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* Appears in one of ''TheDestroyer'' novels. Remo does understand chinese, but can't keep up with the rapid-fire delivery he's being confronted with so he asks Chuin to translate. Chuin, not amused, instead yells at the chinese guy to speak slower so that his stupid white companion can understand.
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--->'''Frou-Frou''': ''(thick French accent) A little.

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--->'''Frou-Frou''': ''(thick French accent) accent)'' A little.



--->'''Sarge:''' ''Lopez. How. Do. We. Fix. Your. Speech. U. Nit.\\

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--->'''Sarge:''' ''Lopez. How. Do. We. Fix. Your. Speech. U. Nit.\\''\\
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--> '''Jackie:''' "WHERE. IS. CARSON. CITY?!"
--> '''Indian:''' (in subtitles) "Now he's saying it slower; like that's going to help!"
* PlayedWith in ''Film/PulpFiction'': When the hitman Jules psychologically tortures his future victim Brett, he plays with this concept. He's half-infuriated, half-amused that the poor and confused boy answers him several times with only "what?", which leads to this iconic and memetic exchange:

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--> '''Jackie:''' "WHERE.WHERE. IS. CARSON. CITY?!"
CITY?!
--> '''Indian:''' (in subtitles) "Now Now he's saying it slower; like that's going to help!"
help!
* PlayedWith in ''Film/PulpFiction'': When the hitman Jules psychologically tortures his future victim Brett, he plays with this concept. He's half-infuriated, half-amused that the poor and confused boy answers him several times with only "what?", which leads to this one iconic and memetic exchange: exchange, and it's also a set up for a BrickJoke.



** This also sets up a BrickJoke (after Jules threatens to shoot Brett if he says "What?" one more time).

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** This also sets up a BrickJoke (after -->''(after Jules threatens to shoot Brett if he says "What?" one more time).time)''



-->'''Jules (loudly and angrily):''' DOES HE LOOK LIKE A BITCH?!
-->'''Brett (crying):''' No!

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-->'''Jules (loudly -->'''Jules:''' ''(loudly and angrily):''' angrily)'' DOES HE LOOK LIKE A BITCH?!
-->'''Brett (crying):''' -->'''Brett:''' ''(crying)'' No!



* Lucy does this on ''ILoveLucy'' when she meets some of Ricky's friends from Cuba. Finally, Ricky tells her, "Honey, they aren't hard of hearing!"

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* Lucy does tries this approach on ''ILoveLucy'' ''Series/ILoveLucy'' when she meets some of Ricky's friends from Cuba. Finally, Ricky tells her, "Honey, they aren't hard of hearing!"
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* Lucy does this on ''ILoveLucy'' when she meets some of Ricky's friends from Cuba. Finally, Ricky tells her, "Honey, they aren't hard of hearing!"
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** This also sets up a BrickJoke (after Jules threatens to shoot Brett if he says "What?" one more time.

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** This also sets up a BrickJoke (after Jules threatens to shoot Brett if he says "What?" one more time.time).
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''[Jules shoots Brett in the arm. Brett screams.]''

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''[Jules -->''[Jules shoots Brett in the arm. Brett screams.]''
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** This also sets up a BrickJoke (after Jules threatens to shoot Brett if he says "What?" one more time.
-->'''Jules:''' What does Marsellus Wallace look like?
-->'''Brett:''' He's black...He's bald...
-->'''Jules:''' Does he look like a bitch?
-->'''Brett:''' What?
''[Jules shoots Brett in the arm. Brett screams.]''
-->'''Jules (loudly and angrily):''' DOES HE LOOK LIKE A BITCH?!
-->'''Brett (crying):''' No!
-->'''Jules:''' Then why'd you try to fuck him like a bitch, Brett?
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* In ''Series/AdamTwelve'', the only person at a residence who is available to tell the officers why they were called speaks very little English. They manage limited communication using pantomime, but Malloy, for some reason, also tries repeating his questions VERY LOUDLY.
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* In ''ShanghaiNoon'' when Jackie Chan's character (who speaks English) is trying to get directions from a couple Indians (who don't):
--> '''Jackie:''' "WHERE. IS. CARSON. CITY?!"
--> '''Indian:''' (in subtitles) "Now he's saying it slower; like that's going to help!"

