This month, theatergoers watched the new Superman movie in 76 countries. Though the film played in many different languages, every showing included a new language created by David J. Peterson ’03 and his wife, Jessie Peterson.
The duo created Suh Ankripton, the latest version of the Kryptonian language used on Superman’s home planet. A pivotal scene that changes the world’s opinion of Superman involves characters speaking the language.
Jessie and David Peterson. Courtesy of Grant Kerber.
David Corenswet as Superman in DC Studios. Courtesy of Warner Bros © Warner Bros.
David and Jessie began work on Suh Ankripton in early 2024, scouring the comics for words and names. Then, they broke these terms into component pieces, eventually creating root words, grammar rules, and a phonetic system.
They are conlangers, meaning they construct new languages. Many conlangers create for personal enjoyment or to add a world-building element to their own fantasy or science fiction project. Only an elite few get paid, and only David and Jessie get to work full-time creating languages. It’s a dream job for an English and linguistics double major like David.
“You go back and watch Casablanca: there is German, French, a little bit of Russian, Italian. There are no subtitles at all,” said David. “It gives a sense of what that place was supposed to be like at that time—this huge melting pot. This is what you’re trying to do when it comes to a created language. It’s the whole point of having costumes, props, or CGI. You’re trying to make it interesting. You’re trying to make it a real place.”
