Zoe Saldana settles debate about which language is harder; Klingon or Na’Vi

Zoe Saldana reveals what was harder to learn, Klingon or Na’Vi

Zoe Saldana is arguably the biggest name in science fiction films or series at the moment. Not only is she currently starring in the Avatar franchise, but she’s also Nyota Uhura in Star Trek. Those are two pretty big franchises to be associated with. To be associated with two large franchises like that is rare.

The interesting thing about her association with both beyond their standing in the science fiction landscape is that both have wildly complicated languages that the cast has to learn. For Saldana, she is among the rare few with experiencing both the languages of Na’Vi in Avatar and Klingon in Star Trek.

So while doing rounds for Avatar: The Shape of Water, she was asked by Moovy which language was harder to learn.

"Q As someone who is uniquely in the know, which language is more difficult to master? Navi or Klingon?A: I would say Klingon because I had to learn, you know, the phrases that I was saying so quickly. But it was great fun too."

Co-star Sam Worthington hopped into adding some more details, as James Cameron and company were willing to change the language on the fly if people had issues with certain aspects of pronouncing words. Something that couldn’t be done in Star Trek.

Klingon will forever be a landmark aspect of Star Trek

The Klingon language is as iconic with the franchise as anything. The language is one of the most studied in the world, and we’re talking about compared to actual, real-world, functioning languages. Languages that are used in countries as their common tongue.

So it’s incredible to find out how wildly embraced Klingon is as a language people want to learn, even though it has no real practical applications.

It’s truly one of those defining characteristics of the Trek franchise, much like Chewbacca’s growls or Back to the Future’s Delorean.