Universal Translator

A universal translator is a very handy deus ex machina that takes care of annoying language barriers in fictional universes.

Universal translators are a staple of science fiction featuring multiple space-going species. Logically, each of these species will have its own native language (indeed, multiple native languages), and not all members of one species will have learned the languages of all the other species they come across in their travels, and that's assuming they even have the required vocal apparatus. In order to tell a story without stopping to explain how everyone is able to communicate all the time, the author will employ a universal translator so they only have to explain it once and they can get on with the plot.

UTs range from the plausible to the fantastical. At its most realistic, a universal translator is an advanced computer program that can take audio input in one language and give audio output in another language, provided it has been adequately programmed with both. The user will see and hear the speaker talking in their native language and hear the device's translation in their own language almost simultaneously.

The least realistic UT is probably the famous Babel fish from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which lives in a carrier's ear, feeds on brainwaves from outside its carrier, and excretes a psychic translation matrix into its carrier's brain, enabling the carrier to understand any spoken language. Truly, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Most UTs are somewhere in the middle. To name a few: Star Trek ' s trope-naming translator is computer program that can employ machine-learning to pick up new languages from a ridiculously tiny representative sample. The TARDIS in Doctor Who is a psychic machine that uses a translation matrix to provide translations to anyone within telepathic range. In Farscape, there are injectable microorganisms called translator microbes that can be "programmed" with any number of languages.

The TARDIS' translation matrix is notable for working on written language, though it takes a little longer. Most UTs are geared toward spoken language and don't touch the written word at all.

Fantasy universes sometimes use explicitly magical UTs, but are more likely to get around the communication problem by having all the dominant cultures share a common tongue.

Many UTs, especially in televised continua, seem to share the quirk that they will not translate foul language, even if they don't struggle with idiomatic speech otherwise. The plotholes may be hand-waved any number of ways depending on how the translator works, but instead of worrying about it, it is usually best to employ the MST3K Mantra: "It's just a show, I should really just relax."

Universal Translators in the PPC
While the effects of Standard Translation mean that fictional characters usually appear to be speaking whatever language their home canon is written in from the perspective of the audience, this does not mean those characters actually speak that language in-universe. People in Middle-earth speak Westron, Sindarin, and Khuzdul; people in Star Wars speak Galactic Basic, Shyriiwook, and Huttese; people in Star Trek speak Federation Standard, Klingon, and Bajoran—just to name a few.

Although world-hopping Mary Sues often cross the language barrier as easily as they cross dimensions, PPC agents are expected to behave more realistically. Most agents are from World One, and people from World One cannot instantly speak a language they've never heard before. A determined agent may make time to learn a few languages from canons they work in a lot, but no one can learn every language in the multiverse. Furthermore, many agents are not from World One, and may need help just to get by in Headquarters. Therefore, most agents are issued a universal translator shortly after recruitment.

The PPC uses both "pirated translating spells" and hand-held devices capable of being carried into Word Worlds (or lost ). The latter are likely derived from the universal translator models used in classic Star Trek, since it's a large, active fandom and thus has abundant fanfics for pillaging.

PPC communications devices, like those on Voyager, have a UT built in as a rule when DoSAT modifies them for cross-world communication, but not every agent carries a comms device. DoSAT also keeps a tank of Babel fish to hand out to those agents who are not able or are not allowed to use technology.

Since the PPC is governed by the Laws of Narrative Comedy, PPC translators tend to share in the quirk that they'll let you swear in whatever language you feel like, for funsies—or not, if the Ironic Overpower doesn't like you that much. Some universal translators, like the ones employed by Agents Christianne and Eledhwen, may even refuse to translate an entire language. In their case, their UTs translate Westron, but not Sindarin. This has allowed Eledhwen to get away with speaking and cursing in Sindarin with her partner none the wiser (for the most part). The UT also cannot translate Agent Kaguya's eldritch speech when he's angered by badfics.

The Babelfish Virus (unrelated to the Babel fish) is not affected by the universal translator.