History Main / TheSpeechless

* Red from the ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' fan fic ''Fanfic/SpeakUp'' is born mute. He compensates by learning sign language.

* In ''Series/TheBoys'' both Kimiko and Black Noir are complete mutes, with the former being unable to speak after enduring atrocities that traumatized her and the latter being left a complete mystery. The most we have gotten out of them is a couple of near-inaudible gasps when Kimiko tried to force herself to speak to Frenchie, and a few audible sobs from Black Noir when he learned the truth of the origin of his powers.

* After the first level of ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'', the protagonist, Caim, is one of these, as he trades away his ability to speak in order to make a Pact with the dragon.

One form of HeWhoMustNotBeHeard. Contrast also TheVoiceless, who can talk, but just does not whenever we are watching. See also HeroicMime and CuteMute. Compare TheUnintelligible and IntelligibleUnintelligible. If they never speak, but they sing during a musical number, then they are TheSingingMute. May use a VoiceForTheVoiceless or MouthOfSauron.

* Sarah in ''Film/ChildrenOfALesserGod'' is deaf and stays speechless by choice; she does not want to learn how to speak aloud.

* Victor from ''Film/TheWildChild'' is unable to speak due to his years of isolation, although he eventually learns to make a sound approximating "lait."

* In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Mrs Troi's servant Mr Homn does not speak (except on one occasion); members of his species, if they take jobs as servants, are conditioned to speak only to their employers.

* Mocha of ''Webcomic/MilkAndMocha'' is never shown speaking directly, often resorting to a whiteboard, body language or a tablet to talk to their partner, Milk (who ''can'' talk and is considerably more energetic, to boot). Fans believe Mocha is mute.

* In ''Series/TheBoys'' both Kimiko and Black Noir are complete mutes, with the former being unable to speak after enduring atrocities that traumatized her and the latter being left a complete mystery. The most we've gotten out of them is a couple of near-inaudible gasps when Kimiko tried to force herself to speak to Frenchie, and a few audible sobs from Black Noir when he learned the truth of the origin of his powers.
* Poncho in ''Series/FunkySquad'', the Australian [[AffectionateParody spoof]] of 70's cop shows. The idea being that an actor with poor English skills was accidentally hired, so the creators had to think up the ridiculous plot device of Poncho being mute because he'd been shot in the tongue.
* Liam and Ryan [=McPoyle's=] sister Margaret from ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' she is stated to be mute, she responds to communication by licking her lips.
* Lanny in ''Series/LizzieMcGuire'' is a special case: No one can understand him except Matt... even over the phone (where apparently he remains speechless). Apparently there's something about Matt's body, because Lizzie can understand him in the FreakyFridayFlip episode.

* The brothers Darryl and Darryl in ''Series/{{Newhart}}''. Frequently played with, as when Dick answers the phone and hears only silence: "Hello... Hello? ...oh hi, Darryl." [[spoiler:Subverted]] in the series finale, when the brothers [[spoiler: shout "QUIET!" at their constantly chattering wives]].
* Norma in ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'' is almost entirely mute, only communicating through gestures, facial expressions and sighs. The one time she does speak is to sing a rousing rendition of "I Saw the Light" in the Season 1 finale, surprising all the other characters present.

* Lupus in ''Series/RomanMysteries''. Unlike his his counterpart in the novels, he has not had his tongue torn out (presumably so they do not have to worry about accidentally getting shots of the actor's tongue) but is mute from some trauma. It is explained in the episodes "The Dolphins of Laurentum", that Lupus is mute from the trauma of seeing his uncle kill his father.
* In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Mrs. Troi's servant Mr. Homn does not speak (except on one occasion); members of his species, if they take jobs as servants, are conditioned to speak only to their employers.
* ''Series/TopGear'': The Stig sort of qualifies, since he knows how to drive like hell, and use a credit card, but knows nothing about ducks. He also happens to be illegal in 17 states. He can also apparently use a word processor if the tell-all book is anything to go by.

** The aptly named episode "Mute" centers around a girl unable to talk. Everybody initially believes it's because she's in shock after seeing her house burned down (with her parents), but later assume it's because she had never been taught how to speak. Really, she was trained to be psychic from birth, and held all her conversations with her parents (who were part of some strange cult) telepathically.
** Another aptly named episode, "The Silence", invokes this trope. Jamie Tennyson, an incessant chatterbox in a gentleman's club, drives the wealthy Colonel Taylor crazy with his prattle. The colonel suggests a wager: if Tennyson can stay silent for an entire year (during which time he'll be monitored non-stop), he'll win $500,000 (no small change in the 2010s, but an even bigger sum in the 1960s). Tennyson takes the bet and stays silent throughout the year, despite other club members and even Colonel Taylor asking him to call it off. Finally, exactly twelve months have passed -- at which point Taylor confesses that he lost his fortune years ago, so he can't possibly pay; he never expected Tennyson to actually pull it off. Then comes the CruelTwistEnding: Tennyson didn't expect himself to do it, either... so he ''cut his vocal cords'' to ensure that he would win. The episode concludes with Jamie dramatically removing his scarf, revealing a thick scar across his neck.

