Using more than one language in a single TV series can accomplish many things, including illustrating how interconnected we all are, no matter where on the globe we may be or to what culture or cultures we may belong. Each of the following series uses two or more languages. Whether by creating authenticity, enhancing atmosphere, or showing how interdependent the world is, which series uses the changing languages to best effect?
List: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls090483612/
Poll: TBD
Unlike the information for movies, series' languages other than the primary one are often not listed on IMDb so this list, so far, largely reflects either series that I know well or research outside of IMDb's site. Please suggest other series that you know of that use more than one language. Thank you so much!
List: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls090483612/
Poll: TBD
Unlike the information for movies, series' languages other than the primary one are often not listed on IMDb so this list, so far, largely reflects either series that I know well or research outside of IMDb's site. Please suggest other series that you know of that use more than one language. Thank you so much!
rubyfruit76, Champion
Posted 5 days ago
rubyfruit76, Champion
Thanks! 'Added. On the series' IMDb page, it also lists Indian Sign Language. Does that sound right, too?
I don't remember a single scene where they used some sort of sign language. No character shown on-screen or even mentioned was mute or deaf.
rubyfruit76, Champion
Before I saw your response, I read in this article (that I found on a list of sources on Wikipedia) that the series uses "Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi and traces of Gujarati." Like you said, it doesn't mention any sign language. That's a problem that I'm having with this list that I didn't have with either of the movie versions of this list: there's a lot of inconsistent info. Thank you for your feedback. I won't include Indian sign language in the list of languages.
rubyfruit76, Champion
Oh, and does anyone have any information about "The Blacklist" and/or "Homeland?" I found contradictory information about "Blacklist" and thought that what I found for "Homeland" seemed incomplete. I've seen many episodes of both but not close to all of the seasons and certainly not recently so if you know the shows well, or have reliable information about either, that'd be great. Thank you!
Peter, Champion
For some shows IMDb has most of the language data listed on each episode page. I don't have a way of getting a complete list for a show, but I did find a way to search for specific languages in a show.
For Homeland, I found Persian listed for 8 episodes. I didn't find Dutch or Hindi listed, though of course IMDb's data may be incomplete.
For The Blacklist, I didn't find Ukrainian listed, but I found Russian listed for 13 episodes. I haven't watched the show. Maybe someone else can help clear this up.
For Homeland, I found Persian listed for 8 episodes. I didn't find Dutch or Hindi listed, though of course IMDb's data may be incomplete.
For The Blacklist, I didn't find Ukrainian listed, but I found Russian listed for 13 episodes. I haven't watched the show. Maybe someone else can help clear this up.
(Edited)
rubyfruit76, Champion
That's helpful, Peter; that gives me two more ways of getting information. I'll add Russian for The Blacklist and Persian for Homeland. Thank you!
(I know Dutch and Hindi were spoken on Homeland, although not much, but I don't know about Ukrainian for The Blacklist so I'm thinking that I'll remove it since it's not on IMDb and I can't confirm it, either.)
(I know Dutch and Hindi were spoken on Homeland, although not much, but I don't know about Ukrainian for The Blacklist so I'm thinking that I'll remove it since it's not on IMDb and I can't confirm it, either.)
Dan Dassow, Champion
rubyfruit76, Champion
'Added. Thank you, Dan!
FYC: The Tunnel in English and French, as it happens in both countries and has a cast of both countries.
I have never seen it, but My guess would be that the series in which is based Bron/Broen, would also be multilingual (Danish/Swedish).
My father says Combat! was spoken in English and German.
(Edited)
Peter, Champion
I would second Bron. And the Swedish/Danish original is higher rated than the English/Spanish version suggested by urbane.
rubyfruit76, Champion
Thank you Pencho and Peter: I added both Bron and The Tunnel.
Pencho, I didn't add Combat! (at least not yet) because I'm getting so many suggestions that I'm trying to save room for more contemporary series. If I end up still having room, though, I will certainly add it.
Pencho, I didn't add Combat! (at least not yet) because I'm getting so many suggestions that I'm trying to save room for more contemporary series. If I end up still having room, though, I will certainly add it.
There has been a proliferation of international co-productions the past few years, especially those in languages other than English. I toyed with the idea of doing a poll about a year ago, but never got beyond dabbling.
