This grammar challenge, inspired by Grammar Girl is for Star Wars
The basic challenge is to translate something simple into Yodish. This exercise teaches sentence structure and is actually fun, as opposed to standing at the chalkboard guessing at diagrams.
First, review basic sentence structure. You can find help here and here.
Once you’ve got the concept of subjects, verbs/predicates and objects, you can start messing around with Yodish. When we talk, we usually use a format of subject verb object: I (subject) check (verb) the magic eight ball (object). Yodish, on the other hand, uses object subject verb: Magic eight ball (object) I (subject) check (verb).
Standard: I check the magic eight ball.
Yodish: Magic eight ball I check.
Grammar Girl’s episode on Yodish explains Yodish translation and delves into character development and language.
Pick a paragraph- find one with simple sentences, and translate to Yodish. For extra authenticity, add “hmmmmm” and “hrmph” at the end of sentences. How does altering the sentence structure change your perception of the speaker? Does it?
For those grammarians unsatisfied with simple sentences, advanced Yodish is available too- and could make for an interesting journey through linguistic analysis.
As a treat, you can visit the Yodish translator
to check your sentences against their Yoda Speech generator, complete with herh herh herhs, hmmmmms and yesssssssses.
Enjoy, and come back to share your funniest Yodish sentences.
When you’re all done, you can watch Yoda on Youtube. Be aware though, that his Yodish isn’t always consistent.