* The mysterious aliens from the 1970-1 TV series ''Series/{{UFO}}'' are never heard to speak, though they can apparently communicate with traitors and those [[{{Brainwashed}} under their control]]. In a late episode, the UFO pilots are revealed to be human abductees under the control of an unseen alien intelligence.
* In ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode "Humbug", the Conundrum (a geek, in the classical sense) doesn't speak at all [[spoiler: until the end: "Prob'ly something I ate."]].
* "Motormouth" Lisa gets this in an episode of ''Series/YouCantDoThatOnTelevision'' themed around letting the audience "vote" on the outcome of certain skits. After the audience "votes" for Lisa to lose her voice, she is unable to speak and can communicate only by writing notes. It ends when the kids realize that Lisa is to introduce the commercials -- which she is unable to do if she can't talk -- and that without commercials, no one gets paid.
* Traditionally, Franchise/{{Zorro}}'s manservant Bernardo, who pretends to be deaf as well in order to gather intelligence for his master. In the [[Series/Zorro1957 1950s series]], he's the sprightly, middle-aged CuteMute comedy relief; in the [[Series/Zorro1990 1990s series]], he was retooled as an attractive teenage boy named Felipe, whose tragic backstory (his mutism is explained as the result of a traumatic accident as a toddler that also left him an orphan) was played for all possible {{Wangst}}.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!

%% Previous thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1546340457050746200

They are intelligent; they do show signs of sapience -- at least to us, the viewers, if not to the other characters. They may be able to vocalize on-screen, but it won't be in a known language -- probably just the occasional sigh, gasp, or other such non-speech sounds -- and none of the other characters will be able to interpret what they say. They will be able to gesture, but this may or may not convey any meaning to the other characters; they may play [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades charades]] with them to figure out what they have to say. In extremes, may lapse into TalkingWithSigns -- but only we the viewers get to see the signs.

Often surprisingly competent, and tends to understand what's going on better than voiced characters, while being hilariously unable to communicate that understanding.

One form of HeWhoMustNotBeHeard. Contrast also TheVoiceless, who can talk, but just doesn't whenever we're watching. See also HeroicMime and CuteMute. Compare TheUnintelligible and IntelligibleUnintelligible. If they never speak, but they sing during a musical number, then they are TheSingingMute. May utilize a VoiceForTheVoiceless or MouthOfSauron.

* Although she first appears to just be very quiet Chane Laforet from ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' is later revealed to have lost her ability to speak several years before the series began. [[spoiler:She appears to have willingly given up her voice.]] She communicates by way of hand gestures and body language[=/=]expressions.
* Rosaland of ''Manhua/CyberWeaponZ'' never speaks on-panel. Since she's [[CatGirl half-panther, half-human]], her muteness may come from this. But she's no CuteMute, she's not harmless enough for that.
* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', after Nezuko becomes a demon, she loses her ability to speak along with most of her memories of her life as a human. While she can make sounds and express her feelings through her actions, she can't say any coherent words. [[spoiler:Later on, after being able to withstand the sun again, she slowly regains her ability to speak.]]
* In ''Manga/DissolvingClassroom'', Keiko becomes this due to barely escaping the horrifying fate of her classmates who were subjected to [[BrownNote Yuuma's apologies]]; her brain only partially melted, and the resulting damage left her unable to speak. In the final chapter, she finally gets enough of her speech back to scream "STOP IT!" at Yuuma [[spoiler:and then immediately liquefies]].

* Celty from ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'', being headless and all, types what she wants to say on her PDA or home computer and shows it to people. From Episode 4 onwards her messages and thoughts are accompanied by a voice-over as a matter of convenience for the viewer. Sometimes it's not even properly conveyed that she isn't speaking, because the VA speaks (and the listener appears to be listening) ''before'' they look at the screen. Somehow there are some people who she has ''spoken'' to before she began speaking through her PDA.
* In ''Manga/FruitsBasket,'' Yuki and Kisa both temporarily lose the ability to speak, the former after being bullied by his mother, Kyo, and Akito, and the latter after being mocked by her classmates for her unusual blonde hair. Interestingly enough, they both recover thanks to their interaction with [[spoiler: Tohru.]]
* Helen of ''Manga/HelenESP,'' what with her being rendered blind, deaf, and mute from a terrible accident. Possibly named after the real life deaf-blind figure ''Helen Keller.''

* Mokona, from ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' can only say "Puu," making him also TheUnintelligible. While he may not seem to act like it and is accorded little respect, Mokona is arguably more intelligent than anyone else in the cast -- but the details are a monumental spoiler.
* In ''Manga/MangaDeHakkenTamagotchi'', the Tamagotchis don't speak. This contrasts with a lot of other media based on ''Franchise/{{Tamagotchi}}'' where the Tamagotchis are capable of some form of speech.

* Gola Mosca, the robot from ''Manga/Reborn2004.'' Didn't stop him from getting his own ImageSong.
* Shiro in ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'' -- he's a reanimated skeleton and therefore has no vocal cords.
* TEX from ''Anime/TimeOfEve,'' [[spoiler: since he's a ThreeLawsCompliant robot who's been ordered not to speak.]] [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] later on, if only temporarily, when the First Law overrides the order.]]
* Combined with TheUnintelligible, ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga'' gives us [[MemeticMutation THE LEGENDARY YAMADA TAE!]] She's the only zombie to remain unawakened, sticking to the growls and groans of the shambling undead (and the occasional rooster crow and garbled imitations of the awakened zombies), which makes her interactions with the other zombies a little awkward. Especially when she keeps trying to eat them.

