When Black Panther hit theaters in 2018, the excitement was palpable. Aside from the fact that it was the first big-budget superhero movie with an all-Black cast, its Afrofuturist appeal, stunning visuals, and the prospect of a technologically advanced African nation rooted in tradition made it a must-watch.And the movie definitely didn’t disappoint. It exceeded all expectations. Critics praised how it veered away from the established tropes and how every aspect of the movie, be it costumes or set design, felt unique and authentic.They also noticed the same sense of authenticity in the way its characters spoke. It felt like quite a novelty, especially in a Marvel film. Contrary to what many (especially non-African) people thought, the Wakandan language wasn’t made up. At least not from the ground up.The language that became the base for the official Wakandan language was isiXhosa (pronounced ee-si-kho-sa), a Bantu language spoken widely in South Africa and Zimbabwe.Using a regional African language in a mainstream Hollywood movie, a Marvel superhero movie no less, was a choice that raised many eyebrows. But ultimately, when it provided the movie with a rare cultural depth, it proved to be a phenomenal choice.Choosing the Wakandan VoiceThe Choice Between Fictional and RealCreating a new fictional language, or “conlang”, for a project is nothing new. It’s been done, and done very effectively. Dothraki for Game of Thrones, Klingon for Star Trek, or a plethora of languages, such as Elvish, Black Speech, Khuzdul, and Sindarin for The Lord of the Rings, are...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday