In the Marvel universe, there are heroes from all countries, not just in the USA, even if it is not always noticeable in the movies. But how do all the heroes or aliens understand each other? There are several solutions for this, one of which sounds quite silly.
Not all heroes in the Marvel universe come from the USA. In the various stories, important figures from other parts of the world or even the universe are also introduced.
Apart from the explanation that this is all fictional and must fit the plot, Marvel also provides reasons within the universe as to why the characters all understand each other. However, the explanation for Thor sounds quite silly.
The All-Tongue
How can Thor understand other people and beings? As the god of Asgard, Thor has not taken lessons in other languages, yet he understands his colleagues and enemies on Earth and throughout the universe. For this, Marvel came up with an interesting concept
: Allspeak or All-Tongue.
This allows the inhabitants of Asgard and other gods to speak any language in such a way that the other party understands it in their own language (via Marvel Database). In Thor No. 617 from 2010, this concept is mentioned when Thor speaks with a child version of Loki. There, Thor explains to him that he also uses the All-Tongue.
This topic is actually briefly addressed in the films as well, because in Avengers: Infinity War, Thor can understand the living tree Groot, who only ever says “I am Groot”. When Rocket asks him why he speaks Groot, Thor replies that he had the language as an elective in Asgard. Whether he means this as a joke or is telling the truth is not entirely clear.
What other possibilities are there to understand languages? Besides characters like Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man, or T’Chaka, who have learned other languages, there are also other methods
that enable characters to speak with everyone:
- The mutant Doug Ramsey (Revelation) has the ability to understand all languages, whether they are still spoken or have long been extinct.
- Charles Xavier (Professor X) can understand any language through his telepathic abilities and thereby has the capability to learn these languages directly or teach them to others.
- Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) developed a device to universally translate languages.
- A similar device is used by members of the Nova Corps in their helmets, as well as Star-Lord.
- On the planet Sakaar, there are small robots that enable oppressors to communicate with their slaves.
- Some alien cultures use implanted translators, such as the Kree Empire.
Most of the time, it is not explained where the heroes get these abilities from. Depending on the plot, this can change. Throughout history, many heroes and villains have also changed. One of the most important heroes for the comic publisher, the Hulk, had to be changed after just one issue: The Hulk was originally meant to look very different, but Stan Lee had to change him.