* Pvt. Elliot "Lucky" Taylor of DC's ''Creature Commandos''. He "survived" stepping on a landmine, in the sense that over a period of weeks a large team of surgeons was able to piece him back together in a grisly approximation of Frankenstein's monster. They did what they could, not all the parts could be salvaged or replaced or even put back in the right place -- he has no vocal cords and can't even so much as grunt.

* The Monster in ''Comicbook/TheFrankensteinMonster'' starts out talkative like his book counterpart, but loses his ability to speak for several issues when a vampire-bite tears his larynx.

* Black Bolt of ''ComicBook/TheInhumans'' is unable to speak due to the fact that [[MakeMeWannaShout his voice is so powerful]] that a mere whisper is enough to send [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk the Hulk]] at his strongest flying. That's right, the Hulk. As king of the Inhumans, Black Bolt tends to let his wife, Medusa, speak for him.
* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': One prequel story focused on the Dark Judges (essentially evil zombie versions of the regular Judges) featured a minor character called Judge Silence. His hands were morphed into his face so his mouth was permanently sealed shut.

* Jericho from ''ComicBook/TeenTitans.'' His vocal cords were cut when he was a child. He communicates via sign language. He can speak if he possess someone with a voice, and that person was unconscious at the time he possessed them.
* Artie Maddicks from ''ComicBook/XMen'' was mute, but could communicate in images using his mutant power of creating holograms.

* Sphinx from ''ComicStrip/DickTracy''. He destroyed his voice when he accidentally drank a glass of poison he intended for a pal of his.

* In ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4319623/1/Brave_New_World Brave New World]]'' the Buneary ninja [[spoiler: Dawn (yes, that Dawn!)]] can't speak due to [[spoiler: her throat being ripped out by her father when she was born]]. She communicates using "Clickspeak", a morse-code-like tapping of her foot. Tiny the Larvitar also does not talk, due to severe pre-hatching trauma. [[spoiler: He gets better.]]
* Snow Storm from ''Fanfic/CapeAndCowl''; presumably, the murder of her brother traumatized her to the point that she can't speak.

** [[spoiler:Mai]], who ''can't'' talk and it's not said why.
** Yayoi is this, somewhat, as she does vocalize but generally uses signs and gestures to communicate. Satsuki, narration wise, did speculate as to why she can't talk, concluding that she's either hearing or speech impaired. When she does say something clearly, it's [[spoiler:"Mama"]].

* [[OurGhoulsAreCreepier Ditzy Doo]] from ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'' had her [[TongueTrauma tongue cut out]] by slavers before the story begins, and communicates via pantomime or writing notes on a small chalkboard.
* ''Fanfic/MegaManDefenderOfTheHumanRace'' has Nomad, who can't speak due to botched programming.
* In ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Hugh cannot speak as a result of having his throat mutilated by a [[WouldHurtAChild bandit]]. Only Sanakan can somehow know what he's thinking via facial expressions, so he has to use a charcoal stick and parchment[[note]]pencil and paper[[/note]] as a means of communication.

* In the old crossover ''Fanfic/WhatInsertion'', this trope is zigzagged in the case of Deep Sea Dolphin following her transfer to the story's setting. As long as she's underwater, she can communicate normally. Outside of it, only water-type Pokemon can hear her; otherwise, everyone -- herself included -- can't hear a single thing she says, forcing her to rely on a notepad or signs to make herself understood.

** Abu, Rajah, and especially the Magic Carpet from ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}''. Abu, however can speak in screeching gibberish, occasionally venturing into screeching English, placing him closer to TheUnintelligible. Averted with Iago, though in his case it's kind of justified because he's a (possibly [[AWizardDidIt magically enhanced]]) [[PollyWantsAMicrophone parrot]].

*** The title character never says anything throughout the whole movie (all the talking is done by his mouse sidekick). We never find out if he is mute (likely due to the fact that he's a baby) or simply chooses not to talk. He does audibly sneeze at the beginning and hiccup when he gets drunk, though. In the storybook adaptation of the movie, however, he's given an interior monologue, so we "hear" him "speak" that way. He apparently ''did'' learn to talk when the Creator/DisneyChannel did the SpinOff series ''Dumbo's Circus'', though. His voice, provided by Katie Leigh (a.k.a. Baby Rowlf in ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies''), is mumbly and kind of quiet, but he does have a fairly extensive vocabulary.
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'', the hyenas Shenzi and Banzai talk, but Ed doesn't; he only laughs.
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid'' [[PluckyGirl Ariel]] ''becomes'' this, trading her voice to a WickedWitch in exchange for becoming human. To stay human, she has to get [[PrinceCharming Eric]] to fall in love with her and kiss her within three days, which is rather difficult since she can't talk to him.
** Gideon the cat from ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'' is mute. He was originally meant to be voiced by Creator/MelBlanc, but in the end all of his dialogue was cut, and Blanc's only contribution to a Disney movie was a hiccup.
** Dopey in ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''. Happy explains that they don't know if he can talk or not because he's never tried to (in real life, it was because they couldn't find a suitable voice actor for him). He can, however, scream, hiccup, and cry.

