Kaleesh Language in Episode III?

I searched the forums, but I didn't find any other postings on this subject. If this has been answered elsewhere, I'll apologize in advance, and ask that someone please direct me to the appropriate thread.

Of course the General Grievous speaks in (accented) Basic for most of his appearance in Episode III, but there is one instance where he may have reverted to cursing (or mumbling) in his native tongue.

I am speaking about his battle with Obi-Wan on the landing pad near his personal fighter on Utapau, right after Obi pops open the General's damaged breastplate. First Grievous exclaims "What?!?" in shock and rage, and then roars as he backhands Obi across the platform (his pimp hand is strong!) and finally mumbles something unitelligible that sounds like "Wat watah!" (waits for lame "What water"? jokes). This sounds distinctly different than his usual roars, grunts, and groans. I wonder if he was so p.o.'d that he reverted to cursing in his native language, as folks sometimes do in the real world when sorely pressed.

Is there any indication of what he mutters in the printed script? Was Matthew Wood just improvising random sounds, or was this intended to be Kaleesh? If there is no Basic (English) transcript, it can surely be taken as a muttering in Kaleesh.

Any help here would be hot.

 

Nothing is in the script regarding any dialogue until after Obi-wan has shot Grievous. If he isn't speaking in his native language, then the idea appears to be that he's laughing, but the damage Obi-wan inflicted makes it difficult to understand him.

 

For some reason I was hoping it was Huttese.

 

Here, all along I thought he was trying to say: "Chup-Chup, Watto."

 

Thanks Darth Sinister. I never considered the possibility that the damage inflicted by Obi-Wan might have affected the General's synthesized vocalizations. He can clearly be heard laughing at Obi-Wan several times during the fight, but at that precise moment (after he backhands him across the platform) it really sounds to me like he is making an exclamation in anger. The fact that he has such a heavy accent, and that he's obvously a BSL speaker (Basic as a Second Language) makes me think he's cursing Obi out in Kaleesh. Just a theory though. Cheers.

 

He utters the same battlecry weirdness in the battlefront 2 video game as well.

 

Well, then there you go. It's a Kaleesh war cry.

 

It translates into "I am ready to die"

this is a common war cry across the galaxy

 

I realize you meant that as a joke, but in light of historical utterances such as "It is a good day to die!" (Lakota war cry invoked by Crazy Horse at the Little Bighorn) or "We who are about to die salute you!" (often heard from the mouths of Roman gladiators) you could be closer to the truth than you think.

 

It probably translates to something like "I have really had it up to here with these Jeedai."

 

Ever played Starcraft? The Protoss Corsairs say that when they are built! It is a good day to die!

 

Worf also said it once or twice in his life. But I digress.

 

I wouldn't put it past Wood to have worked a little Kaleesh into the dialogue, even if he himself didn't have a clear idea of what he intended the words to mean. It kind of gives a little more depth to the Grievous character, harkening back to his pre-cyborg days. Perhaps some remnant of his inborn warrior spirit remained present despite the alterations to his brain. Overall, I preferred the Episode III Grievous to the Clone Was Grievous in terms of likeability and depth of character. He was more interesting and engaging. A lot of this was because of the vision Lucas had of what he wanted the General to be, but perhaps the greater part was the performance turned in by Wood and the CGI animation staff.

 

Very interesting thread. I personally would have never thought such a thing as hearing Kaleesh in Episode III, but I suppose it's possible...

 

Yeah, it definitely sounded like he was ticked off at Obi-Wan pulling apart his chestplates...you never know, they're may not be a definitive answer, use your imagination.

Of course it sounded like to me he was cursing in another langauge.

 

Whan obi pulled his chest plates he was just so mad. it was no real word.