conlangs

(constructed languages)

A koi fish with five ripples on it and a sixth in front of it.

guiding questions

  • what are conlangs?
  • why make conlangs?

natural languages

constructed languages

a brief history

  • 1100s: Lingua Ignota
  • 1879: Volapük
  • 1887: Esperanto
  • 1910: Tolkien’s langs
  • 1980s: Klingon
  • today: your language??

why make conlangs?

  • to unite the world
  • for a movie, tv show, or book
  • as artistic expression
  • to test language
  • because why not

esperanto: to unite the world

  • 1887
  • L. L. Zamenhof
  • most-spoken conlang
A green flag with a white square in its top-left corner and a green star within that.
A green flag with a white square in its top-left corner and a green star within that.

lojban: to make language systematic

  • 1987
  • Logical Language Group
  • early “loglang”
A Lojban translation of xkcd 191 “lojban”.
A Lojban translation of xkcd 191 “lojban”.

dothraki: for the media

  • 2009
  • David J. Peterson
  • known due to Game of Thrones
The cover of “Living Language: Dothraki” by David J. Peterson.
The cover of “Living Language: Dothraki” by David J. Peterson.

tshevu: as artistic expression

  • 2020
  • koallary
  • known for its writing system
A work of Koiwrit created in the language Tshevu.
A work of Koiwrit created in the language Tshevu.

seraphim: for cursedness

Thumbnail for “Seraphim” on YouTube; the text BE NOT AFRAID is written above two wings which intersect at a massive flaming eye. Behind these, a barrage of varied unicode symbols, next to screenshots from the video describing the Seraphim language.
Thumbnail for “Seraphim” on YouTube; the text BE NOT AFRAID is written above two wings which intersect at a massive flaming eye. Behind these, a barrage of varied unicode symbols, next to screenshots from the video describing the Seraphim language.

ithkuil: to test language

  • 2004, 2007, 2011, 2023
  • John Quijada
  • notable for grammatical capability
The Ithkuil words “očvalá tali šio malëuţřaitie ogvbřalörxeu” written using Ithkuil calligraphic script.
The Ithkuil words “očvalá tali šio malëuţřaitie ogvbřalörxeu” written using Ithkuil calligraphic script.
A highly packed table containing the entirety of Ithkuil's grammar and conjugations on it. No definitions are given for any of the abbreviations used.A highly packed table containing the entirety of Ithkuil's grammar and conjugations on it. No definitions are given for any of the abbreviations used.
A highly packed table containing almost the entirety of Ithkuil's script on it. Every element is given with pointers written to explain when it is used, and only the numeric characters are missing.A highly packed table containing almost the entirety of Ithkuil's script on it. Every element is given with pointers written to explain when it is used, and only the numeric characters are missing.

toki pona

  • 2001
  • Sonja Lang
  • best language /unbiased //s
An array of colorful sitelen pona symbols.

your conlangs

The opening page of the Uscript self-defining sheet.

conlangs

(constructed languages)

A koi fish with five ripples on it and a sixth in front of it.

No slide available.

guiding questions

  • what are conlangs?
  • why make conlangs?

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