** Despite making lots of noise, Scrat doesn't speak.

** An interesting version of this occurs with the eponymous [[GentleGiant monster]]. Francoeur seems incapable of speech and communicates with chirps, but during the musical sequences is able to sing. This may have something to do with the fact that he got his voice from a ''singing'' potion, which probably doesn't cover the ability to talk.

* Remy from ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'' is a semi-example. While he ''can'' speak, he only speaks "rat," which we hear as English when he speaks to other rats, but which his human co-star Linguini only hears as squeaks. However, he's very good at charades and can largely control the actions of Linguini when the human allows him to ride on his head and pull on his hair.
* The Sandman in ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'' can usually be understood, so long as the other guardians notice he's trying to tell them something, since he can make pictures with his dream sand to indicate his meaning. However, as shown when the Man in the Moon was contacting them, he can have a very, very hard time getting their attention in the first place since not only can he not talk, but he seems unable to make sounds at all.
* Saoirse from ''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' is six years old, but still hasn't spoken a single word. This is because she's half [[SelkiesAndWereseals selkie]] and her father has hidden her selkie coat, and she can't speak without it. [[spoiler:She can finally speak after she's reunited with her coat, and after her mother Bronagh severs the tie between her and the fairy world, she's able to speak permanently.]]

* In ''Film/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians1996'', Mr. Skinner is this. According to Jasper when he explains to Horace about Skinner, when he was young, he had his vocal chords ripped out from his throat by a dog. However, he can only wheeze and use Morse-code in order to communicate with Cruella De Vil when on the telephone.

* ''Film/TheCandySnatchers'': Not only is Sean unable to talk, he doesn't make any vocal noises at all. The closest he comes is mouthing "pew" when Candy asks him if he knows what killing is.
* The Thin Man in the ''Charlie's Angels'' movie duology. In the [[Film/CharliesAngels2000 first film]] he's simply mute, in the [[Film/CharliesAngelsFullThrottle second]] it is implied he's an ElectiveMute due to childhood trauma. He attempts to speak, but is killed (or is he?) before we find out if he's capable.
* Sarah in ''Film/ChildrenOfALesserGod'' is deaf, and remains speechless by choice; she doesn't want to learn how to speak aloud.
* ''Film/CurseOfTheCrimsonAltar'': Basil, Professor Walsh's sinister chauffeur/manservant, is a mute. Robert discovers this when he attempts to choke answers out of him, only for Professor Walsh to inform him that Basil would not be capable of answering him even if he were not being strangled.
* In ''Film/DavidsMother'', the autistic teenager David grunts, moans, and occasionally screams, but doesn't talk.
* ''Film/TheDemoniacs'': After trauma of the rape, the two girls are struck dumb, but are able to convey their acceptance of the terms of the DealWithTheDevil through drawings.
* In ''Film/TheDentist'' the titular protagonist, Dr. Alan Feinstone, [[TongueTrauma cuts off his wife's tongue]] as a punishment for her infidelity. Brooke, the wife, gets better for the sequel, but she's left mute for life and forced to use written notes and simple gestures to be understood.

* Nat the Gypsy in ''Film/{{Dobermann}}'' is a deaf-mute who communicates through sign language. She does make some inarticulate cries of pain or rage during the film, and manages to articulate a single word towards the end: [[spoiler:"Fuckers!"]].
* Cindy in ''Film/DontBreathe'' doesn't say a word in her entire time onscreen because [[spoiler:she is gagged when Rocky and Alex rescue her and is killed before the gag can be removed]].
* [[AlliterativeName Lupita Lozoya]], Max's sister in ''Film/DontTurnTheOtherCheek'', is mute. Her late husband, Max's brother in law, was a revolutionary who was killed and Lupita herself spoke strongly against the tyranny in Mexico and as a result her tongue was cut out.

* In ''Film/FiveEasyPieces'', Robert's father has been rendered mute by a series of strokes. Robert has an emotional one-sided conversation with him.
* The ProfessorGuineaPig from the original ''Film/TheFly1958'' couldn't speak after his teleporter accident swapped his head with a housefly's, so communicated with chalkboard, typewriter, and by knocking on tables.

* Himmler, the Baron's hulking footman, does not speak a word in ''Film/Frankenstein1970''. It's not clear if he is mute or if he can speak and just chooses not to.
* Gymnasia in ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum''. See ''theater'' for her theatrical counterpart. In the movie version, instead, she gets her fetish tendencies toned down, but she's still a towering blonde AmazonianBeauty expressing herself in made-up language (resembling just a funny barrage of unrelated charades) who Pseudolous only can understand. When Pseudolous reveal that Gymnasia's gestures meant something, the others show genuine surprise, believing her to be just TheUnintelligible.
* Wu Chen in ''Film/GhostRock''. He never makes a sound, even when [[ATasteOfTheLash recieving 50 lashes]]. Comments from other characters indicate that he is mute, but the reason is never mentioned.

* In ''Film/HardcoreHenry'', Henry is a man brought back from the dead as a cyborg after being mutilated beyond what conventional medicine could fix, but just as he's about to get a new voice box installed, the action kicks off, so he never gains the ability to speak. He communicates in other ways, like using hand gestures and [[CouldntFindAPen using his finger to write words in his blood.]]

