Baby (language): Difference between revisions

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'''"Baby"''' was the name the [[Eleventh Doctor]] gave to the language supposedly spoken by [[human]] [[baby|infants]]. It was spoken by the [[Ganger|flesh duplicate]] of [[Melody Pond#Birth|Melody Pond]] and [[Alfie Owens]]. It appeared to be a one-way language, spoken by babies and heard by the auditors. The listener — in these cases, the Doctor — responded in standard [[English language|English]], which the babies seemed to understand.
'''Baby''' was the name the [[Eleventh Doctor]] gave to the language supposedly spoken by [[human]] [[baby|babies]] who otherwise seemed as though they had not yet learned the capacity to speak. It was spoken by [[Alfie Owens]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Closing Time (TV story)}}) and [[Melody Pond (Prequel to The Impossible Astronaut)|Melody Pond]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)}}) It appeared to be a one-way language, spoken by babies and heard by the auditors. The listener — in these cases, the Doctor — responded in standard [[English language|English]], which the babies seemed to understand.


The TARDIS translation matrix, however, did not translate Baby for other listeners. Only the Doctor appeared able to communicate with them in this way. Judging solely by the Doctor's responses, "Baby" was a complex language with a complete grammar, a large vocabulary and many rich colloquialisms. Given the eccentricities of the Eleventh Doctor, of course, it is entirely possible that he was just joking, and that no such language exists. ([[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'', ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'')
[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] [[Translation circuit|translation matrix]], however, did not translate Baby for other listeners. Only the Doctor appeared able to communicate with them in this way. Judging solely by the Doctor's responses, "Baby" was a complex language with a complete grammar, a large vocabulary and many rich colloquialisms. ([[TV]]: {{cs|A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)}}, {{cs|Closing Time (TV story)}})


The [[Fourth Doctor]] also indicated an ability to speak Baby. When he and [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] were in [[Pescaton]]-terrorised [[London]], they came across an apparently abandoned baby. Unable to get any information from the child, the Doctor said, "He won't talk." Unaware that the Doctor may have have spoken literally, Sarah responded, "He ''can't'' talk." ([[AG]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Pescatons]]'')
The [[Fourth Doctor]] also indicated an ability to speak Baby. When he and [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] were in [[Pescaton]]-terrorised [[London]], they came across an apparently abandoned baby. Unable to get any information from the child, the Doctor said, "He won't talk." Unaware that the Doctor may have spoken literally, Sarah responded, "He ''can't'' talk." ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Pescatons (audio story)|part=two}})


==Behind the scenes==
While translating Baby, the [[Twelfth Doctor]] explained that according to babies, laughter was [[song|singing]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Girl Who Died (TV story)}})
Similary, in [[Series 7 (Doctor Who)|series 7]] the Doctor claimed to be able to speak "[[horse (language)|horse]]".
 
[[Category:Infancy]]
[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Languages]]

Latest revision as of 21:19, 12 April 2024

Baby was the name the Eleventh Doctor gave to the language supposedly spoken by human babies who otherwise seemed as though they had not yet learned the capacity to speak. It was spoken by Alfie Owens (TV: Closing Time [+]Loading...["Closing Time (TV story)"]) and Melody Pond. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War [+]Loading...["A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)"]) It appeared to be a one-way language, spoken by babies and heard by the auditors. The listener — in these cases, the Doctor — responded in standard English, which the babies seemed to understand.

The TARDIS translation matrix, however, did not translate Baby for other listeners. Only the Doctor appeared able to communicate with them in this way. Judging solely by the Doctor's responses, "Baby" was a complex language with a complete grammar, a large vocabulary and many rich colloquialisms. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War [+]Loading...["A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)"], Closing Time [+]Loading...["Closing Time (TV story)"])

The Fourth Doctor also indicated an ability to speak Baby. When he and Sarah were in Pescaton-terrorised London, they came across an apparently abandoned baby. Unable to get any information from the child, the Doctor said, "He won't talk." Unaware that the Doctor may have spoken literally, Sarah responded, "He can't talk." (AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Pescatons (part two) [+]Loading...{"part":"two","1":"Doctor Who and the Pescatons (audio story)"})

While translating Baby, the Twelfth Doctor explained that according to babies, laughter was singing. (TV: The Girl Who Died [+]Loading...["The Girl Who Died (TV story)"])