(see The Evolution of Foreign Language Series, Multilingual & English-Language Euro TV Programs and International Co-Productions for Film and Television)
How America became a key market for foreign-language TV ...
Most Popular Multilingual Movies and TV Shows
These TV Shows Will Help You Learn a New Language - E
Suggestions:
The Man in the High Castle (TV Series: 2015–2019) Language: English | Hebrew | German | Japanese
Counterpart (TV Series: 2017–2019) Language: English | German
The Bridge (TV Series: 2013–2014) Language: English | Spanish
Lilyhammer (TV Series: 2012–2014) Language: Norwegian | English | Portuguese | Lithuanian | Nepali | Arabic
(see The Evolution of Foreign Language Series, Multilingual & English-Language Euro TV Programs and International Co-Productions for Film and Television)
How America became a key market for foreign-language TV ...
Most Popular Multilingual Movies and TV Shows
These TV Shows Will Help You Learn a New Language - E
Suggestions:
The Man in the High Castle (TV Series: 2015–2019) Language: English | Hebrew | German | Japanese
Counterpart (TV Series: 2017–2019) Language: English | German
The Bridge (TV Series: 2013–2014) Language: English | Spanish
Lilyhammer (TV Series: 2012–2014) Language: Norwegian | English | Portuguese | Lithuanian | Nepali | Arabic
(Edited)
The Man in the High Castle is a great suggestion, I don't know how I did not think about it, I just saw the last episode 3 weeks ago.
rubyfruit76, Champion
Thank you, Urb: I added all four and am looking forward to seeing at least two. (And thanks Pencho: That series is now on top of my "To See" list because of you and Urb and the interesting combination of languages listed.)
Peter, Champion
I haven't seen Twin Peaks (2017), but I checked IMDb's data and it says "a few words" after French. (Unfortunately this is only displayed in the update form.) So maybe that show is not a leading contender, unless you have other information.
rubyfruit76, Champion
I have removed the 2017 version of Twin Peaks. Thank you for the information. I have seen the old Twin Peaks several times but only saw a few episodes of the 2017 Twin Peaks and don't have any other info so that was quite helpful.
Ruby
I'm going to throw Messiah (2020) out there FYC, despite it's cancellation after 1 season.
It was an excellent show with a strong cast that was cancelled SOLELY because of pressure from religious fanatics.
I think it at least deserves a 'nod' by being included on the list, if you have space.
I'm going to throw Messiah (2020) out there FYC, despite it's cancellation after 1 season.
It was an excellent show with a strong cast that was cancelled SOLELY because of pressure from religious fanatics.
I think it at least deserves a 'nod' by being included on the list, if you have space.
rubyfruit76, Champion
Thank you.
The show is set entirely in the present day, not in 30 A.D; so I highly doubt Aramaic was spoken :)
The languages I recall recognising were English, Arabic & Hebrew.
The show is set entirely in the present day, not in 30 A.D; so I highly doubt Aramaic was spoken :)
The languages I recall recognising were English, Arabic & Hebrew.
rubyfruit76, Champion
Ohhh, it's in the present day?! Oops. I remember seeing it listed on Netflix but I never saw a trailer for it or anything so I assumed it was 2,000 years ago, lol -- I try not to make assumptions because they're such trouble makers but wow, it's so hard to stop the brain from taking shortcuts sometimes. Thank you for clarifying that and the languages that you remember. : )
FYC:
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
English, Italian, Russian
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
English, Italian, Russian
rubyfruit76, Champion
Oh, wow, thank you! I added it, of course. The list would have had such a gaping hole in it without The Sopranos.
Jessica, Champion
rubyfruit76, Champion
'Added. Thanks, Jess! 'Good suggestion.
Nikolay Yeriomin (Mykola Yeromin), Champion
FYC:
"Arrow" (2012-2020) - English, Greek, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese at the very least (I might have forgotten something).
"Gotham" (2014-2019) - English, Russian, Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic.
"DC's Legends of Tomorrow" (2016-) - English, Ancient Egyptian, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, French, Latin at the very least, again.
"Constantine" (2014) - English, Aramaic, Latin, Spanish, Hebrew.