* In ''Film/HenryAndVerlin'', Verlin is unable to speak. At first he never even makes any vocal noises; after he befriends Henry, he starts showing emotions like laughing and screaming.
* ''Film/{{Hush}}'' has Maddie, who doesn't speak throughout the movie because she's deaf-mute.
* ''Film/JohnWickChapter2''. [[TheDragon Ares]] is a mute assassin who nevertheless is able to constantly snark the hero despite only communicating through sign language.

* Lydia from ''Film/TheOthers2001'' is mute due to a trauma that remains unspecified until the end of the film--[[spoiler:the discovery that she (and her two fellow servants) have died from Tuberculosis traumatises her so much that she never speaks again]].

* For much of the film ''Music/{{Tommy}}'', the title character is rendered entirely deaf, blind and mute after being traumatised as a young child by the sight of his stepfather killing his (previously believed killed during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII) father in front of his mother very shortly after the father re-appears. He does get better... eventually, but it is a couple of decades (at least) before he snaps out of it.
* Bumblebee from the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' wasn't able to speak, only communicating through the radio, due to events before the movie started where Megatron had ripped out his vocal processors. However, in the second movie, after he recovers, he still uses the radio to "speak", as Sam says he plays it up to be cute.

* Julie Berry's ''Literature/AllTheTruthThatsInMe'' is a book about a girl who has had half her tongue cut out. Although [[spoiler: she can speak at the end, she just didn't realise she could because her superstitious mother forbade her from trying]].

** "Literature/WhatIf1952": Mr What If never speaks during the story, but still effectively explains his name and what he's capable of doing.
* The ex-P.O.W. in ''Literature/{{Beachwalker}}'' has been mute since birth. As it turns out, this was a large part of the reason why he was captured in the first place -- he was unable to call for help.
* John Mathew of J.R. Ward's ''Literature/BlackDaggerBrotherhood'' series is mute (presumably born that way), and relies on [[HandSignals American sign language]], whistling, writing on a notepad, and a variety of body language in order to communicate with others.

* In ''Literature/TheBrokenCrescent'', the Ghadi are an entire race of these. Due to an ancient curse, they cannot speak, nor can they comprehend any type of spoken or written language.
* Daelyn Rice, the lead character of ''Literature/ByTheTimeYouReadThisIllBeDead'' by Julie Anne Peters, has been rendered temporarily mute due to the damage caused to her vocal cords when she drank ammonia and bleach in a failed suicide attempt. She also must wear a neck brace and needs to have all her meals liquefied in a blender. By the end of the story, however, she tries speaking a few words.
* ''Literature/{{Chalion}}'': Umegat's assistant Daris is an elderly little man who is missing his thumbs and tongue. The missing tongue means that he can't speak, but he does make various mouthed hums, welcoming noises, and other sounds.

* ''Literature/TheCorruptedChroniclesOfCocoClaramisa'': Mimic is the one character who doesn't say a thing throughout the entire book. Justified on account of him being a mime.
* Subverted in ''Literature/TheDinosaurLords'', when Rob thinks that Karyl doesn't speak because of the axe in the head the man's got earlier in the story. Turns out he was just faking muteness to avoid people querying about [[IdentityAmnesia his past]].

** The Librarian, who's been turned into an ape, can only speak in Orangutan, and to us that sounds like only one word, "Ook", over and over again (with an occasional "Eek!"). Sometimes he has to do charades to get people to understand him. The author has danced around the question of why a librarian, of all people, never thinks of writing down what he wants to say. In ''The Last Continent'', a magical illness briefly turns him into a book. The book has no title, but every single page is filled with the word "Ook". In ''The Last Continent'', he retained a one-word vocabulary when he is transformed into a penguin ("Awk!), and later a dolphin ("Eek!).
** The Death of Rats's vocabulary is limited to "SQUEAK", with occasional variations ("SNH, SNH, SNH"). Death understands it perfectly, as do Albert and Quoth the raven; Susan doesn't necessarily know what it says, only what it means.
** Also, Literature/{{Discworld}} golems can't speak because they have no tongues, this being a blasphemy. They have slates and a piece of chalk which they write words on. [[spoiler:In later novels, they are "re-made" with clay tongues and hence can speak, though they tend to be very literal-minded.]]
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', Ciarra can't talk. No one knows exactly why this is, it's just some of the various ills that befall the family. Of the family members living in castle Hurog, Ciarra's elder brother Ward is the most mentally healthy one (he lost his speech for some time when his father nearly killed him, and has been ObfuscatingStupidity ever since.) Everyone else ranges from complete {{Cloudcuckoolander}} (the mother) over suicidal (the brother) to sociopathic killer (the father). There's a kind of curse on the family and their castle. [[spoiler: Ciarra does get better once the curse is broken and/or she gets away from castle Hurog.]]
* ''Literature/TheEmperorsGift'': The commander of Hyperion's [[DemonSlaying Grey Knight squad]], Justicar Galeo, was rendered incapable of speech by a terrible injury to his throat. Galeo's lack of speech doesn't hinder him in any way, however, as he is able to communicate through {{telepathy}}.
* In ''Literature/TheEmpressGame'', Kayla's brother Corinth hasn't spoken aloud since the deaths of the rest of their family, but he ''does'' speak to her telepathically. That's okay when they're alone, but since they're trying to keep their background secret (and telepathy would give the game away), it's problematic when in company -- Kayla can't always use telepathy back, and there's a risk she'd respond aloud to something he'd only said telepathically.
* In the ''Literature/ErebusSequence'', Anea can't talk due to [[spoiler:having no jaw behind her veil]]. At first she uses TalkingWithSigns; then she develops HandSignals.

