TranslationCorrection
305* TranslationMatchmaking
306* TranslationPunctuation
307* TranslationStyleChoices
308* TranslationTrainWreck: A translation that fails miserably.
309* TranslationWithAnAgenda
310* TranslationYes: A long statement made in a foreign language becomes ludicrously brief when translated.
311* TranslatorMicrobes
312* TrollingTranslator: The translator intentionally mistranslates what the foreign language speaker is saying.
313* TropeNamesFromOtherLanguages
314* TropeNamesFromTheFrench
315* TrrrillingRrrs: A character tends to emphasize their Rs.
316* TwoOfYourEarthMinutes
317* TwoWordsAddedEmphasis: A character says "Two words" or any other number of words and immediately follows it with the two words they intend to use to make their point clear.
318* TwoWordsICantCount: An attempt at TwoWordsAddedEmphasis is flubbed when the person gets the number of words wrong.
319* TyopOnTheCover
320* {{Uncoffee}}: A fictional drink that acts like coffee.
321* UntranslatedCatchPhrase
322* UnusualDysphemism: Foul language is used to refer to innocuous things.
323* UnusualEuphemism: Bizarre words or phrases are used in place of profanity.
324* VerbalTic: A character has a specific way they talk, such as adding a specific word at the end of all their sentences.
325* VerbalTicked: A character with a verbal tic suddenly talks normally.
326* ViewerPronunciationConfusion: People have trouble pronouncing something even when the official pronunciation is available.
327* WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma
328* WeaponsGradeVocabulary
329* WhatSongWasThisAgain
330* WhenIsPurple
331* {{Wingdinglish}}
332* {{Woolseyism}}: A translation alters the work's dialogue so it works better in the new language.
333* WordSaladPhilosophy
334* WritingLines: A character is punished by being forced to repeatedly write a sentence promising they'll never do what they did wrong again.
335* XtremeKoolLetterz: Misspelling words to be cool.
336* YiddishAsASecondLanguage
337* YouAreTheTranslatedForeignWord
338* YouKeepUsingThatWord: A character uses a word constantly, but it is apparent that they don't know what the word actually means.
339* YouKnowTheOne
340* YouNoTakeCandle: Bad grammar.
341* YouSayTomato: More than one accepted way to pronounce a term.
342[[/index]]

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