Constructed Languages. How do we communicate?
Well, usually, by way of a language of some kind. So, what else could a web site devoted to the creation of the fantastic have to say about language? Here are a few thoughts on constructed languages, some links, and some tools as well. Well, actually, there used to be tools here, but now they're gone. Why? For more details on why, you can read about it on the blog here and here. Please note: Due to the popularity of the conlang creation and mutation scripts, certain abuse prevention measures have been put in place, but they weren't enough, so now all but one of my conlang scripts have been shutdown for the forseable future. If you're ready to document your language, download a blank template for a Conlang Phrasebook If you feel more "adventurous", download a blank template for a Conlang Slang Phrasebook Warning: Adult Content!
Off Site Links This conlang site belongs to Magus. Zelda Galore. The Language Construction Kit. This set of webpages (what’s a set of webpages?
A webchapter?) Is intended for anyone who wants to create artificial languages— for a fantasy or an alien world, as a hobby, as an interlanguage. It presents linguistically sound methods for creating naturalistic languages— which can be reversed to create non-naturalistic languages. It suggests further reading for those who want to know more, and shortcuts for those who want to know less. —Mark Rosenfelder The above is a sample of an artificial language of my own, Verdurian. How about a suite of webpages? Before I could write this little inscription I had to: Decide on the sounds of the language Create the lexicon Create the grammar Design an alphabet Decide how the alphabet is modified for cursive handwriting Translate the desired text You may have two reactions to this: The order of the steps above is significant.
Let’s get going! Where do I go from here? There’s a list of web resources here. How to create a language. [All the pages of How to create a language can be downloaded for offline browsing in a .zip file.
That doesn't include multimedia content. A big consolidated page with all the topics is also available for reading, and is a bit more suitable for printing.] These pages are intended for people interested in creating languages for fictional purposes (or just for fun) and in linguistics in general. They're not meant to be an online linguistics course, but you sure can learn quite a few things about linguistics by reading them, the same way I, not being a linguist, learned from others. They're also not supposed to be a guide to the creation of auxilliary or international languages such as Esperanto.
The pages are divided into two main fields: phonology and grammar. Before starting, I'd like to give the credit deserved to Mark Rosenfelder, who gave me the first tool to engage myself in serious language development. Sounds Phones and phonemes Back on topic... Vowels vs. consonants Consonants. Constructed Languages.