* Aside from the rare squeak or hiss, Meparik of ''Literature/HeraldsOfRhimn'' is mute. This can make communication a pain between him and people who don’t know Gesture, [[HandSignals a feyrie sign language]], but he makes do with writing when he has to.
* Avoxes, in ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', are traitors who've had their tongues mutilated as punishment by the Capitol. Avox [[GratuitousLatin literally means]] 'without voice'.
* Anthony from ''Literature/InTwoWorlds'' is as intelligent as anyone else, but can't coordinate his mind and his body well enough to talk. He can make a few sounds, like "sah-weh" for "sandwich," but only people who know him can understand them.
* Cody from ''Literature/LanguageArts'' knew a lot of words as a toddler, but lost almost all of them. For a while he could write his name, but lost that ability too. Now he can only say "Gaaaah" (short for "God," the last word to go) and sign some letters, like D for dad.
* Michael, narrator and protagonist of ''Literature/TheLockArtist'', has been silent since the age of 8 because of psychological trauma.
* Toki is this in the 31st ''Literature/MadgieWhatDidYouDo'', because she's had her vocal cords removed on the grounds it was implied that she's known something she wasn't supposed to, which is to say, of a genetically engineered bioweapon. Naturally, her sister, Doki, has to speak for her.
* In ''Literature/TheMalloreon'', Toth, Cyradis' strong but silent companion who is sent to accompany Garion and company on their new adventure. Toth communicates only in vague, broad gestures with his arms, yet Durnik (to whom he usually "talks") is able to perfectly understand him. It isn't until ''The Seeress of Kell'' that Durnik figures out the truth: Toth, [[spoiler:like practically all Dals]], is telepathic, and has been using the gestures to disguise the fact he's been projecting what he wants to convey directly into Durnik's mind. It should be noted that the exact reason Toth is silent is never explained, but the silence is total; [[spoiler:even when he is killed, he never utters a sound]].

* The dragon breeder Sarkkhan in the ''Literature/PitDragonChronicles'' sought to breed a mute fighting dragon, seeing their inability to roar as a potential advantage [[BloodSport in the pits.]] [[spoiler:He succeeds with Heart's Blood.]]

** Nova can make approximations of one-syllable words, with effort. People usually don't understand her, and for the most part she doesn't find speech to be worth it.
** Buddy, a boy from her special ed class, can't talk but knows some sign language.

* Lupus in ''Literature/TheRomanMysteries'' is mute because he had his tongue torn out. Early on in the series, he learns to write and starts using a tablet and stylus to communicate.

* One member of the submarine crew from ''Literature/SewerGasAndElectric'' doesn't speak anything but Turkish, so has no lines except the name of his hometown, which he cries out ("Istanbul!") to indicate he's carried out an order. Except once when he's recovering from an at-sea collision, and groans "Constantinople..." instead.

** Ilyn Payne had his tongue torn out by the Mad King. After the revolution, he's given a job as the royal executioner by the new king. His gaunt appearance and total silence make him quite frightening, which is very appropriate for his job. The closest he's come to speaking is opening his mouth and making a clacking sound, which Jaime takes for a laugh.
** Theon is given a mute squire, which he takes as an insult. The squire is actually pretty bold and occasionally smirks at Theon's difficulties. Later, he manages to convey a complex message without the ability to speak or write.

** Victarion Greyjoy takes a tongueless woman as a concubine. He likes it because he can think out loud while she's around and she won't be able to tell anyone his secrets.
* Nick Andros, in Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/TheStand'', was born deaf and mute. One version of the book explicitly states he was born without eardrums or vocal cords.

* The God-King Susebron from ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'' is this for most of the book. Though it's because [[spoiler: his tongue's been cut out from near-birth to keep him from using the Breath]]. He's also initially unable to write except in a special code script he uses to communicate with his priests, though his wife teaches him how to write normally midway through the book. [[spoiler: And then he gets his tongue healed when Lightsong gives up his Breath for him.]]

* Combined with The Unintelligible, Pip, the chipmunk from ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'', cannot talk like a person in New York because... well, in the real world, animals cannot talk (they only make noises). He knows what is going on from the beginning of the movie, but despite his highly creative charades, is never able to convey it to the air-headed Prince Edward. Ironically in [[Magical Land Andalasia]], he has a Noo Yawk accent.

* Combined with TheUnintelligible, Pip, the Chipmunk from ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'', can't talk like a person in New York because... well, in the real world, animals can't talk (they only make noises). He actually knows what's going on from the beginning of the movie, but despite his very creative charades, is never able to convey it to the air-headed Prince Edward. Ironically in [[MagicalLand Andelasia]] he has a Noo Yawk accent.

* In ''Manga/MangaDeHakkenTamagotchi'', the Tamagotchis don't speak. This contrasts with a lot of other media based on ''VideoGame/{{Tamagotchi}}'' where the Tamagotchis are capable of some form of speech.

