Pikachu's language...

[xXKaonashiXx]

I looked on Bulbapedia, and realized that the language Pikachu speaks on the anime actually has some meaning to it, for example, "Pikapi" (Satoshi) = Ash, "Pipi-kachu" (Roketto dan) = Team Rocket.

So, my question is, is there any way to make a language simply out of the phonetics of Pikachu's name? I know you could use it for Morse code, like "Di = Pi, Dah = Ka, Dit = Chu", but it takes so long and so much listening to speak that language.

Even if we used tones, there's not enough sounds in Pikachu's name to make a language like Chinese.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Oryx]

We could, but whatever it is would be really long and take a long time to translate. If you look at the name for Team Rocket, it's obvious that he can use the same syllable more than once in a phrase, so there are technically infinite combinations. Pikachu, Pipikachu, Pipikakachu, pipikakachuchu, etc etc. I think if we wanted to do that it would have to be 26 combinations, one for each letter.

A - Pi
B - Pika
C - Pikachu
D - Pipi
E - Pipika
F - Pipikaka
G - Pipikakachu

etc...

 

[Kano Shuuya]

I know that "Pipipi" is Togepi, and "Pikachupi" is Kasumi, or probably Kasumi-chan.

What makes it tough is that all of the words would be Japanese, so.. xD

 

[PlatinumDude]

Even though Pikachu's name has only 3 syllables, they can be combined and repeated to form numerous combinations that can symbolize different words. Some parts of Pikachu's name sound similar to existing words, as mentioned above.

 

[psyanic]

Tone is probably big factor in Pikachu's language. I could have sworn Pikachu said, "Pi-pikachu" when Ash won a Gym Badge/caught a Pokemon, correct me if I'm wrong.

You could make a language just out of the syllables in "Pikachu" but I think it'd be like one of the African languages where they literally click their tongues. Words could be formed by different tones and sounds and etc.

 

[miltankRancher]

tone certainly plays a lot of factor in pikachu's speech. And so is with other Pokemon. whenever, Ash catches a pokkemon, or acquires a badge, pikachu always said Pi(high) -pikachu!

 

[Traverse]

C:
I agree that tone plays a big factor in Pikachu's language. That's how vocal animals talk, if I'm not mistaken. Not that they limit themselves to talking.

But if you'd like, you can play with Morse code and lengthen your PI's and KA's and CHU's just like how they lengthen beeps or light flashes. It'd be hard to talk either way.

Interesting topic. C:

 

[CliveKoopa]

Like all pokemon, there are many variations to Pikachu language.

PI-ka-chu is not the same as pi-KA-chu even though it might sound the same. Also the length, tone ad pitch of the syllables come into consideration too. So he could be saying Pi-ka-pi several times but each time the pitch or tone is different on one or more of the syllables and it means something different each time.

 

[Yoshikkko]

Like all pokemon, there are many variations to Pikachu language.

PI-ka-chu is not the same as pi-KA-chu even though it might sound the same. Also the length, tone ad pitch of the syllables come into consideration too. So he could be saying Pi-ka-pi several times but each time the pitch or tone is different on one or more of the syllables and it means something different each time.

What CliveKoopa said here. What you explained is exactly what a tonal language is, a good example being Chinese. The same word can have multiple meanings depending on the tone, and I think that'd be the same in Pokémon languages.

 

[moon]

I think they did that in the anime just to make Pikachu seem intelligent and cute. Of course it would be possible to make a real language out of Pikachu's sounds, but like Toujours said, I don't think it would be very convenient ^^' Don't think they even made him use different tones on syllables, just different combinations. Although, that was mostly in the first seasons, no?

I remember pi-ka-ka-pi-ka meaning Bulbasaur :3 Fu-shi-gi-da-ne.