Newest Questions
661 questions
3
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What are the features of Proto-Esperanto?
Esperanto is already pretty well-known, but Proto-Esperanto is not so much. There is some info on Wikipedia, but not much. For example, what is the phonology like? What letters are in the alphabet? ...
4
votes
1
answer
215
views
How do I gloss implicit words?
I'm a beginner to glossing and have virtually zero linguistics knowledge, so please keep answers simple if possible! Apologies that I don't know how to do the spacing properly for the gloss below, ...
- 277
4
votes
1
answer
135
views
What is a "Trigger Language"?
About 30 years ago, there was some talk about "Trigger languages" on conlang-l. The term seems to relate to Austronesian languages like Tagalog and to the exploration of unusual (in terms of ...
- 12.2k
1
vote
2
answers
236
views
Merging all world language grammars into a single supergrammar
If all world grammars were merged, intelligently, into a single supergrammar, what would that grammar look like (in Chomsky notation)?
And, how would you do it?
2
votes
1
answer
252
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Where can I find the word generation rules for existing languages (to use in conlang word generators)?
There are some conlang word generation tools that are often recommended, such as:
https://susurrus-llc.github.io/langua/gen/
https://monke.lunah.dev/
https://github.com/conlang-software-dev/...
user7796
2
votes
1
answer
60
views
ideogram-based/including, constructed languages?
Can someone please point me to an ideogram-based/including, constructed language (like Chinese or Japanese)?
Thanks.
2
votes
0
answers
56
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Saying "complex and detailed" in Toki Pona
Inspired by the question Word for both complex and detailed I want to know how to express this concept in a minimalistic language like Toki Pona.
It is clear to me, that complex and detailed are ...
- 12.2k
1
vote
1
answer
71
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Generalized 我们/咱们 constructions
In Chinese, 我们 is used to address the self plus a set of other people, and 咱们 to address the self plus the listener plus a set of other people (especially in Beijing talk).
What if there was more ...
0
votes
1
answer
48
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Word for both complex and detailed [closed]
I want to PHP-explode a word in all possible ways, including, appending, prepending, englobulating, transposing, word parts in generic names and drawing a scene containing all parts, (even. in a time-...
2
votes
2
answers
59
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How to use an alphabetic numeral system alongside a positional one without overlapping with each other?
I'm not making a conlang; I'm just asking a hypothetical. So, as you can guess by the title, I want to know about how someone can use an alphabetic numeral system alongside a positional one without ...
3
votes
0
answers
61
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How can I explain proto-language pronouns sometimes being inherited as 1st person pronouns, and sometimes being inherited as 2nd person pronouns?
I'm currently trying to retroactively fit three originally unrelated languages (Apshur, Mtsqrveli, and Dingir) into a family, but their pronouns are causing me some trouble.
Currently, they contrast ...
- 1,121
1
vote
1
answer
61
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Articulation speed
I would like to know what studies, have, been made to do with articulation and speed.
4
votes
1
answer
108
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Natlang examples of marking both theme and recipient in "give" constructions
The split between nominative-accusative, ergative-absolutive, and other alignment types (Austronesian, tripartite, neutral ...) gets a lot of attention, but there's another split that's also ...
- 1,787
3
votes
1
answer
102
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Ornative attributive possession
The ornative case, used in the description of some languages like Hungarian, is used to indicate that the marked case is an attribute of, or possessed by, another noun. Wikipedia gives the example of ...
- 1,121
2
votes
0
answers
78
views
How should this script be classified?
I’m making a neography. It consists of featural base glyphs. The glyphs only encode for consonantal features, like an abjad. All glyphs within a syllable connect in a sort of ligature, like a really ...
- 146
2
votes
1
answer
97
views
What phonemes would be used by my underwater race?
Fish are apparently very noisy & make sounds using their gas bladders & sonic muscles. These vocalizations can take a wide variety of forms, including pops, clicks, whistles, purrs, grunts, ...
- 121
3
votes
1
answer
57
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Is there a term for a case combining genitive (of) and abalative (from) in the manner of the Spanish preposition 'de'?
