Conlanging can be overwhelming for even the most experienced conlangers—especially in the beginning stages of a new project when swirling swarms of ideas create a flurry of possibilities. I break the process down into daily prompts for a yearlong experience. One year, one conlang. Join me in making this a Conlang Year!
Goal: Review and update your dictionary as needed Note: Comparative inflectional forms may need to be added to head words. Tip: Comparative/superlative inflections can be showcased in charts. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Today’s goal is to review and update your dictionary as needed. If you have inflectional affixes for comparative and superlative adjectives and/or adverbs, you…
Goal: Update your grammar’s adverb section Note: Incorporate the examples of comparative/superlative situations. Tip: It may work better to have a section dedicated to comparisons. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Today is a documentation day. Incorporate the examples you created for adverbs in comparative and superlative situations to demonstrate how your conlang handles them—whether your language has…
Goal: Create examples of comparative and superlative adverbs Note: Or create examples to show what your language does instead! Tip: Consider if all adverbs participate in these constructions. Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s goal is to create examples to showcase how comparative and superlative adverb forms (or constructions) work in your conlang. Or, as the case…
Goal: Plan a strategy for comparative and superlative adverb forms Note: You do not need dedicated forms to be able to express a comparison of adverbs. Tip: You may create multiple templates to demonstrate how your language can express these ideas using different strategies. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Consolidate your ideas from the past two days…
Goal: Explore options for superlative adverb forms Note: Now consider adverbs in superlative situations, like “most joyfully.” Tip: Manner adverbs are most likely to participate in comparative/superlative constructions. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal builds on yesterday’s explorations by adding superlative adverb forms. Consider how your language might express meanings like “The bear jumped farthest” or…
Goal: Explore options for comparative adverb forms Note: You can consider adverbs how adverbs might be comparative, like “more quickly.” Tip: You may use the same forms/constructions, create different ones, or disallow adverbs to participate in such a construction. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal is to brainstorm options for comparing adverbs, especially manner adverbs, in…
Goal: Update your dictionary as needed Note: Make sure any comparative/superlative forms or sources you created made it into the dictionary. Tip: Check any handwritten notes you may have in planners, in journals, or on backs of receipts for words you intended to add! Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Today offers a little break between thinking about…
Goal: Expand the section on comparative forms to include superlatives Note: Incorporate examples of superlatives (or similar structures) in your language. Tip: It’s totally fine if your language has a comparative form but lacks a superlative. Just show what your language does instead! Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Document your decisions on superlatives in your language by…
Goal: Create forms and examples for superlative structures Note: Start with any new forms you need to implement your superlative strategy. Tip: Create examples to show how your language handles superlative structures (both predicative and attributive). Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s goal is to put your superlative plans into action by creating any forms you need…
Goal: Plan a strategy for superlative forms in attributive positions Note: You may need to demonstrate how your language restructures these forms. Tip: Examples include phrases like “the smallest mouse” or “the most incredible experience.” Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Make a plan for superlatives in the attributive position in your conlang (or demonstrate how your conlang…