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Example Indentation, changing hottip to note mark-up


* Both referenced and then actually used in the ''[[Series/{{Blackadder}} Blackadder the Third]]'' episode "Nob and Nobility". When Blackadder meets Frenchman Frou-Frou, the following exchange occurs:
-->'''Blackadder''': Do you speak English?
-->'''Frou-Frou''': ''(thick French accent) A little.
-->'''Blackadder''': Yes, when you say "a little", what exactly do you mean? I mean, can we talk, or are we going to spend the rest of the afternoon asking each other the way to the beach in very loud voices?

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* Both referenced and then actually used in the ''[[Series/{{Blackadder}} Blackadder the Third]]'' episode "Nob and Nobility". Nobility".
**
When Blackadder meets Frenchman Frou-Frou, the following exchange occurs:
-->'''Blackadder''': --->'''Blackadder''': Do you speak English?
-->'''Frou-Frou''': --->'''Frou-Frou''': ''(thick French accent) A little.
-->'''Blackadder''': --->'''Blackadder''': Yes, when you say "a little", what exactly do you mean? I mean, can we talk, or are we going to spend the rest of the afternoon asking each other the way to the beach in very loud voices?



--->'''Frenchman''': Pardon?[hottip:*:The French word, not the English word.]]

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--->'''Frenchman''': Pardon?[hottip:*:The Pardon?[[note]]The French word, not the English word.]][[/note]]

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[[quoteright:312: [[Webcomic/BasicInstructions http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SpeakingLoudAndSlowForeignLanguage_8275.png]]]]

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[[quoteright:312: [[quoteright:274: [[Webcomic/BasicInstructions http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SpeakingLoudAndSlowForeignLanguage_8275.org/pmwiki/pub/images/translation_by_volume_1539.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:274:Speak slooow-ly and LOUDLY. That'll do the trick.]]
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* Both referenced and then actually used in the ''[[Series/{{Blackadder}} Blackadder the Third]]'' episode "Nob and Nobility". When Blackadder meets Frenchman Frou-Frou, the following exchange occurs:
-->'''Blackadder''': Do you speak English?
-->'''Frou-Frou''': ''(thick French accent) A little.
-->'''Blackadder''': Yes, when you say "a little", what exactly do you mean? I mean, can we talk, or are we going to spend the rest of the afternoon asking each other the way to the beach in very loud voices?
** Later on, Blackadder meets another Frenchman, which is where the trope is actually used (though combined with sign language).
--->'''Blackadder''': Ah, good evening, my man. Do you speak English?
--->'''Frenchman''': Little.
--->'''Blackadder''': Oh good, then just take me to the ambassador then, would you?
--->'''Frenchman''': Pardon?[hottip:*:The French word, not the English word.]]
--->'''Blackadder''': ''(sighs, then speaks slowly and clearly)'' I have rescued ''(mimes grabbing something)'' an aristocrat ''(turns his head to the side and pushes his nose up with one finger)'' from the clutches ''(makes "claws" with his hands)'' of the evil revolutionaries ''(does the claw hands again)''. Please take us to the ambassador.
--->'''Frenchman''': ''(equally slowly and clearly)'' No I won't. I AM an evil revolutionary ''(claw hands)'' and I have murdered ''(draws his finger across his throat)'' the ambassadeur ''(pushes his nose up)'' and have turned him into ''(mimes squashing something between his hands and tasting it)'' paté.
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* ''Film/RushHour'': Carter, an English speaker, is speaking to Jackie Chan's character for the first time, and Jackie Chan's character does not speak English.

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* ''Film/RushHour'': Carter, an English speaker, is speaking to Jackie Chan's character for the first time, and Jackie Chan's character does pretends not to speak English.
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In all fairness, trying to employ this trope might sometimes work, especially with languages that are partly mutually comprehensible, as for example Slavic languages that often have similar vocabulary and similar grammar. Speaking slowly and clearly allows someone with only a basic understanding of the language to keep up and they might catch some international words or grasp the meaning from gestures.

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In all fairness, trying to employ this trope might sometimes work, especially with languages that are partly mutually comprehensible, as for example Slavic languages that often have comprehensible and share a similar vocabulary and similar grammar. grammar, or when talking to someone who has a very basic knowledge of the language. Speaking slowly and clearly allows someone with only a basic understanding of the language them to keep up and they might catch some international of the few words they know or grasp the meaning from gestures.

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[[AC: Film - Live Action]]

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[[AC:
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[[folder:
Film - Live Action]]



-->'''Jules:''' What ain't no country I ever heard of! Do they speak English in What?
-->'''Brett:''' What?
-->'''Jules:''' ENGLISH, MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT?!

