Why Do The Aliens In Halo Speak English?
In the long-running science fiction shooter series Halo, players control Master Chief, a soldier fighting against the Covenant, an alliance of aliens attempting to flood the universe with their religious beliefs. One of the more puzzling aspects of the game is why these aliens speak English.
A Developer Choice
The inclusion of an English-speaking alien race in the Halo series is a conscious choice made by the game developers. They felt it was more efficient to have the characters speak a language that the player was familiar with. As dialogue is an important part of storytelling, developers wanted to keep lines short and make them easy to understand, so they opted for English.
Simplifying Game Play
Using English throughout the Halo series also allowed for easier game play. Even if the Covenant’s dialogue was subtitled, there could be confusion about what certain key words meant or how enemies should behave. By having them speak English, players can easily keep up with the conversation and know what’s going on.
A Legacy of Sci-Fi
It’s also worth noting that the Halo series follows a long tradition of alien races speaking English in science fiction. In Star Trek, for example, the protagonists often encounter alien civilizations that understand and even speak English. This was done so that the audience didn’t have to spend time trying to decipher another language, and instead they could focus on the action and drama.
The same is true of the Halo series. By making the aliens in the game speak English, players can focus on the story line and game play, ensuring hours of enjoyable sci-fi entertainment.
How do the aliens in Halo understand English?
The aliens in Halo do not technically understand English. They instead have a shared language, called Initiation, which is a form of communication that is based on body language and sound. This language is understood by all species in the Halo universe. This includes humans, as the languages of Earth are roughly similar to that of the alien species.
However, the aliens in Halo often choose to speak human languages, especially English, in order to simplify conversations and make them easier to comprehend.
It is also likely that the aliens have artificially developed an understanding of English from their interactions with humans.
When two races come into contact with each other, it is often beneficial for both sides to be able to communicate using a shared language, so it makes sense that the aliens in Halo would make an effort to understand and speak English.
What language is spoken by the aliens in Halo?
The aliens in Halo do not speak any human language. They communicate with a variety of vocalizations and body language. This language is called Initiation, and it is understood by all species in the Halo universe, including humans. Some alien creatures, such as the Elites, can choose to speak English, though it is likely their understanding of the language has been artificially developed.