Category: Learn/Brainstorm/Try

Goal: Explore options for relative clause structures Note: Brainstorm options until you find one that works for your vision of your language. Tip: Also consider options for where these clauses will occur in the matrix clause. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try The goal for today shifts attention to relative clauses and their structures. Spend your time today…

Goal: Brainstorm ideas for reason and manner wh-words Note: Decide what sources you will use for “why” and “how”. Tip: These may also be related to other wh-words in your language. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try The goal for today shifts the focus to reason and manner wh-words, or words that roughly translate as “why” and “how.”…

Goal: Brainstorm ideas for spatial and temporal wh-words Note: Decide what sources you will use for “where” and “when”. Tip: These words may be related to other wh-words (e.g. “where” could come from “what path”). Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Brainstorm ideas for how you will create wh-words that target spatial (“where”) and temporal (“when”) information. If…

Goal: Explore options for wh-word as modifier Note: This includes “which/what/whose” as a determiner and/or modifier. Tip: Be sure to consider these forms supporting nouns in multiple clausal positions. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Expand your brainstorming on wh-questions by exploring options for wh-words as modifiers for a head noun, such as “which car” or “what mouse”…

Goal: Explore options for wh-word questions Note: For now, focus on “what” and “who” arguments in different positions. Tip: Consider options for “who/what” as subject, object, and oblique/embedded constituent. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal shifts from y/n questions to wh-word questions, specifically focusing on content questions that target nominal arguments. While a y/n question can…

Goal: Explore options for forming y/n questions Note: Options include word order shift, y/n particle, and/or interrogative inflection(s). Tip: These strategies may be entirely distinct from wh-word questions. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try It’s time to start thinking about questions! The first focus is on yes/no questions, or questions that can be answered with a simple “yes”…

Goal: Consider options for imperative clauses Note: Some languages have distinct forms for singular, plural, and (in)formal. Tip: Second-person forms are most common, but some languages have third-person commands. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s focus shifts to imperative clause structures! Take some time to explore how a variety of languages form imperative clauses to get some…

Goal: Explore options for phrasal coordination Note: Typical basic coordination options include “and, but, or.” Tip: The comitative can double as a coordinator meaning “and.” Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal shifts focus to coordination strategies, focusing specifically on phrasal coordination. The most common basic coordinating conjunctions include options for “and” and “or” (though you may…

Goal: Explore strategies for personal names Note: Think about how your speakers will refer to each other as individuals. Tip: Personal names may include familial names. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try It can be quite interesting to think about names and how your speakers will refer to each other and how they will identify one individual from…

Goal: Brainstorm options for naming places Note: These strategies often focus on prominent terrain features. Tip: The forms may include both compounds and derivations (e.g. “-town/-ton”). Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal shifts the focus to place names. Use today to brainstorm ideas for how you might name places in your conworld. I encourage you to…