Category: Solidify/Write/Share

Goal: Write an introduction to definiteness Note: If forms shift depending on other inflections, show examples. Tip: Include both marked and unmarked forms in examples. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share As a continuation of the past few days, today’s goal is to write an introduction to how your language treats definiteness. If you don’t have any definiteness…

Goal: Write an introduction to number Note: Your inflections may overlap and need to be discussed in one section. Tip: Include example nouns with different phonological forms. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Today’s goal is to write an introduction to how your language treats number for its nouns. Remember, if you don’t have number in your language,…

Goal: Write an introduction to noun class (if any) Note: A chart can go a long way in showcasing your system. Tip: Include examples as you describe the system! Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share It’s time to formalize all your nominal inflection decisions and update your language’s documentation. I’ve broken this up into a four-day process to…

Goal: Start a basic introduction to your conlang’s grammar Note: This may just be a sentence or two for now! Tip: Keep these notes organized so you can easily reference them. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Formalize some of the decisions you’ve made about the basic foundation for your conlang’s grammatical structures by writing a basic grammar…

Goal: Start your official dictionary Note: For every proto-form, provide its modern form and definition. Tip: Other info is helpful, too: lexical category, IPA, notes. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share You may have already started working on your dictionary. If that’s the case, today is a good day to double check your work and make sure all…

Goal: Explore Romanization strategies Note: A Romanization strategy is separate from an orthography. Tip: You may choose to stick with IPA (at least for now). Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Romanizing your language means using the Roman alphabet to present the forms of your language. The major reason many conlangers consider a Romanization strategy is because it…

Goal: Write a section on phonotactics for modern forms Note: Provide IPA charts to reflect the sounds in the modern forms. Tip: Update this info every time you tweak your sound changes. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share In yesterday’s prompt, I provided this basic template you might follow for documenting your language’s sound information. Today’s prompt expands…

Goal: Solidify your list of ordered sound changes Note: Document these sound changes and keep them with your sound inventory notes. Tip: Using a tool like Lexurgy can help you quickly test sound changes on future forms. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Today’s focus is a culmination of the last two weeks of work you’ve put into…

Goal: Organize notes and select sound changes Note: There is no “correct” number of sound changes you need to select for your language. Tip: You can always return to your sound changes later and add to them as you expand the language. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Whatever day it happens to be when you reach this…

Goal: Write a section on syllables and stress Note: This section focuses on your proto-forms only; these features can shift through sound changes. Tip: Tonal languages can evolve from proto-forms bearing stress (rather than tone). Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Now that you have worked with a variety of word-like nonce forms using your selected sounds and…