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-->'''Jules:''' What ain't no country I ever heard of! Do they speak English in What?
-->'''Brett:''' What?
-->'''Jules:'''
What?\\
'''Brett:''' What?\\
'''Jules:'''
ENGLISH, MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT?!



-->'''Marty:''' ''(very slowly, deliberately)'' Look, I just want to know how much money the Sports Almanac costs.
-->'''Clerk:''' ''(just as deliberately)'' And I just want to know what format you want? ROM-Cart, ROM-D, Standard-C, Mini-C or Micro-C? Rental, Lease or download? What's your memcap and baud rate? Interface with me, kid. You'll never get by in this world if you can't interface.
-->''(silence)''
-->'''Marty:''' Uh, right -- good advice.

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-->'''Marty:''' ''(very slowly, deliberately)'' Look, I just want to know how much money the Sports Almanac costs.
-->'''Clerk:'''
costs.\\
'''Clerk:'''
''(just as deliberately)'' And I just want to know what format you want? ROM-Cart, ROM-D, Standard-C, Mini-C or Micro-C? Rental, Lease or download? What's your memcap and baud rate? Interface with me, kid. You'll never get by in this world if you can't interface.
-->''(silence)''
-->'''Marty:'''
interface.\\
''(silence)''\\
'''Marty:'''
Uh, right -- good advice.




[[AC: Literature]]

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\n[[AC: [[/folder]]

[[folder:
Literature]]



* In the 5th ''Literature/HarryPotter'' book, Umbridge maliciously speaks to Hagrid in this unpleasant manner in order to make him look dumb and oafish, setting him up so she can fire him later. Hagrid responds in the same manner while trying to communicate what thestrals are, albeit in a confused and would-be helpful manner rather than a malicious one.


[[AC: Live Action Television]]

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* In the 5th ''Literature/HarryPotter'' book, ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'', Umbridge maliciously speaks to Hagrid in this unpleasant manner in order to make him look dumb and oafish, setting him up so she can fire him later. Hagrid responds in the same manner while trying to communicate what thestrals are, albeit in a confused and would-be helpful manner rather than a malicious one.


[[AC:
one.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:
Live Action Television]]



* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little.

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* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little.



-->'''Hawkeye:''' Bet-ter? ''Bet-ter?'' I've been here all this time, and I still can't speak the language.
-->'''B.J.:''' (Jokingly) Well, you Americans figure everybody can understand English, lest-you-speak-it-slow-ly-e-nough.
-->'''Hawkeye:''' Huh?

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-->'''Hawkeye:''' Bet-ter? ''Bet-ter?'' I've been here all this time, and I still can't speak the language.
-->'''B.
language.\\
'''B.
J.:''' (Jokingly) Well, you Americans figure everybody can understand English, lest-you-speak-it-slow-ly-e-nough.
-->'''Hawkeye:'''
lest-you-speak-it-slow-ly-e-nough.\\
'''Hawkeye:'''
Huh?




[[AC: Stand-up Comedy]]
* EddieIzzard, a British comedian, did a bit about it, where Brits in France would try to order the same foods from home, but speak with greater volume and enunciation. Which ''could'' work depending on the food, given a bunch of dishes have their name borrowed from French.

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\n[[AC: [[/folder]]

[[folder:
Stand-up Comedy]]
* EddieIzzard, Creator/EddieIzzard, a British comedian, did a bit about it, where Brits in France would try to order the same foods from home, but speak with greater volume and enunciation. Which ''could'' work depending on the food, given a bunch of dishes have their name borrowed from French.





[[AC: Theatre]]

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\n\n[[AC: [[/folder]]

[[folder:
Theatre]]





[[AC: Video Games]]

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[[folder:
Video Games]]





[[AC: Web Comics]]
* {{Parodied}} in ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions'' by Scott Meyer in "How to Talk to Someone who Speaks a Foreign Language". To sum up, be patient and remember that people might stereotype. [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2008/8/11/how-to-talk-to-someone-who-speaks-a-foreign-language.html Read it here]].


[[AC: Web Original]]
* ''RedVsBlue'':

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\n\n[[AC: [[/folder]]

[[folder:
Web Comics]]
* {{Parodied}} {{Parodied|Trope}} in ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions'' by Scott Meyer in "How to Talk to Someone who Speaks a Foreign Language". To sum up, be patient and remember that people might stereotype. [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2008/8/11/how-to-talk-to-someone-who-speaks-a-foreign-language.html Read it here]].


