Universal translator The universal translator ( also referred to as a " UT " or translator circuit ) was a device used to decipher and interpret alien language s into the native language of the user . ( ; ) On Earth , the universal translator was invented shortly before 2151 , and was still experimental at the time of the launch of . ( ) Despite its being able to translate alien languages in relatively short order , due to the UT ' s experimental nature , the use of a skilled linguist – in " Enterprise " s case , Hoshi Sato – was still required , notably in situations where reading alien languages on the control panels , hatches , and displays were involved . ( ) A new language could quickly be translated in person - to - person encounters by having one speak his or her language until the universal translator gathered enough data to build a translation matrix . Sato also created the linguacode translation matrix in order to anticipate and speed up the translation of new and unknown languages . ( ) The actual universal translator , which was used for deciphering unknown languages on the fly , was a handheld device with a keypad and display to which a communicator could attach at the top . ( ) The communicator was also apparently able to translate preprogrammed languages without having the full universal translator attached . ( ) Additionally , small translators , able to be clipped onto clothing , were available in 2155 to function as a standalone version of what was usually built into communicators of the era . ( ) By 2256 , universal translators were being incorporated directly into Starfleet communicators . In that year , Michael Burnham used it aboard the Klingon ship " Sarcophagus " to eavesdrop on the orders of its commander , . When she revealed herself using the translator to speak in Klingonese , Kol dismissed the technology as another attempt by the Federation to subsume the Klingon identity ; Burnham instead explained that its purpose was to enable communication and allow the two species to come to peaceful terms . ( ) " Starbase Yorktown had a universal translator in the command center that was used to interpret Kalara ' s plea for help in 2263 of the alternate reality . " ( ) Universal translators were also built into the com systems of most starship s , including shuttlecraft . In 2267 , the UT from a Class F shuttlecraft had a wand - like design . ( ) In 2267 , Captain Kirk and Commander Spock of the modified one to communicate with an alien known as the Companion , in the Gamma Canaris region . Responding to Zefram Cochrane ' s question about the theory of operation , Kirk explained that there were certain universal ideas and concepts common to all intelligent life , and that the translator compared the frequencies of brain wave patterns , selected those ideas it recognized , and provided the necessary grammar . Kirk further explained that the device spoke with a voice , or the approximation of one , that corresponded to the identity concepts it recognized . The Companion was revealed to be female because the universal translator detected this facet of its identity from its brainwave patterns , and assigned it a female voice . ( ) By the 24th century , universal translators had advanced to the point where a full - fledged UT could be built into the combadge s worn by Starfleet personnel . ( ) The universal translator was able to translate a language used by sentient nanite s , which were created by Wesley Crusher in early 2366 , into binary language . ( ) The universal translator failed from time to time . For example , it was capable of translating the literal words of the Tamarian s into English , but it was unable to translate the Tamarians ' metaphorical manner of speaking into easily understandable speech . The translator also missed the nuances of Dominionese grammar , failing to render the " passive voice transitive " into English . ( ; ) Another language the UT had trouble deciphering was that of the Skrreea ns . Several hours were required to record and analyze the language before a proper translation form was created . ( ) The universal translator could be detected when it was used to process language in communications . In 2293 , Commander s Chekov and Uhura were forced to revert to manually translating their speech using a paper dictionary into Klingon in order to surreptitiously get them past the border . Uhura successfully used very broken Klingon to describe the as a freighter , the " Ursva " , headed to Rura Penthe to deliver " supplies , medicines and things " . Chekov stated that paper dictionaries were necessary because the use of universal translator would have been recognized . ( ) The universal translator ' s capabilities were focused on interpreting the brain patterns of humanoid lifeforms . For entirely non - Human lifeforms , such as a cytoplasmic lifeform which attached itself to B ' Elanna Torres , the universal translator was completely stymied , though with some , such as a symbiotic lifeform encountered by in 2152 , it could still provide some help . ( ; ) At one time while Neelix was negotiating with a xenon - based lifeform , the UT went off - line and Arturis saved him from embarrassment by translating the alien ' s words . ( ) Ferengi translators evolved from hand - held devices in the 22nd century into small devices inserted into the ear . ( ) These later models were easily disrupted by radiation from nuclear fission . ( ) Cardassian universal translators had to be manually adjusted in order to properly translate the Breen language . ( ) The Emergency Medical Holographic program contained the universal translator technology built - in to his program . ' s EMH was able to communicate with Noss when Tuvok and Tom Paris ' universal translators were offline . ( ) Background information . The universal translator is one of many " Star Trek " technologies that exist primarily as conventions to aid storytelling . The UT enables the vast majority of dialogue between characters to be written ( and delivered ) in English , to the convenience of viewers and writers alike . Writers do not have to devise a new language for each new alien of the week that speaks on - screen , and viewers do not have to watch for subtitle s . Another storytelling conceit is that the device makes non - English speakers appear as if they ' re speaking English ( i . e . lip movements match English language pronunciation ) . This " convention " is particularly obvious in episodes like as well as , and , in each of which the universal translator is off - line for periods of time . Were the device real , it would more likely have an effect similar to watching a movie dubbed into another language . The draft proposal " Star Trek is . . . " mentioned this concept : During the writing of ( the first regular installment of " Star Trek " , following the pilot episodes and ) , the universal translator underwent some further development . Jerry Sohl , the writer of " The Corbomite Maneuver " , later explained , " " We were originally going to have [ each crew member ] carry a language translator , which would fit on the wrist like a beeper , and no matter what area of the universe they were in , the thoughts that the people were thinking would automatically be translated into English as they spoke . We got rid of that idea , and assumed that everybody did speak English . " " ( " The Star Trek Interview Book " , pp . 127 - 128 )