Category: Learn/Brainstorm/Try

Goal: Test your sound changes as a package Note: Sound changes affect language in an orderly fashion. Tip: Solidifying the order now will save you from headaches later. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Yesterday I mentioned that you should select an order for your sound changes because, when sound changes apply to languages, they apply in a…

Goal: Explore stress-sensitive sound changes Note: Sound changes do not have to affect every syllable equally. Tip: Unstressed syllables are more prone to reduction and deletion sound changes. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today is the last day reserved for exploring types of sound changes before you are tasked with selecting, ordering, and testing the sound changes…

Goal: Explore sound changes for vowels Note: Vowels are especially prone to shifting as languages evolve. Tip: Focus on ways you want to expand (or shrink) your proto-vowel inventory as you explore these changes. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try I’ve mentioned a sound change that could affect the vowel—namely that sometimes when coda consonants are deleted, a…

Goal: Explore fortifying sound changes Note: Fortification includes changes such as devoicing a voiced sound or turning a glide into a fricative. Tip: Fortifying a sound often makes it more acoustically distinct from its surroundings. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today is the final day of prompts focusing on consonant sound changes (tomorrow turns the focus to…

Goal: Explore deletion/reduction sound changes Note: A sound can be deleted altogether or reduced (e.g. a stop becoming a flap). Tip: Coda consonants are often prone to deletion or reduction, especially the weak fricatives. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Some sound changes cause sounds to be reduced or deleted altogether (the ultimate reduction, you might say!). Some…

Goal: Explore assimilatory sound changes Note: These changes shift sounds so they are more similar to other sounds in their environment. Tip: Consonants can shift voicing, manner, and/or placement when assimilating. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try If you have completed all the prompts so far, you have at least 35 proto-forms in your language’s lexicon, and they…

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: 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: Determine your speakers and conworld Note: You will have five days to describe these in more detail. Focus on the big picture for today. Tip: Start a “vision board” or collection of images that can inspire you as you fill out details. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Now that you have set intentions for creating a…