Game of Thrones Linguist Addresses Emilia Clarke’s Dothraki Comments
Emilia Clarke responded to reports that the Dothraki language creator criticized her skills, but David J. Peterson set the record straight, explaining her character was never meant to be fluent and praising her performance.
Learning a new language is tough, but mastering one invented for a TV phenomenon is a whole different challenge. Emilia Clarke, who played Daenerys Targaryen, recently shared her reaction to claims that the creator of Dothraki thought she wasn’t up to par when speaking the language on set.
During a recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Clarke opened up about her dedication to learning Dothraki.
“I put so much energy into learning Dothraki,”
she said, recalling her time on the show. She went on to say,
“I read in an article, the creator of the language said that I sucked at Dothraki. I was like, ‘Bro, it ’s not a real language!’ I can’t suck at it because me saying it on a TV show – that’s the language, that’s how it goes.”
Clarke admitted the comment stung, adding,
“I was so hurt and really pissed.”
Language Creator Responds
David J. Peterson, the linguist behind Dothraki, quickly stepped in to clear up the misunderstanding. In a statement, he explained,
“I think Emilia may have misunderstood what I said, because I’ve never criticized her Dothraki. Why would I? Her character was never supposed to speak it like a first language, so she never had to be good at it.”
Peterson has consistently praised Clarke’s efforts in interviews over the years. Back in 2017, he told Rolling Stone,
“It’s always funny to me to hear Emilia Clarke speak Dothraki. Of course, her character is not supposed to be fluent, and it really sounds…not fluent.”
He clarified,
“It’s great. For her character, she understands and she can speak. She just doesn’t sound quite right.”
Recognition for Clarke’s Performance
Peterson’s appreciation for Clarke’s work didn’t stop there. In a later video interview, he complimented her skills, saying her Dothraki always
“sounded very nice.”
Despite the confusion, it’s clear that the language creator never intended to criticize Clarke’s performance. Instead, he recognized that her character’s relationship with Dothraki was never meant to be perfect, and that her portrayal fit the role exactly as intended.
What’s Next for the Thrones Universe
Fans of the franchise have more to look forward to, with the upcoming release of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg stories, set for January 18. As the Thrones universe continues to expand, viewers are already buzzing about which new shows they’re most excited to see in 2026, from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to Wonder Man, Lanterns, Spider- Man: Noir, and VisionQuest.