[[AC:
here]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:
Web Original]]
* ''RedVsBlue'':''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':



** The Red Team, who never understand him, try to communicate with him this way. It is subverted, however, in that Lopez can ''understand'' English perfectly. His body is simply incapable of ''speaking'' it.
** Played straight when Church possesses Lopez, and finds he can only speak Spanish. He speaks slowly, still in Spanish, to try and warn the Reds of Tex coming to attack them in a tank. They, of course, can't understand him anyway.
** Subverted in Season 9. Lopez impersonates Simmons by painting his armor maroon, but can still only speak Spanish. However, by speaking slowly, [[RuleOfFunny Sarge and Grif are somehow able to understand his Spanish]], leaving them clueless to the switch.

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** *** The Red Team, who never understand him, try to communicate with him this way. It is subverted, however, in that Lopez can ''understand'' English perfectly. His body is simply incapable of ''speaking'' it.
** *** Played straight when Church possesses Lopez, and finds he can only speak Spanish. He speaks slowly, still in Spanish, to try and warn the Reds of Tex coming to attack them in a tank. They, of course, can't understand him anyway.
** *** Subverted in Season 9. Lopez impersonates Simmons by painting his armor maroon, but can still only speak Spanish. However, by speaking slowly, [[RuleOfFunny Sarge and Grif are somehow able to understand his Spanish]], leaving them clueless to the switch.



--->'''Sarge:''' ''Lopez. How. Do. We. Fix. Your. Speech. U. Nit.
--->'''Grif:''' ''[[LampshadeHanging Why are you talking so slowly, Sarge?]] He can understand us just fine. [[DeadpanSnarker Maybe you should try listening slower.]]

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--->'''Sarge:''' ''Lopez. How. Do. We. Fix. Your. Speech. U. Nit.
--->'''Grif:'''
Nit.\\
'''Grif:'''
''[[LampshadeHanging Why are you talking so slowly, Sarge?]] He can understand us just fine. [[DeadpanSnarker Maybe you should try listening slower.]]


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->''Oh yes! Picard's fluent in yelling at people. This is the time honoured method of speaking your own language loudly and somewhat slowly to people who don't speak it, in the hopes that they will suddenly understand you.''

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->''Oh ->''"Oh yes! Picard's fluent in yelling at people. This is the time honoured method of speaking your own language loudly and somewhat slowly to people who don't speak it, in the hopes that they will suddenly understand you.''"''

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It\'s ok to exapnd on an example, but please follow proper Example Indentation. No conversation on the main page.


* EddieIzzard, a British comedian, did a bit about it, where Brits in France would try to order the same foods from home, but speak with greater volume and enunciation.
** Which ''could'' work depending on the food, given a bunch of dishes have their name borrowed from French.

to:

* EddieIzzard, a British comedian, did a bit about it, where Brits in France would try to order the same foods from home, but speak with greater volume and enunciation.
**
enunciation. Which ''could'' work depending on the food, given a bunch of dishes have their name borrowed from French.
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** Which ''could'' work depending on the food, given a bunch of dishes have their name borrowed from French.
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A casualty of mass-rename?


* From ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' franchise: In script ''Script/NumberTwo'', Marty and Jennifer visit a store clerk in the year 2015. Marty asks for the TimelineAlteringMacGuffin, but the clerk asks, "On what?" After asking a few more times, Marty goes for the direct approach.

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* From ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' franchise: In script ''Script/NumberTwo'', Marty and Jennifer visit a store clerk in the year 2015. Marty asks for the TimelineAlteringMacGuffin, [[TimelineAlteringMacGuffin Grays Sports Almanac]], but the clerk asks, "On what?" After asking a few more times, Marty goes for the direct approach.
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* [[http://www.theonion.com/articles/foreign-travel-tips,8103/ This]] [[TheOnion Onion]] article on traveling abroad advises that shouting at foreigner is useful, along with [[BlatantLies many other helpful tips for American tourists]].

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* [[http://www.theonion.com/articles/foreign-travel-tips,8103/ This]] [[TheOnion Onion]] ''Website/TheOnion'' article on traveling abroad advises that shouting at foreigner is useful, along with [[BlatantLies many other helpful tips for American tourists]].
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It often involves speaking in conjunction with national stereotypes, frequently some version of EagleLand of the boorish category to portray an ignorant tourist, bumbling his way around a foreign country, or characters sometimes just meet a person who doesn't speak the same language, not necessarily a tourist. It's a fairly universal approach, not limited to one nation or one language.

to:

It often involves speaking in conjunction with national stereotypes, frequently some version of EagleLand of the boorish category to portray an ignorant tourist, bumbling his way around a foreign country, or characters country. Characters sometimes just meet a person who doesn't speak the same language, not necessarily a tourist. It's a fairly universal approach, not limited to one nation or one language.



