Jag hittade svaret i någon annans svar på en annan fråga frågade jag. I en Fråga mig någonting med Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) skedde denna utbyte:
QUESTION: As for me, I think that Chewbacca deserved a [medal] after the first death star destruction. What was that last word he spoke in Episode IV? Did it have something to do with not getting a [medal]?
PETER MAYHEW'S ANSWER: No, actually, the last words Chewie spoke in Episode IV was to dismiss the troops and thank them for their service.
Det var klart att han faktiskt gav order.
Jag frågade mina kompisar - en är en officer, helikopterräddarpilot och instruktör i US Coast Guard, den andra är en Sergeant i US Army - vad de tycker.
Kustvakten, som också är en Star Wars-buff, säger detta (förresten, Capy är min hund):
Interesting...hadn't watched the scene in months, and if you'd asked me cold I would have told you my recollection of Chewie's roaring was as if you'd taken Capy to city hall to get the key to the city and she randomly barked. But watching it now it seems clear that Chewie is, in fact, calling out the commands.
US Army Sergeant sa:
Well I'm an NCO, not an Officer, but I would point out that the majority of drill and ceremony commands have a preparatory command followed by a command of execution: Forward_March, Column-Right_March, Company_Attention, etc. There also single word commands knows as combined commands: Rest, Fall-Out, Fall-In, etc.
Some notes from a military study guide may help:
"a. The preparatory command is the command that indicates movement. Pronounce each preparatory command with a rising inflection. The most desirable pitch, when beginning a preparatory command, is near the level of the natural speaking voice. A common fault with beginners is to start the preparatory command in a pitch so high that, after employing a rising inflection for the preparatory command, it is impossible to give the command of execution with clarity or without strain. A good rule to remember is to begin a command near the natural pitch of the voice."
"b. The command of execution is the command that indicates when a movement is to be executed. Give it in a sharper tone and in a slightly higher pitch than the last syllable of the preparatory command. It must be given with plenty of snap. The best way to develop a command voice is to practice."
"c. In combined commands, such as FALL IN and FALL OUT, the preparatory command and command of execution are combined. Give these commands without inflection and with the uniform high pitch and loudness of a normal command of execution."
So one could infer that the Wookiee is simply giving a combined command: "Clap." Which would preclude the use of a preparatory command and command of execution. However I would note the slight rise of inflection near the end of the first instance which may merely be an example of poor form.