Biased by long familiarity with Spanish, combining the 'of' and 'from' functions seems sufficiently intuitive to me that I would have guessed some case languages do so too. (I am aware of 'desde.') ...
- 1,468
5
votes
2
answers
116
views
Physical Dictionary for a Conlang
I want to use a notebook (It has binders) to record my conlang's lexicon, so I'm looking for some method of organizing it, so the words are easy to find. The 2 main problems are:
Should I organize it ...
- 51
2
votes
1
answer
94
views
What is the feasibility of a heavily consonant and vowel reduced lang?
I have a personallang called Kininini that I am working on at the moment once again.
This one is rather unique compared to most of my other langs because it has a substantially reduced amount of ...
- 121
4
votes
4
answers
400
views
Temporary Possesive case
Is anyone aware of a language, natlang or conlang, that has, for lack of a different term, has a Temporary Possessive case?
What I mean is a case the essentially indicates "this thing that is ...
- 813
2
votes
0
answers
51
views
Can finiteness markers evolve into non-finiteness markers?
I'm trying to figure out how two of my existing languages, Mtsqrveli and Apshur, could fit together into the same family, given a lot of accidental similarity in their morphology. However, there is ...
- 1,121
2
votes
3
answers
150
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How do i construct a language for my novel that has 150 phonemes-- 105 consonants, 40 vowels and 5 clicks?
I am a novelist working on building my own language for my next project. My language involves 150 phonemes. Not being a linguist, I don't know where to start. Your help in this regard will be very ...
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2
votes
2
answers
152
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How can a language for telepathic communication be structured?
In the scenario for this language, in the future (22nd and 23rd centuries), humans use headsets called nrnods that allow for telepathic communication on a global scale. Since this essentially throws ...
Mochi
6
votes
0
answers
101
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ConLang for a pet that talks through buttons...?
crossposted from Writing...
Talking Pets...?
I am fascinated (while skeptical) of the 'talking pet' audio-button trend.
For reference, this video shows a woman talking to her cat about a storm. The ...
- 161
3
votes
1
answer
109
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Constructed varieties of existing languages that are still at least to some extent intelligible
I am interested in the literary use of constructed language varieties like - most famously probably - Nadsat and Newspeak. I am currently trying to compile a list of varieties I can find. There is ...
- 131
2
votes
2
answers
91
views
What is Lexember?
There is an annual event in the conlang community named Lexember. I want to know what makes up this event. I'd also like to see links to exemplary contributions to Lexember.
- 12.2k
4
votes
1
answer
109
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Evolving mood and aspect from the same auxiliaries?
I know for one of my languages I want there to be a realis vs. irrealis distinction in the verb paradigm - but I'm not entirely sure how to get there.
In Routes towards the irrealis (Andrea Sansò, ...
- 1,121
3
votes
1
answer
86
views
How could a base-8 system form naturally in a naturalistic conlang?
Counting base systems in languages usually come from how the culture in question counts using their fingers, like the base-10 with all the fingers counted (1x5x2) or the base-12 where you count the ...
4
votes
1
answer
68
views
What counts as a word in a conlang's lexicon?
I'd like to count how many words I have created so far and am wondering what I should consider a word. Is it standard practice to include, for example:
verbs/adjectives etc. derived from nouns (e.g. ...
- 277
4
votes
1
answer
110
views
Where to find conlangers on the Fediverse?
I am interested in finding conlangers or even speech communities of some conlangs on the fediverse (most prominently represented by Mastodon). What are good accounts to follow?
Just now (i.e., in the ...
- 12.2k
4
votes
1
answer
114
views
Split condition for nominalization pathway used only in certain verbs
There is a construction I would like to formally incorporate into one of my language's verb system, which involves rendering the main verb as a noun, which is then possessed by the participant that ...
- 1,121
5
votes
5
answers
160
views
What are examples for the use of reduplication in conlangs?
I have the feeling that the potential of reduplication is underexplored by conlangers. There are lots of fancy possibilities for reduplication; the above cited Wikipedia article describes them in ...
- 12.2k
2
votes
1
answer
43
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Construction of sets of languages and stories for kids in those languages
This is a software engineering question.
How would you use a script to create not one language but four languages whose words were made up of pieces of words of all four languages, and then make a set ...