--> He was speaking to her in Dust Leg, slowly and clearly. "Yes, Master," she whimpered, in Gorean. "Yes, Master." It amused me that the youth, like so many individuals to whom only one language is familiar, so familiar that it seems that all humans must, in one way or another, be conversant with it, seemed to think that the girl must surely understand him if only he would speak slowly enough and with sufficient distinctness.

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--> He ''"He was speaking to her in Dust Leg, slowly and clearly. "Yes, Master," she whimpered, in Gorean. "Yes, Master." It amused me that the youth, like so many individuals to whom only one language is familiar, so familiar that it seems that all humans must, in one way or another, be conversant with it, seemed to think that the girl must surely understand him if only he would speak slowly enough and with sufficient distinctness."''



* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little. The Language Barrier situation is PlayedForDrama.

to:

* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little. The Language Barrier situation is PlayedForDrama.
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None


* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little. The Language Barrier situation was PlayedForFrama.

to:

* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little. The Language Barrier situation was PlayedForFrama.is PlayedForDrama.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


It often involves speaking in conjunction with national stereotypes, frequently some version of EagleLand of the boorish category to portray an ignorant tourist, bumbling his way around a foreign country. Characters sometimes just meet a person who doesn't speak the same language, not necessarily a tourist. It's a fairly universal approach, not limited to one nation or one language.

to:

It often involves speaking in conjunction with national stereotypes, frequently some version of EagleLand of the boorish category to portray an ignorant tourist, bumbling his way around a foreign country. Characters country, or characters sometimes just meet a person who doesn't speak the same language, not necessarily a tourist. It's a fairly universal approach, not limited to one nation or one language.



* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little.

to:

* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little. The Language Barrier situation was PlayedForFrama.
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None
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''VideoGames/FireEmblemTellius'' has a scene where one of the Hawk Tribe is trying to talk to the Heron princess, who only speaks an ancient language, by talking loudly and slowly as he helps her pack for a trip. [[MoodWhiplash Then he tries to find out why she screamed]] right before the BlackKnight kills him.


to:

* ''VideoGames/FireEmblemTellius'' ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius'' has a scene where one of the Hawk Tribe is trying to talk to the Heron princess, who only speaks an ancient language, by talking loudly and slowly as he helps her pack for a trip. [[MoodWhiplash Then he tries to find out why she screamed]] right before the BlackKnight kills him.

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comment out two zero context examples. from discworld.


** Done several times by Lord Rust. '''[CONTEXT NEEDED]'''
** Sergeant Colon did this during his time in Klatch. '''[CONTEXT NEEDED]'''

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%% ** Done several times by Lord Rust. '''[CONTEXT NEEDED]'''
Rust.
%%
** Sergeant Colon did this during his time in Klatch. '''[CONTEXT NEEDED]'''Klatch.
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--/--> '''SFDebris''', ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration TNG]]: "Darmok"'' review

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--/--> '''SFDebris''', -->-- '''Website/SFDebris''', ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration TNG]]: "Darmok"'' review



* {{Conversed}} by SFDebris in his opinionated episode guide for the episode "Darmok" from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. He comments on desperate attempts of the ''Enterprise'' crew and Captain Picard to communicate with incomprehensible aliens whose language their UniversalTranslator couldn't crack.

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* ''Website/SFDebris'': {{Conversed}} by SFDebris in his opinionated episode guide for the episode "Darmok" from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. He comments on desperate attempts of the ''Enterprise'' crew and Captain Picard to communicate with incomprehensible aliens whose language their UniversalTranslator couldn't crack.

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[[quoteright:312: [[Webcomic/BasicInstructions http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SpeakingLoudAndSlowForeignLanguage_8275.png]]]]



---> '''SFDebris''', ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration TNG]]: "Darmok"'' review
----
[[quoteright:312:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SpeakingLoudAndSlowForeignLanguage_8275.png]]

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---> --/--> '''SFDebris''', ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration TNG]]: "Darmok"'' review
----
[[quoteright:312:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SpeakingLoudAndSlowForeignLanguage_8275.png]]
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Launching a new trope!

