Related, kinda dupe; Why does Yoda speak the way he does?

“To me it seems a bit Shakespearian.” Have you... read much Shakespeare?

@PaulD.Waite (and also OP) see my answer here

I used to have a theory that Yoda was based off of Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid (wise old slightly crazy guy who doesn't speak proper English teaching a kid how to defend himself). But then I found out that Empire Strikes Back came out before Karate Kid.

Reverse Polish Notation?

Fits decently with Latin.

Yoda's speech reminded me of the way the Volta-men talk in the comic books. Not really the same, I guess, because those wrinkly green alien Nazis go subject-object-verb instead of object-subject-verb.

Can't resist the urge to edit this question... Based on languages in the real world, a lot of the languages in Star Wars, I have noticed....

@DaaaahWhoosh: Well, I guess, although I think it’s fair to say that Shakespeare could make slightly weird word orders sound right, whereas Yodish is designed to sound a little odd. Plus, of course, Shakespearian English isn’t a different language from English.

@Steve-O: and while we’re on language, from pedant’s corner, that’s not what begs the question originally meant.

@DaaaahWhoosh I always attributed "Do or do not. There is no try." to Mr. Miyagi too... I had to go look it up before I could believe he didn't actually say that.

English with terrible syntax.

@Kik That what I heard as well. I don't have a source. Explanation was that it sound wiser.

Ewokese wasn't based on Zulu (although maybe it sounds like it to you) but on Chalmuk, a language of Mongolia.

I heard it was Japanese. In Japanese, the verb comes at the end of the sentence. As well, Yoda sounds like a common Japanese surname (Noda, Goda, Hada). I heard there are many "Japanese" things about Star Wars, like Jedis being called Jedi because George had difficulties pronouncing the Japanese word "Jidai" which means era. The force being based on "Chi" energy, and them fighting with swords and Japanese looking robes.

I'd suggest that Yoda's sentence structure is very similar to Germanic languages (including old English).

German uses this word ordering, but only in subordinate clauses. For example: "I drive a car, which red is", or "I leave the party, because I myself alone feel". In main clauses, it sounds crazy for native speakers (just as for Joda-speak for native English). Although these sentences can't ever start with the object.

Here's something: On the lucidity of Yoda. (Related)

@Steve-O, ""what was the first instance..." is a great question in its own right, whether here or on movies.SE. Can you ask it?