Do Daleks Have Their Own Language in Doctor Who?

In the TV series Doctor Who, the TARDIS's circuitry translates any language into the one the viewer is using. If you speak English, you hear English; if you speak French, you hear French, and so on. This implies that Daleks have a language of their own, though it has never been directly observed or heard without the translation aid of the TARDIS. Their native language is likely the language of their Kaled ancestry, but since it has never been featured in an episode without being translated, its true form remains a mystery.

According to the show's lore, we have never heard this original Dalek language. In fact, if Davros, the creator of the Daleks, did program them with a different language, it has never been mentioned in any episode. However, there are a few hints and interesting tidbits that have piqued curiosity among fans.

A Preview of Dalek Language

While the actual language of Daleks has never been heard, one word has been mentioned: “rel”, which is a unit of time slightly shorter than a second. It has been suggested that the TARDIS might not translate this word due to the awkwardness of converting time units in real-time. Imagine a countdown translating as “50.822 seconds… 48.619 seconds… 46.247 seconds…” - quite an auditory nightmare!

Language Translation in Action

One episode shed some light on how language translation works in Doctor Who. In The Magician's Apprentice, Clara Oswald played a Dalek, and her language was translated when she spoke. Similarly, in The Asylum of the Daleks, Missy and Clara both played Daleks, further confirming the automatic translation feature of the TARDIS.

Conventions and Fan Activities

Fan conventions are another fascinating aspect where the world of Doctor Who comes alive. At these events, actors often use special microphones that convert their voices to Dalek-style speech, enriching the immersive experience for attendees. A notable example is How to Build a Dalek - Maker Faire Milwaukee, where fans can learn to construct a Dalek replica, complete with an artificial voice.

The Living Mutant Within

Beneath the iconic casing of a Dalek, a living mutant organism resides. This organism has the inherent capacity to speak, but the armor amplifies and distorts the voice to create the characteristic screechy and loud Dalek speech. This means that if one were to listen to the mutant unimpeded by the armor, it might produce a more natural-sounding voice, albeit still different from the typical Dalek sound.