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->''Oh yes! Picard's fluent in yelling at people. This is the time honoured method of speaking your own language loudly and somewhat slowly to people who don't speak it, in the hopes that they will suddenly understand you.''
---> '''SFDebris''', ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration TNG]]: "Darmok"'' review
----
[[quoteright:312:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SpeakingLoudAndSlowForeignLanguage_8275.png]]

A person attempts to overcome a LanguageBarrier by simply speaking loudly and slowly or even shouting, believing that it will somehow work. As if the other person had bad hearing or were deaf, and weren't someone who actually doesn't know the language.

It often involves speaking in conjunction with national stereotypes, frequently some version of EagleLand of the boorish category to portray an ignorant tourist, bumbling his way around a foreign country. Characters sometimes just meet a person who doesn't speak the same language, not necessarily a tourist. It's a fairly universal approach, not limited to one nation or one language.

Another variant of this trope happens when characters are nice to each other and they genuinely try to understand and communicate, never realizing that it's hopeless. People may mean to be helpful and improve communication but it can come across as condescending.

In all fairness, trying to employ this trope might sometimes work, especially with languages that are partly mutually comprehensible, as for example Slavic languages that often have similar vocabulary and similar grammar. Speaking slowly and clearly allows someone with only a basic understanding of the language to keep up and they might catch some international words or grasp the meaning from gestures.

This trope is very often PlayedForLaughs as a means of mocking communication and poor foreign language skills. Generally, it will be accompanied by ElSpanishO and a lots of BodyLanguage tropes, both in fiction and in RealLife, since this is TruthInTelevision.

----
!!Examples from media
[[AC: Film - Live Action]]
* In ''Film/BetterOffDead'', Lane's father tries to communicate with Monique the exchange student from France:
-->'''Mr. Meyer:''' ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR STAY IN OUR TOWN?
* ''Film/RushHour'': Carter, an English speaker, is speaking to Jackie Chan's character for the first time, and Jackie Chan's character does not speak English.
-->'''Carter:''' DO YOOOU UNDERSTAAAND THE WOOORDS THAT ARE COMIN' OUT OF MY MOOOUTH?
* PlayedWith in ''Film/PulpFiction'': When the hitman Jules psychologically tortures his future victim Brett, he plays with this concept. He's half-infuriated, half-amused that the poor and confused boy answers him several times with only "what?", which leads to this iconic and memetic exchange:
-->'''Jules:''' What ain't no country I ever heard of! Do they speak English in What?
-->'''Brett:''' What?
-->'''Jules:''' ENGLISH, MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT?!
* ''Film/AlongCamePolly'': When Rubin and Polly first meet Rubin's parents, they ask the waiter in a rather condescending fashion: "Hi, need big table please - four people - many thanks" with the waiter responding in a bewildered fashion "okay".
* From ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' franchise: In script ''Script/NumberTwo'', Marty and Jennifer visit a store clerk in the year 2015. Marty asks for the TimelineAlteringMacGuffin, but the clerk asks, "On what?" After asking a few more times, Marty goes for the direct approach.
-->'''Marty:''' ''(very slowly, deliberately)'' Look, I just want to know how much money the Sports Almanac costs.
-->'''Clerk:''' ''(just as deliberately)'' And I just want to know what format you want? ROM-Cart, ROM-D, Standard-C, Mini-C or Micro-C? Rental, Lease or download? What's your memcap and baud rate? Interface with me, kid. You'll never get by in this world if you can't interface.
-->''(silence)''
-->'''Marty:''' Uh, right -- good advice.
* Vicky tries to speak loudly and slowly in ''Film/VickyCristinaBarcelona'', as she's initially not very good at speaking Spanish or Catala.

