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Meet The Seattle Writer Fluent In An Alien Language

Eric Andeen first encountered the Klingon language like most people, while watching the film "Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock" as the crew of the Enterprise contended with the Klingons, a fictional alien race. However, when he spotted a Klingon dictionary in a bookstore a few months later, Andeen took it a step further. He decided to learn Klingon. 

Over 20 years later, Andeen is now one of just a handful of people fluent in the Klingon language. He attends yearly conferences with other Klingon speakers and often jokes with his best friend (another fluent speaker) in Klingon.

Sound Effect's Jennifer Wing talks with Andeen about why he decided to learn the language and about the community he's found around Klingon. 

Jennifer Wing is a former KNKX reporter and producer who worked on the show Sound Effect and Transmission podcast.
Sound Effect producer Allie Ferguson has been making radio for nearly 5 years. She got her start at KUOW and has since traveled the country working for national news shows including WNYC's The Takeaway and NPR's Weekend All Things Considered. Allie won a 2016 Gracie Award, which celebrates women in media, for her work at KUOW. She enjoys telling surprising stories about passionate people.