Does Rey speak Shyriiwook?
Fairly early on in The Force Awakens, Finn and Rey run into Han Solo and Chewbacca. One of the running gags in the Star Wars films is that very few people actually understand Chewie's language (Shyriiwook) besides Han.
We know Rey speaks "droid", since she converses with BB-8 pretty regularly. But can she understand Chewie's speech as well?
This would seem to be an important development, since by the end of the movie,
Han Solo has offered Rey a permanent place on the Millenium Falcon, and after his death, she seems to inherit it from him.
But I don't recall seeing her reply to Chewie directly, and I can't think of how she would have learned to speak Wookie growing up on Jakku.
Is there any evidence that she can understand what Chewie is saying?
Best Answer
Rey seems to have at least a basic understanding of Shyriiwook
All quotes from the novelization.
She responds directly to Han and Chewie
She nodded. “It’s just us.” She nodded once to her left. “Us and a droid.”
A second shape appeared above and beside their inquisitor. It was likewise most definitely not a stormtrooper. It was also much, much bigger than its blaster-wielding companion. A battery of sounds issued from between thick lips, something halfway between a moan and a question.
“No, it’s true,” Rey responded. “We’re the only ones on board.”
Finn gaped at her. “Wait— you can understand that thing?”
She translates for Finn.
She tried to find something to say to that, something worthy of the sentiment and the risk they had undertaken. She failed miserably. Chewie, however, had something of his own to add. Whatever the Wookiee had uttered caused tears to well up in her eyes. Having never found himself in such a position before, Finn was unsure how to respond. Knowing well her inner toughness, he wondered what Chewbacca had said that could have inspired such a reaction.
“What’d he say?”
She sniffed and wiped at her face. “That it was your idea.”
She again responds directly to Chewie.
“The oscillator is the only sensible target,” Finn told him. “But there’s no way to get inside.”
“There is a way.”
Everyone turned toward Rey. It was Chewie who ventured the question that had to be asked.
“I’ve seen inside these kinds of walls,” she told them as the sky overhead continued to rain destruction. “The mechanics and instrumentation are the same as the Star Destroyers I’ve spent years inside salvaging. Get me to a conventional junction station, I can get us in.”
Less definitive is their exchange aboard the Falcon
In the cockpit, Rey headed for the copilot’s seat, only to find her way blocked by a massive, hirsute form.
“Chewie, the Falcon flies better with two people at the controls, you know that. I’ve already sat in that seat. I’m ready to do so again.”
A series of moans came from the Wookiee. Then he turned— and sat down. In the copilot’s seat.
Rey felt herself tearing up. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
Chewie groaned and, to make certain she grasped his meaning, gestured to his left. Toward the pilot’s position.
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Is Shyriiwook a real language?
Shyriiwook was definitely not fully designed (especially for the movies) in a Tolkienesque tradition out-of-Universe. It was just a set of phrases, listed on the Wikia. Most of them were invented for later EU C-canon.Why does Han know Shyriiwook?
Aboard the craft, Dewlannamapia stayed in personal quarters near the galley. She befriended a nine-year-old Corellian boy named Han, one of the many children Shrike employed as thieves and pickpockets. Dewlannamapia taught Han to speak and understand the Wookiee language of Shyriiwook.Do any Wookiees speak basic?
Language. The most common Wookiee language is Shyriiwook. However, other dialects used by Wookiees from Kashyyyk are Thykarann and Xaczik. Wookiees are capable of understanding Galactic Basic, but generally none are able to speak it because of the structure of Wookiee vocal cords.How does Rey know Wookiee?
Her ability to understand alien languages, including the binary language of droids, helped her when off-worlders came to Niima Outpost. Two such off-worlders were Wookiees, who regaled her with the stories of the famed Wookiee smuggler-turned-Rebel fighter Chewbacca.Star Wars: How does Rey speak Wookiee?
More answers regarding does Rey speak Shyriiwook?
Answer 2
Yes. According to Pablo Hidalgo's TFA Visual Dictionary:
Rey's interaction with offworlders has allowed her to learn nonhuman languages such as Wookie and astromech binary.
And yes, if this reads to you like closer to fanfiction or a poorly worded Wookiepedia article ("Wookie vs. Shyriiwook"), welcome to new, kid-friendly Disney canon.
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