[[AC: Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Gor}}'': In ''Savages of Gor'', where a Red Savage (FantasyCounterpartCulture to Native American) of the Dust Leg tribe talks slowly and loudly in his native language to a BeautifulSlaveGirl who only speaks [[CommonTongue Gorean]].
--> He was speaking to her in Dust Leg, slowly and clearly. "Yes, Master," she whimpered, in Gorean. "Yes, Master." It amused me that the youth, like so many individuals to whom only one language is familiar, so familiar that it seems that all humans must, in one way or another, be conversant with it, seemed to think that the girl must surely understand him if only he would speak slowly enough and with sufficient distinctness.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** In the Discworld GURPS sourcebook, this is a skill called "Shouting At Foreigners". It is an actual skill that can be used instead of a foreign language. Mental/Hard, defaults to Linguistics-4, IQ-6 or HT-6: ''Many people think that they can get by in any language by speaking loudly, slowly and clearly in their own, or by dredging up a few half-remembered words from old stories and books. On the Disc, this sometimes works.''
** This trope is Granny Weatherwax's default form of communication when dealing with foreigners during the witches' travels in ''Discworld/WitchesAbroad''.
** Done several times by Lord Rust. '''[CONTEXT NEEDED]'''
** Sergeant Colon did this during his time in Klatch. '''[CONTEXT NEEDED]'''
* ''Literature/AmericaTheBook'': ''America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide To Democracy Inaction'' is a SatireParodyPastiche of high-school textbooks about the history of American democracy and politics. It references this concept. "Do... you... speak... English?"
* In the 5th ''Literature/HarryPotter'' book, Umbridge maliciously speaks to Hagrid in this unpleasant manner in order to make him look dumb and oafish, setting him up so she can fire him later. Hagrid responds in the same manner while trying to communicate what thestrals are, albeit in a confused and would-be helpful manner rather than a malicious one.


[[AC: Live Action Television]]
* In ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', Marco [[LampshadedTrope lampshades]] how absurd it is to Turk, who thinks Marco only speaks Spanish.
-->'''Turk:''' I'm sorry. But I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU.
-->'''Marco:''' Yeah, well that talking slower and louder thing is not as helpful as you might think.
* On ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' this tends to be how the Bluths attempt to communicate with the various Spanish-speaking characters.
* An episode of ''Series/TheFactsOfLife'' had the girls attempting to speak to a Spanish speaking woman very loudly. She does the exact same thing to them, in Spanish.
* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': Tom Barnaby once mentions that it used to be all you had to do to be understood by a foreigner. To speak loudly.
* PlayedWith in ''Series/SamanthaWho?'': The main character has amnesia and when she meets up with her friend, the friend starts using this trope, speaking loudly and unnaturally clearly. Another friend quickly berates her, letting her know that Samantha has amnesia but isn't deaf. She is also obviously not a foreigner.
* ''Series/{{QI}}'': When discussing the differences between British and American cuisine, Stephen jokingly asked American guest Rich Hall: "WHAT... DO YOUR PEOPLE... EAT?"
* In ''FawltyTowers'', Basil often addresses Manuel, the Spanish waiter and bellboy by shouting at him, along with lots of GratuitousSpanish (which is as often as not French, Italian or AsLongAsItSoundsForeign) and slapstick violence. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwYPCFfbhZM See this clip.]]
* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', episode "Darmok": The episode deals with UniversalTranslator Failure and an encounter with friendly, yet absolutely incomprehensible aliens. Both crews try this approach, speaking slowly and loudly. It arguably slightly works, but both could grasp only very, very little.
* {{Lampshaded}} in an episode of ''[[Series/{{MASH}} M*A*S*H]]'', when Hawkeye tends to a wounded Korean.
-->'''Hawkeye:''' Bet-ter? ''Bet-ter?'' I've been here all this time, and I still can't speak the language.
-->'''B.J.:''' (Jokingly) Well, you Americans figure everybody can understand English, lest-you-speak-it-slow-ly-e-nough.
-->'''Hawkeye:''' Huh?
* In an episode of ''Series/RedDwarf'', Lister and the Cat find themselves on a [[ParallelUniverse parallel Earth]] and for some reason believe they are in Bulgaria. They attempt to get by by speaking slowly and clearly and appending "-ski" to all their words, combining it with Bulgarian flavoured ElSpanishO.
* On ''Series/{{Friends}}'', Rachel went to meet Ross at the airport. He was returning from a business trip to China and apparently brought back a new Asian girlfriend. Rachel WELCOMES HER IN HER COUNTRY, trying to be cordial and not confused, since Ross was in love with ''her''. Ross's girlfriend Julie actually COMES FROM NEW YORK as well.
* In ''Series/TheNanny'', when Fran, a Jewish American woman, gets a French boyfriend, her mother speaks loudly and slowly with him.

