#disclaimer i literally ONLY speak English i have exactly zero knowledge of being bilingual

[raphaelesbian]

Thinking about the bilingualism of the turtles and just realized like

The mutant mayhem turtles must have ZERO knowledge of Japanese chjzjddh. Like Splinter does have an accent (though Jackie Chan is from Hong Kong according to Google, not Japan), but he's a normal New York rat. Not Hamato Yoshi transformed into a rat, like 2012/2018, and not a pet rat that belonged to Hamato Yoshi, like 2003. Zero connection to Japan at all

I'm just imagining them all in a big crossover. 2012 gives me the vibes of being the MOST connected to Splinter's culture, so they're all bilingual (to differing degrees), they know a lot about Japanese culture and mythology and all that jazz.

2003 I think has some knowledge of the language and culture. Splinter lived in Japan with Tang Shen, and then Yoshi took him to America. If he was smart enough as a rat to pick up ninjutsu, I think he is smart enough to know the language and the bits and pieces of the culture he would witness, being... a rat.

ROTTMNT, I do not see them speaking the language or knowing much of anything about the culture, lol. They probably know some, being around Splinter, but I don't get the impression Splinter often spoke Japanese, and he didn't really train them like the other Splinters. I think they would still pick up some habits from their dad, like we see them bow to him a few times, and I bet he's made them family recipes at least a FEW times. The kids would pick up on a few words I'm sure, either from Splinter or from Lou Jitsu movies lmao, but culturally I think they know very very little. The 2012 boys would be horrified to hear them butcher the language, but on the other hand I bet they know more Spanish than 2012.

And then Mutant Mayhem... Literally not a single word. Even the Rise turtles are surprised how little they know. Except MAYBE Donnie lmao, being a huge weeb, but if he's anything like the weebs I know the knowledge of the language is... incredibly limited. Plus he's a kpoppie, so he may know more Korean than Japanese.

The absolute culture shock if you threw them all in a room together

#just imagining 2012!Leo in a room with everyone #having an aneurysm as he has to explain every aspect of some reference he made #disclaimer i literally ONLY speak English i have exactly zero knowledge of being bilingual #i just think it's neat in true American fashion #tmnt #tmnt 2012 #tmnt 2003 #tmnt mutant mayhem #rottmnt #the turtles speak Japanese #the turtles are bilingual #I've only really seen those 4 #and the Michael Bay movies but i don't have much of an opinion on them