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* Pvt. Elliot "Lucky" Taylor of DC's ''Creature Commandos''. He "survived" stepping on a landmine, in the sense that over a period of weeks a large team of surgeons was able to piece him back together in a grisly approximation of Frankenstein's monster. They did what they could, not all the parts could be salvaged or replaced or even put back in the right place -- he has no vocal cords and can't even so much as grunt.
* Polish character EmilkaSza is a mime who is unable to make sound since the day she was born. She makes up for it with pantomime.

* Victor from ''Film/TheWildChild'' is unable to speak due to his years of isolation, although he eventually learns to make a sound approximating "lait."
* In ''Film/WhenTheBoughBreaks1994'', the mentally disturbed teenager Jordan can make vocal noises like humming and screaming, and can communicate by writing in crayon, but never speaks, aside from [[QuietCryForHelp whispering "Help me" twice]] at one point.

* Julie Berry's ''Literature/AllTheTruthThatsInMe'' is a book about a girl who has had half her tongue cut out. Although [[spoiler: she can speak at the end, she just didn't realise she could because her superstitious mother forbade her from trying]].
* The ex-P.O.W. in ''Literature/{{Beachwalker}}'' has been mute since birth. As it turns out, this was a large part of the reason why he was captured in the first place--he was unable to call for help.

* In ''Literature/TheEmpressGame'', Kayla's brother Corinth hasn't spoken aloud since the deaths of the rest of their family, but he ''does'' speak to her telepathically. That's okay when they're alone, but since they're trying to keep their background secret (and telepathy would give the game away), it's problematic when in company — Kayla can't always use telepathy back, and there's a risk she'd respond aloud to something he'd only said telepathically.

** Ilyn Payne had his tongue torn out by the mad king. After the revolution, he's given a job as the royal executioner by the new king. His gaunt appearance and total silence make him quite frightening, which is very appropriate for his job. The closest he's come to speaking is opening his mouth and making a clacking sound, which Jaime takes for a laugh.

* Legion from ''Literature/{{Tasakeru}}'', who only communicates in sign and body language.
* ''Literature/{{Shtum}}'': As a toddler, Ben's autistic son Jonah very sporadically said a handful of words like "bubble" and "door," and months later said his last ever word, "[[Literature/PeterPan Peeeder]]."
* Jason from ''Literature/{{Rules}}'' communicates via word cards.
* Anthony from ''Literature/InTwoWorlds'' is as intelligent as anyone else, but can't coordinate his mind and his body well enough to talk. He can make a few sounds, like "sah-weh" for "sandwich," but only people who know him can understand them.
* Cody from ''Literature/LanguageArts'' knew a lot of words as a toddler, but lost almost all of them. For a while he could write his name, but lost that ability too. Now he can only say "Gaaaah" (short for "God," the last word to go) and sign some letters, like D for dad.
* In ''Literature/WatchersOfTheThrone'' Aleya is, like all Sisters of Silence, sworn to never speak; she communicates with others through a UsefulNotes/SignedLanguage. [[spoiler:She does speak once at the end of the first book at the start of her and Valerian's LastStand. When she survives it, she goes back to muteness.]]
* ''Literature/PlanetEarthIsBlue'':
** Nova can make approximations of one-syllable words, with effort. People usually don't understand her, and for the most part she doesn't find speech to be worth it.
** Buddy, a boy from her special ed class, can't talk but knows some sign language.
** Margot, another kid from the class, sits in her wheelchair with her head tilted to the side, not talking.

** Another aptly named episode, "The Silence", invokes this trope. Jamie Tennyson, an incessant chatterbox in a gentleman's club, drives the wealthy Colonel Taylor crazy with his prattle. The colonel suggests a wager: if Tennyson can stay silent for an entire year (during which time he'll be monitored non-stop), he'll win $500,000 (no small change in the 2010s, but an even bigger sum in the 1960s). Tennyson takes the bet and stays silent throughout the year, despite other club members and even Colonel Taylor asking him to call it off. Finally, exactly twelve months have passed--at which point Taylor confesses that he lost his fortune years ago, so he can't possibly pay; he never expected Tennyson to actually pull it off. Then comes the CruelTwistEnding: Tennyson didn't expect himself to do it, either... so he ''cut his vocal cords'' to ensure that he would win. The episode concludes with Jamie dramatically removing his scarf, revealing a thick scar across his neck.

* "Motormouth" Lisa gets this in an episode of ''Series/YouCantDoThatOnTelevision'' themed around letting the audience "vote" on the outcome of certain skits. After the audience "votes" for Lisa to lose her voice, she is unable to speak and can communicate only by writing notes. It ends when the kids realize that Lisa is to introduce the commercials - which she is unable to do if she can't talk - and that without commercials, no one gets paid.

* Although her parents Mr. and Mrs. C can talk, Chica from ''Series/TheChicaShow'' and ''Series/TheSunnySideUpShow'' only communicates through squeaking, so she definitely fits this trope.

