# In Thor, the Dark World which obscure language did Marvel co-opt for the Frost Giants?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-thor-the-dark-world-which-obscure-language-did-marvel-co-opt-for-the-frost-giants/831279>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 17, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-thor-the-dark-world-which-obscure-language-did-marvel-co-opt-for-the-frost-giants/831279 "2019-03-17T23:07:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-thor-the-dark-world-which-obscure-language-did-marvel-co-opt-for-the-frost-giants/831279/1 "2019-03-17T23:07:39Z")

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Sometimes it is just easier to use an Earth language if all you need is smattering of dialog. Star Trek’s Vulcan varied from Hebrew to Quechua. In this movie they chose one with the cadence of an Indo-European language but one I do not recognize. Soumi would make sense. So what is it?

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-thor-the-dark-world-which-obscure-language-did-marvel-co-opt-for-the-frost-giants/831279/2 "2019-03-18T01:59:50Z")

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Looks like it was constructed for the movie specifically.

> **[Shiväisith](https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Shiv%C3%A4isith)**
>
> Shiväisith is the native language of the Dark Elves. While the Dark Elves can speak other languages, it is their native tongue and the language they prefer to use to converse among themselves. It is written in a system of runes know as Todjydheenil...

Same guy who built Dothraki for Game of Thrones. You seem to be correct that it was inspired by Finnish, though. At least in its pronunciation guidelines.

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-thor-the-dark-world-which-obscure-language-did-marvel-co-opt-for-the-frost-giants/831279/3 "2019-03-18T02:34:38Z")

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I’m assuming you meant the dark elves… Frost giants were in the first Thor movie.

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-thor-the-dark-world-which-obscure-language-did-marvel-co-opt-for-the-frost-giants/831279/4 "2019-03-18T08:18:50Z")

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> [@dropzone](#):
>
> In this movie they chose one with the cadence of an Indo-European language but one I do not recognize. Soumi would make sense.

Finnish (_Suomi_) isn’t Indo-European. You may know that, but your phrasing doesn’t make it clear.And Dark Elf language definitely has a Finnish “feel” to it.

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-thor-the-dark-world-which-obscure-language-did-marvel-co-opt-for-the-frost-giants/831279/5 "2019-03-18T08:57:16Z")

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Yeah, but correcting myself on this POS tablet is such a misery I gave up and figured you guys would correct me on species and language group. 😉