Allthree four (yeah, I forgot one) are very incomplete on series level (all of listed langauages are used multiple times throughout the series, so they should be there), so I'm on it and updating. On "Arrow", amazingly, only Greek was added at the series level so far (heard rather briefly a few times, mostly in Season 1 and Season 5), but I'm on it, as all of those got used frequently in multiple episodes, with and without subtitles.
My favorite is rather idiosyncratic use of Ancient Egyptian on "Legends": despite there were at least three characters in the first season whose mother tongue is exactly that, it got used more lately as John Constantine's spells than it ever was by those three. :)
"Arrow" (2012-2020) - English, Greek, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese at the very least (I might have forgotten something).
"Gotham" (2014-2019) - English, Russian, Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic.
"DC's Legends of Tomorrow" (2016-) - English, Ancient Egyptian, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, French, Latin at the very least, again.
"Constantine" (2014) - English, Aramaic, Latin, Spanish, Hebrew.
All
My favorite is rather idiosyncratic use of Ancient Egyptian on "Legends": despite there were at least three characters in the first season whose mother tongue is exactly that, it got used more lately as John Constantine's spells than it ever was by those three. :)
(Edited)
rubyfruit76, Champion
I added Constantine already and will add the others, although I may have to divide this into two polls or cut some because I have over 35. I'm guessing that even if I have to delete some options, all four of these suggestions will remain. They're great suggestions; thank you!
rubyfruit76, Champion
Oh no, because you mention Ancient Egyptian, I was excited to add "Legends" but it has a rating of 6.8 and I just drew up some guidelines because I had well over 35 titles and one of those guidelines is no series below a 7.0. I tried to figure out some other way of doing things so that I could include "Legends" but it just became too messy.
I've never seen "Constantine" but I'm guessing John Constantine is the titular character in the show so does that mean that I can add ancient Egyptian to the languages spoken on that series?
I've never seen "Constantine" but I'm guessing John Constantine is the titular character in the show so does that mean that I can add ancient Egyptian to the languages spoken on that series?
Also FYC:
Mr. Robot It is mostly English, but Martin Wällstrom and Stephanie Corneliusen speak between them in Danish and Sweden in their scenes together as husband and wife.
Heroes At least in season 1, which is the one I saw, there were two Japanese characters that had all their dialogues in that language.
The list may grow a lot, so I would suggest you consider only series were both languages are important in the series as a whole, and not just in a few episodes or a few dialogues.
rubyfruit76, Champion
'Added both. And yes, I'm coming up with some exclusion criteria and yours is the best idea and the best criteria. It may be difficult to do, though, because, having not seen all of these series myself, I'd have to rely on those who made suggestions coming back onto this thread and giving me that information and/or some really extensive research that may not even yield results. I'll have to do something, though, or divide it into two polls. Thank you for the great suggestions, Pencho. : )
I already deleted one for the reason that you cited (Peter told me that the 2017 version of 'Twin Peaks' had only a few words of a second language) so maybe (and hopefully) I'll get more information like that because that would be ideal.
I already deleted one for the reason that you cited (Peter told me that the 2017 version of 'Twin Peaks' had only a few words of a second language) so maybe (and hopefully) I'll get more information like that because that would be ideal.
FYC as I saw in IMDb language:
- Band of Brothers: English, Dutch, French, German, Lithuanian
- Spartacus: Gods of the Arena: English, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
- Band of Brothers: English, Dutch, French, German, Lithuanian
- Spartacus: Gods of the Arena: English, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Nikolay Yeriomin (Mykola Yeromin), Champion
Silitonga, this comment triggered spam filter on GS (not sure why), fished it out.
It's interesting to see another show to use Aramaic. "Constantine" had it featured as a language angels speak originally. :)
It's interesting to see another show to use Aramaic. "Constantine" had it featured as a language angels speak originally. :)
rubyfruit76, Champion
Constantine added. Thank you!
rubyfruit76, Champion
Thank you, Silitonga, for two great suggestions. Unfortunately, the list is already at 35 and I still have 5-6 to add so I had to come up with guidelines to keep the list under 36: one of them is no mini-series. I would have loved to include your suggestions for a few reasons including they have some uncommon languages and such interesting combinations of languages. The good news is that I'm doing a series of these multilingual polls and next will be mini-series so I will put your two suggestions on that list. : )
rubyfruit76, Champion
rubyfruit76, Champion
15yearsIMDber aka ElMo
rubyfruit76, Champion