2 months ago
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Star Wars creator George Lucas has finally answered the decades-old question of why iconic Jedi Master Yoda speaks the way he does.
Yoda first appeared in the 1980s film “The Empire Strikes Back” and captivated audiences with the wisdom he bestowed on protagonist Luke Skywalker. His best-known trait is his unusual speech pattern, which utilizes a different word order than typical English.
Emma McIntyre via Getty Images
“Much to learn you still have,” Yoda said in “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.”
Speaking at the 45th anniversary screening of “The Empire Strikes Back” in Hollywood, Lucas revealed that Yoda’s speech was a way to get people to pay attention to what he said.
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“Because if you speak regular English, people won’t listen that much,” Lucas said Thursday at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival, Variety reported. “But if he had an accent, or it’s really hard to understand what he’s saying, they focus on what he’s saying.”
Yoda was “basically the philosopher of the movie,” Lucas added. “I had to figure out a way to get people to actually listen — especially 12-year-olds.”
English (US) ·