3
votes
1
answer
197
views
How do I make my language *look* weird?
We have some discussion of creating "weird" phonology already. But often, people will encounter conlangs by seeing them written. And many of those weirdnesses won't come across well in ...
- 5,156
7
votes
1
answer
195
views
How to Construct Phonotactics?
For use in worldbuilding, I am intending to construct some fictional names in a fictional language. I want the phonotactics in those names to be distinct from the more widely-known real-world ...
3
votes
2
answers
199
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A conlang without adpositions (would this system work)?
Wondering if this sort of system would get rid of adpositions:
The cat is on the table.
the cat on-be the table.
She walked through the park.
she through-walked the park.
They sat under the tree.
...
- 1,900
6
votes
1
answer
122
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Could a European language include dental clicks?
I’m developing a fictional European language and am considering incorporating a range of phonetic elements that are not typically found in European languages. One feature I’m curious about is the ...
- 161
4
votes
1
answer
78
views
Transformed vs. untransformed objects
I had an idea to spice up the core argument cases in one of my languages: what if there were separate object cases for an object that undergoes a change of state, vs. an object that does not?
By this ...
- 1,121
4
votes
1
answer
109
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Are there specific name forms for Interlingua?
While it is not uncommon for Esperanto speakers to use Esperantised name forms like Ludoviko, the Interlingua community usually uses the native spelling of personal names. But I want to know, if there ...
- 12.2k
3
votes
3
answers
162
views
How to come up with novel words for exact concepts that result from specific fact combinations: word coining acts
Here is something I would like to be able to describe with a single word:
"You hold something in your hand (or perhaps in your pocket or attached to your body in some way). You are coerced to put ...
4
votes
2
answers
249
views
Evolving tense from a tenseless proto-language
I'm trying to come up with a verb system as confusing as Georgian, where expressing TAM involves the combination of many affixes whose individual meaning has been lost to time.
I want the daughter ...
- 1,121
3
votes
1
answer
71
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With infix connectives, how to handle edge cases?
Suppose we have a language containing an infix connective for building some sort of sequence. For example, perhaps our terminals are natural numbers and commas, and we are considering fragments like &...
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-2
votes
1
answer
65
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Would the Numerical Tongue be adapted? [closed]
Last year on October I applied for a Guinness World Record where I proposed to write the Bible in numbers using a concept I refer to as the Universal Tongue. My proposal was declined because it didn't ...
5
votes
1
answer
241
views
How does the writing system 12480 work?
I've been trying to come up with a language for a science fiction book, and I came across 12480, which I think would make a good base for the language. The only problem is, I'd like a general idea of ...
- 143
5
votes
1
answer
247
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What sorts of sounds can seals make?
I saw the video "How to Write Languages for Animals": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vahlnBkVUA, and I wanted to try my hand at creating one for seals using the following images:
Only I ...
- 143
3
votes
1
answer
108
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How would you write this modified version of the ring inscription in the Black Speech?
One ring to rule you, one ring to find you
One ring to bring you, and in the darkness bind you
I love you
Gopinadh
4
votes
1
answer
85
views
Problems with this system for compound words?
I was thinking of having all "base" words in the budding conlang I'm working on start and end with a consonant (and be 1-4 syllables), with 1 vowel between each consonant. So like banakan or ...
- 1,900
5
votes
1
answer
116
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Extending venitives/andatives
I'm in the middle of redesigning the verb paradigm for one of my languages, and I'm confronted with the dilemma of knowing that I want a prefix that looks like this, placed there for aesthetic reasons,...
- 1,121
4
votes
2
answers
105
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Is there a good natural reason for a language to declare infinite cardinalities as "plural" and finite cardinalities as "paucal"?
Nowadays, mathematicians have a number of ways of dealing with infinities, prominently the notions of cardinalities and ordinal numbers. As such, I wondered whether we would incorporate such notions ...
- 833
8
votes
2
answers
149
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Is merging singular and dual naturalistic?
So, In the conlang I'm working on currently, nouns decline for number - singular, dual or plural. My problem is, due to phonological changes, in many nouns, the forms for singular and dual have merged,...
- 1,313