Question: I find it interesting than in most the worlds that they go to, the people there seem to speak perfect American English. In all the Star Trek shows and movies, we know that they have universal translators that help them understand most cultures. Did SG-1 get hold of a univ. translator on another world or from the Asgard?
J I Cohen
5th Apr 2004
Stargate SG-1 (1997)
Answer: This was handwaves by the writers/producers early on as they felt it wouldn't be very interesting to watch Daniel spend half of every episode working out the native language of the planet of the week. At a stretch, we could suppose that the Ancients, the builders of the Stargates and the ones that seeded human life throughout the galaxy, who also spoke English by the time of their return to Earth from Atlantis, spread this form of language as well along with the ATA (Ancient Technology Activation) gene.
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Answer: I think it's just the writers taking a licence to help the plots along. Everybody spoke English long before the Asgard were introduced, and a 'universal translator' was never mentioned (I would have written one into the pilot, but that's just me).
J I Cohen