I wonder why they didn't keep the markers the way they were in the book. In the book, if I remember right, the "markers" actually went in the ear so that they could understand the language. It also changed it so that they would speak the correct. They could communicate with the others through the markers. This is one of the big differences between the book and the movie that drove me crazy.
shareWell then look at the plot. One of the issues is their accents causing them trouble/distrust/trust.
I just finished the book. The things in their ears weren't markers, they were translators and also enabled them to communicate between themselves. The marker was a small ceramic disc that fit in their pocket.
shareAnd the translators only allowed them to understand what was being said... anyone other than Marek (who was such a history nerd that he could speak multiple old languages and knew how to fight with their weapons okay as well) just tried to keep their mouths shut as best they could.
shareTranslators in ears were good for understanding what was being said, but not speaking to people. They also had to turn them of when they realised someone was listening in to what they said.
share