[[AC: Stand-up Comedy]]
* EddieIzzard, a British comedian, did a bit about it, where Brits in France would try to order the same foods from home, but speak with greater volume and enunciation.
* Howie Mandel (back before he did [[DealOrNoDeal game shows]]) used this concept in his stand-up routine, asking how we would like it if people did it to us. The punch line being that, when someone did it to him, it worked.
* Henry Cho:
** Henry Cho talks about his mother-in-law speaking loudly in English to his father, a man of Korean descent who however speaks perfect English. She says "HELLO, IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU" loudly and slowly, and his dad turns to him and asks, "What is she doing?" -- "She thinks she's speaking Korean, Dad!"
** When he himself visited Korea, he was approached by an American tourist who spoke with him in loud English and combined it with Korean-like ElSpanishO.
--->'''Henry Cho:''' All the Korean people she could pull out of the crowd, she pulls ''me'' out of the crowd and goes "IS THIS BUSEY THAT GOESEY DOWNEY TOWNEY?" I looked at her and said "I reckon so."


[[AC: Theatre]]
* ''Theater/{{Drood}}'' has John Jasper and Reverend Crisparkle attempt this approach to Helena and Neville Landless (unaware they actually speak English), with Crisparkle adding gestures.


[[AC: Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' when Haytham slowly enunciates his English to Ziio, a native, she is confused as to why he's doing it in excellent English.
* ''VideoGames/FireEmblemTellius'' has a scene where one of the Hawk Tribe is trying to talk to the Heron princess, who only speaks an ancient language, by talking loudly and slowly as he helps her pack for a trip. [[MoodWhiplash Then he tries to find out why she screamed]] right before the BlackKnight kills him.


[[AC: Web Comics]]
* {{Parodied}} in ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions'' by Scott Meyer in "How to Talk to Someone who Speaks a Foreign Language". To sum up, be patient and remember that people might stereotype. [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2008/8/11/how-to-talk-to-someone-who-speaks-a-foreign-language.html Read it here]].


[[AC: Web Original]]
* ''RedVsBlue'':
** PlayedForLaughs, PlayedStraight and PlayedWith frequently because Lopez, the Red Team robot, can only speak Spanish.
** The Red Team, who never understand him, try to communicate with him this way. It is subverted, however, in that Lopez can ''understand'' English perfectly. His body is simply incapable of ''speaking'' it.
** Played straight when Church possesses Lopez, and finds he can only speak Spanish. He speaks slowly, still in Spanish, to try and warn the Reds of Tex coming to attack them in a tank. They, of course, can't understand him anyway.
** Subverted in Season 9. Lopez impersonates Simmons by painting his armor maroon, but can still only speak Spanish. However, by speaking slowly, [[RuleOfFunny Sarge and Grif are somehow able to understand his Spanish]], leaving them clueless to the switch.
** Tucker is speaking loudly and slowly while the alien stands nearby, when Church approaches and says that he doesn't think that using this technique will allow the alien to understand him. Immediately subverted, as it is revealed that Tucker was speaking to Caboose. Caboose still doesn't understand.
** Used by Sarge and lampshaded by Grif. It earned Sarge very much deserved snark:
--->'''Sarge:''' ''Lopez. How. Do. We. Fix. Your. Speech. U. Nit.
--->'''Grif:''' ''[[LampshadeHanging Why are you talking so slowly, Sarge?]] He can understand us just fine. [[DeadpanSnarker Maybe you should try listening slower.]]
* [[http://www.theonion.com/articles/foreign-travel-tips,8103/ This]] [[TheOnion Onion]] article on traveling abroad advises that shouting at foreigner is useful, along with [[BlatantLies many other helpful tips for American tourists]].
* [[http://www.mononarag.com/2011/03/07/teaching-of-foreign-language-to-be-replaced-by-talking-slowly-lessons/ The Monona Rag]] blog reports that the Governor of Wisconsin is not only changing all foreign language classes to 'Talking Slowly' classes but that the new curriculum also includes expressive hand gestures and sprinklings of vaguely foreign words and authentic names such as Paddy, Paco, Limey and Frog, perhaps as a compromise. Having mastered the basics, they might continue in advanced classes of 'Nodding Condescendingly' and 'Swearing in Exasperation'.
* {{Conversed}} by SFDebris in his opinionated episode guide for the episode "Darmok" from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. He comments on desperate attempts of the ''Enterprise'' crew and Captain Picard to communicate with incomprehensible aliens whose language their UniversalTranslator couldn't crack.
--> '''SF Debris:''' I'll check [Picard's] academy records. His language course was 203. Let me cross-check that. Oh yes! He's fluent in yelling at people. This is the time honoured method of speaking your own language loudly and somewhat slowly to people who don't speak it, in the hopes that they will suddenly understand you. ({{beat}}) The others just laugh at him.
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