* Many of the villains in ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'' are at least somewhat talkative, and several, most notably Ermine, ''won't shut up''. Progeny, on the other hand, is utterly silent: its flavour text is mostly other people talking about it, and unlike every other villain in the digital version, it doesn't get ''any'' dialogue on the starting screen, not even against its nemesis, KNYFE.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII''

** ''Breath of the Wild'' gives us Zelda's diary, which describes Link as someone she at first thinks is being deliberately cold towards her, but later she finds that he's more TheStoic due the burden of being TheHero. "When I finally got around to asking why he's so quiet all the time, I could tell it was difficult for him to say. But he did. With so much at stake, and so many eyes upon him, he feels it necessary to stay strong and to silently bear any burden." However, many fans - enough for this to become an increasingly common fanfic portrayal - latched onto the words "I could tell it was difficult for him to say" and believe (or at least add to their {{fanon}}) that Link is ''partially'' verbal, as a mental block he can overcome with those he is closest to (and then, with difficulty.)

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel IV'', this is what happens to [[spoiler:Valimar after Rean lost control of himself at the climax of ''Cold Steel III''. He can still obey commands and show up whenever Rean summons him but he's unable to talk due to the curse's influence unless there's a high mana density around or after Lianne purifies him before she disappears for good.]]

* ''Webcomic/SuitorArmor'': Modeus is a suit of AnimatedArmor that has no means to speak (at first.) He gradually begins halting talking around Lucia, the girl he is protecting, although the other characters are mystified about how he's able to do it.

* Creator/ChuckJones did a few cartoons featuring Porky Pig and his pet cat Sylvester encountering scary menacing phenomena, which only the latter is aware of--but his most prominent trait, his big slobbery voice, is absent here and he can only attempt to describe the dangers in ineffectual pantomime to his blithely oblivious master.

** Mama T.Rex and Rudy in [[WesternAnimation/IceAge3DawnOfTheDinosaurs the third film]].

* Julie Berry's ''All the Truth that's in Me'' is a book about a girl who has had half her tongue cut out. Although [[spoiler: she can speak at the end, she just didn't realise she could because her superstitious mother forbade her from trying]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Neo is unable to speak, although she can make non-verbal sounds, such as [[VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle grunting in pain or giggling]]. She is instead extremely expressive with her body language and acrobatic fighting style. She also communicates through silent gestures and text messages. When Cinder tries to make a deal with her in Volume 6 and says "Let's talk", an irritated Neo points to her throat. The canon novel ''Literature/RWBYRomanHoliday'' reveals that she has had speech issues since birth, and her parents were extremely intolerant of it. The first person she ever met who was able to communicate with her was Roman.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Neo is unable to speak, although she can make non-verbal sounds, such as grunting in pain or giggling during ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle''. She is instead extremely expressive with her body language and acrobatic fighting style. She also communicates through silent gestures and text messages. When Cinder tries to make a deal with her in Volume 6 and says "Let's talk", an irritated Neo points to her throat. The canon novel ''Literature/RWBYRomanHoliday'' reveals that she has had speech issues since birth, and her parents were extremely intolerant of it. The first person she ever met who was able to communicate with her was Roman.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Neo is unable to speak, although she can make non-verbal sounds, such as grunting in pain or giggling during ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle''. She is instead extremely expressive with her body language and acrobatic fighting style. She also communicates through silent gestures and text messages. When Cinder tries to make a deal with her in Volume 6 and says "Let's talk", an irritated Neo points to her throat to reminder her that's something she cannot do. The canon novel ''Literature/RWBYRomanHoliday'' reveals that she has had speech issues since birth, and her parents were extremely intolerant of it. The first person she ever met who was able to communicate with her was Roman.

* Implied with Neo from ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' has never spoken a word ever since her debut, and is implied to be mute. It tends to make her menacing, despite the fact that she’s [[PintSizedPowerhouse 4’11’’. In heels.]] When Cinder tries to make a deal with her in Volume 6 and asks for her response, Neo points to her throat in exasperation to remind Cinder that she cannot verbally respond.
** She does communicate with other characters through silent gestures, text messages and [[WebAnimation/RWBYChibi funny signs]]. In ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle'' she also grunts in pain when hit and also giggles during some intros (her "voice" here is provided by Casey Lee Williams, the girl who provides the vocals for the show's songs).

And don't under-estimate the importance of body language!"''

* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'', General Zod's associate Non is mute because he was lobotomized. Although his intelligence did suffer, he occasionally shows signs that he is smarter that he looks. Before his surgery, he was Jor El's lab partner. In the original movie (Zod's sidekicks are {{Canon Immigrant}}s) it may not even have been that: He was clearly as intelligent and as deliberately nasty as the others.

* Lydia from ''Film/TheOthers'' is mute due to a trauma that remains unspecified until the end of the film--[[spoiler:the discovery that she (and her two fellow servants) have died from Tuberculosis traumatises her so much that she never speaks again]].

* For much of the film ''Music/{{Tommy}}'', the title character is rendered entirely deaf, blind and mute after being traumatised as a young child by the sight of his stepfather killing his (previously believed killed during [=WW2=]) father in front of his mother very shortly after the father re-appears. He does get better... eventually, but it is a couple of decades (at least) before he snaps out of it.

* [[AlliterativeName Lupita Lozoya]], Max's sister in ''Don't Turn the Other Cheek'', is mute. Her late husband, Max's brother in law, was a revolutionary who was killed and Lupita herself spoke strongly against the tyranny in Mexico and as a result her tongue was cut out.