The hit HBO series Game of Thrones captivated millions with its intricate storytelling and rich world-building, much of which hinged on the authenticity of fictional languages like Dothraki and High Valyrian. Emilia Clarke, who played Daenerys Targaryen, recently addressed comments about her language skills on the show, sparking a response from David J. Peterson, the linguist responsible for creating these constructed languages. The ongoing discussion sheds light on Clarke’s performance, clarifying misunderstandings and highlighting the creative intentions behind her accent and pronunciation.
Emilia Clarke Responds to Linguist Criticism Over Dothraki Skills
While promoting her latest series Ponies on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Emilia Clarke opened up about her feelings concerning a past claim that she “sucked” at learning Dothraki, the fictional language her character had to speak on Game of Thrones. Clarke described being “hurt” and “really pissed” by the statement, which many fans took as unfair criticism of her acting skills and linguistic efforts.
David J. Peterson Clears the Air: No Criticism Intended
David J. Peterson, the renowned linguist who created Dothraki and other languages for the series, clarified his position in a recent interaction with Entertainment Weekly. Peterson emphasized that Clarke was “misunderstood” and that he never intended to criticize her skills or Dothraki pronunciation. In fact, he highlighted a crucial element of the script: Daenerys was never supposed to be fluent in Dothraki since it was not her character’s native language.
Peterson stated, “Why would I criticize her? Her character was never supposed to speak it like a first language, so she never had to be good at it.” This insight reveals that any grammatical or pronunciation “imperfections” were in fact purposeful and scripted into her lines to reflect Daenerys’s narrative journey.
The Significance of Imperfect Dothraki Pronunciation
Peterson compared Clarke’s portrayal of Dothraki to Colin Firth’s stutter in The King’s Speech. Just as Firth’s speech impediment was part of his character, the imperfect Dothraki was a storytelling device. Peterson even sent Clarke MP3 audio files that included intentional errors to help her practice the language authentically.
He explained, “Criticizing any imperfections in her Dothraki performance would be like criticizing Colin Firth for stuttering in The King’s Speech. It would be entirely missing the point. Grammatical and pronunciation errors were built into many of her Dothraki lines — and these were included in the MP3s I recorded for her — for this very purpose.” This meticulous attention to detail shows the collaborative effort between the linguist and actress in bringing Daenerys’s story to life.
Recognition of Emilia Clarke’s Dedication to Language Learning
Despite the misunderstandings, Peterson praised Clarke for her dedication and performance. He noted that she did a “fine job” portraying a character forced to learn a new language under intense circumstances, reflecting the challenges Daenerys faced on screen. Peterson appreciated the rapid progression her character made from a novice to someone functionally fluent — albeit as a non-native speaker, which fit perfectly with the script.
Furthermore, Clarke had to learn more than just Dothraki; High Valyrian was meant to be Daenerys’s native tongue. Peterson fondly remembers her “delivery and accent” when speaking High Valyrian, describing it as one of his most cherished memories from the series.
The Broader Context: Peterson’s Role in Game of Thrones and Beyond
David J. Peterson’s contribution to Game of Thrones goes beyond just Dothraki and High Valyrian. Over the show’s eight-season run, he created several constructed languages including Mag Nuk, Skroth, Asshai, Lhazareen, and Gerna Mohr, enriching the world of Westeros and Essos. Peterson’s expertise extended to other notable productions, including The 100, The Witcher, and upcoming projects like the 2025 Superman movie.
Emilia Clarke’s Career After Game of Thrones
Following her iconic role as Daenerys Targaryen, Emilia Clarke has continued to build a versatile and successful career. She has starred in films such as Last Christmas, The Pod Generation, and The Twits, while also joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe on television with Secret Invasion. Her latest project is the Peacock thriller Ponies, which premiered in January 2024.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Emilia Clarke’s Dothraki language skills on Game of Thrones demonstrates the complexities of acting in a fantasy world where languages and cultures are meticulously crafted for authenticity. David J. Peterson’s explanation clarifies that Clarke’s performance was carefully tailored to her character’s unique journey, making any perceived imperfections intentional rather than critical flaws. Both the actress and the linguist worked closely to ensure the portrayal was compelling and true to the story’s essence.
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