Since his introduction in The Empire Strikes Back, the venerable Jedi Master has spoken in a reversed manner, saying “Doing, how are you?” instead of “How are you doing?” George Lucas was recently asked about Yoda’s distinct speech pattern during an anniversary screening of Empire, and his response was: “I needed to find a way to get people, especially 12-year-olds, to truly listen.”

Lucas went on to explain that because Yoda serves as a philosopher for Luke, his speech had to convey significance. “If you speak in regular English, people tend not to pay close attention,” he added. “But if he has an accent or his words are difficult to understand, they focus more on what he’s saying.”

This explanation is quite intriguing, and it’s clear that the choice was effective; many fans have developed a Yoda impression that captures his voice and mannerisms. However, it would be interesting to know whether this unique speech pattern is characteristic of Yoda’s species – whatever its name may be, which currently includes Yaddle (RIP) and Grogu – or if it’s a result of his upbringing. If it’s the former, another question arises: what will Grogu’s voice sound like when he eventually speaks?

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