Speaking in Tongues: How Actors Learn Constructed Languages

Sometimes, actors get cast in sci-fi or fantasy roles that require them to learn constructed languages. I interviewed an actor to find out what his process was

Jason Momoa had to learn Dothraki for his part as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones

In the world of film, television, and video games, actors are often called upon to master an accent or dialect that is completely unfamiliar to them.

But what happens when the language itself doesn’t even exist yet? That’s where constructed languages—or conlangs—come into play.

Whether it’s the guttural growl of Klingon in Star Trek, the fluid cadences of Dothraki in Game of Thrones, or the working-class spacefaring dialect of Belter in The Expanse, conlangs add an immersive depth to worldbuilding, and dialect coaches are often key players in helping actors bring these languages to life.

What Is a Conlang?

Esperanto is a conlang spoken by between 100,000 and 2 million worldwide

A conlang, or constructed language, is an artificial language created for a specific purpose. Some are built for artistic or storytelling reasons, while others serve practical or experimental linguistic functions. Unlike natural languages, which evolve over centuries, conlangs are carefully designed with phonetics, grammar, and vocabulary that fit a particular world or culture. In entertainment, they serve to make fictional worlds feel authentic and lived-in.

Dialect Coaches and Conlangs: Teaching the Impossible

Sindarin (Roman transcription on the left, Tengwar transcription on the right) was one of the languages JRR Tolkien constructed for fun. He created the world of Middle Earth and the Lord of the Rings series for the language to live in. Usually, it happens the other way around!

Actors rely on dialect coaches not just for accents but for pronunciation, rhythm, and the nuances of speaking in unfamiliar languages.

How actors learn constructed languages differs. In some cases, like with Game of Thrones, the conlang is created by a linguist—David J. Peterson in that case—and the dialect coach steps in to teach the actors how to use it convincingly. In other cases, coaches may be involved in the development of a conlang itself, helping shape its sound system in a way that feels real yet unique.

For actors preparing for roles in fantasy or sci-fi productions, working with a dialect coach who specializes in constructed languages can be essential. If you’re an actor searching for dialect coaching for fantasy roles or how to learn a fictional language for acting, finding the right coach can make all the difference in bringing authenticity to your performance.

Learning a Language That No One Speaks

An example of this can be seen in Far Cry Primal, a video game set in the Stone Age, and the game developers wanted a language that felt authentic to the time period. I interviewed one of the game’s actors Juan Carlos Velis, who played a character called Dah, and he described the process:

"The game is set 10,000 years BCE. So they hired a couple of linguistic professors from a university in Kentucky, I believe, and they came to Toronto and actually wrote the language—how they thought it would have sounded in terms of linguistic evolution at that point in time.They constructed an entirely new language, borrowing words from Latin, French, German, and more, then combined everything and gave it a specific rhythm.We actually went to language classes for about two weeks, every day from nine to five. They wanted us to be able to have a conversation in it. Now, of course, I’ve forgotten it—I couldn’t tell you a single word!"

Actor Juan Carlos Velis (left) who plays Dah (right) in the videogame Far Cry Primal

Interestingly, the actors learned the language phonetically, and Juan made notes in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a skill that many dialect coaches teach, as it allows actors to break down pronunciation with scientific precision. Juan went on to say:

"For Far Cry Primal, we didn’t go into too much detail on pronunciation. It was more about instinct—what we thought it would sound like. No audience is going to come back and say, ‘You know what? Dah’s accent isn’t quite right.’ No one’s around from that time to critique it!"

For productions requiring authentic language coaching for actors or how to speak a made-up language on screen, dialect coaches can provide the training needed to make an invented language feel natural.

Conlangs and Performance: More Than Just Words

An actor performing for motion capture (MoCap)

The challenge of a conlang goes beyond learning vocabulary and grammar. A dialect coach also helps actors with the physical aspects of speech—where to place the tongue, how to shape the lips, and how different sounds should feel in the mouth. The goal is to make an actor sound like they were born speaking the language, even if it was invented just months before production began.

In some cases, dialect coaches even work with movement coaches to align an invented language with the physicality of a character. In Far Cry Primal, for example, the actors were trained in prehistoric body language and movement by an expert from Planet of the Apes.

For actors looking for speech coaching for sci-fi roles or training to master an alien language, working with a dialect expert can help refine their performance beyond just memorizing lines.

Why Conlangs Matter

Students practicing their Klingon

A well-designed conlang adds a level of realism that immerses audiences in a story. Without it, certain worlds would feel flat or unconvincing. Imagine if the Klingons in Star Trek simply spoke English with a raspy voice instead of their own complex language. It wouldn’t feel the same.

Dialect coaches ensure that actors not only pronounce words correctly but also deliver them with authenticity and emotion. Whether it's an ancient proto-language, an alien dialect, or a futuristic creole, the art of bringing a conlang to life is a collaborative effort between linguists, dialect coaches, and actors.

For production companies and casting directors looking for expert dialect coaching for fantasy and sci-fi productions, hiring a coach who specializes in constructed languages can elevate the believability of a project. Likewise, actors searching for one-on-one coaching for learning a fictional language can benefit from working with a specialist to ensure they sound convincing in their roles.

So the next time you hear a made-up language in a film, show, or game, take a moment to appreciate the work that went into making it sound real. Somewhere behind the scenes, a dialect coach was hard at work helping actors speak in a tongue no one has ever spoken before.