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: Create nonce forms of varying lengths Note: As you work, decide how stress will be assigned to multisyllabic units. Tip: Make sure you create a variety of permissible syllable structures and word-like units. Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s focus is to put the syllable structure you selected yesterday to the test by creating nonce forms…
Goal: Play around with syllable structures Note: Syllable structure is a major step in creating the phonotactics and, thus, the aesthetic of your language. Tip: Focus on a maximum syllable structure; only set minimums if you want stricter syllable structures. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try If you are brand new to language creation and/or linguistic studies, you…
Goal: Compile IPA charts for your conlang Note: You will make consonant and vowel charts to showcase your proto-inventory. Tip: However you choose to document your work, keep these charts in an easily accessible location! Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share You may have already compiled IPA charts as you selected the sounds that will be a part…
Day 15, January 15 Goal: Compile IPA charts for your conlang Note: You will make consonant and vowel charts to showcase your proto-inventory. Tip: However you choose to document your work, keep these charts in an easily accessible location! Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Day 16, January 16 Goal: Play around with syllable structures Note: Syllable structure…
Goal: Choose diphthongs (if any) Note: As you make your decision, consider if you will allow V-V sequences in forms. Tip: A form like tai can be one syllable or two, depending on your selections. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, a diphthong requires movement during production but are perceived as a…
Goal: Choose monophthongs Note: The five-vowel system is a classic option for a good reason. Tip: Select vowels from opposing areas for maximal distinctions. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure For the past three days, you have worked on selecting a starting inventory of consonant sounds for your language. Today’s focus shifts to the vowel sounds in your…
Goal: Research other consonant articulations Note: You can evolve any articulations you’re interested in through sound changes. Tip: Use secondary and other articulation options sparingly (if at all) in the proto-inventory. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s prompt is more about exploring options than anything else. The goal is to research other articulatory patterns in consonants, including…
Goal: Decide if you want a voicing distinction Note: Focus on the stops and fricatives as you make this decision. Tip: If you only want select voicing distinctions within a row of sounds, give them to the alveolars. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure On the IPA consonant chart, sounds are distinguished by their voicing quality. Voiced consonants…
Goal: Choose “series” of consonants to incorporate Note: The series you’re choosing from are the columns and rows of the IPA consonant chart. Tip: Familiarize yourself with all the sounds first, and remember that these consonants are a starting point. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Today is the first step of working on the language itself—on the…
Goal: Summarize your speakers and their world Note: This is the start of the official documentation of your language! Tip: Introduce the basics, focusing on what you find most important. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share You have brainstormed, created, listed, and designed features of your speakers and the world surrounding them. Today’s focus is taking all those…
