I just found out yesterday, thanks to the SDH subtitles (but doesn't show on the regular subtitles) that Shockwave says "The driller is thirsty!" or something like that when he summons the driller to attack Sam and the soldiers in the skyscraper at the end of DOTM... I always thought he was muttering in cybertronian... some reason, the subtitles are more accurate for the SDH rather than "normal" english subtitles...

 

Yeah, just as Shockwave glances back up to the collapsing building, Shockwave garbles in Cybertronian and the subtitles say "Driller bot is thirsty". Whether or not one takes that as gospel truth as to that's what he said is up to them. His Cybertronian mumbling definitely has a similar audible cadence to the words, but it's such a stupid thing for him to say.

It's basically one of the many other situations like this.

"Give up?"/"Can't go home."
"Remember me?"
Etc.

We'll probably never know if that's a deliberate decision the filmmaker's parts or it was simply a flub by the subtitle-ers.

In my own universe (inside my head   ), I always imagine Shockwave saying something like "Hiding? Cowards" or "Insects". Short, staccato sentences. Nothing elaborate, but something that'd make a whole lot more sense than "Driller bot is thirsty".  

 

I remember going on the forums, and hearing everyone going on about Shockwave's thristy Driller, and I was thinking: "Wait, where did this come from?"

So I sit back, watch the movie again, and I'm watching Shockwave, and suddenly he garbles these words and I'm thinking: "LOL There it is!"

Good times, good times :3

 

When Prime has him he says "let me go" then takes a blade to the chin.

 

When he transforms: "OP-TI-MUS!"

When he punches Optimus in the face (after they fall): "Take that Prime."

Just before he gets decapitated: "Oh, I hate ya!"

 

Bc:rahhh sheeek rwaraaahahahahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
Op: Wowowowwowwowowowwowooo rrrrrrrrrr ar aharhgh.

 

Win.

 

That suits his personality. Logical, quick-thinking and doesn't say any more than he needs to.

I assume that because it is an example of wildlife, the Driller would not be able to understand english. It'd be like telling a dog to sit in cybertronian.