Making Languages Doesn't Have To Be Hard (Conlang) | Worldbuilding

Designing Fictional Languages for World Building

Introduction to Language Creation

• The video introduces the concept of designing fictional languages as part of world-building projects, emphasizing that it can be simplified into manageable steps.

• Matthew, the presenter, mentions a previous discussion on designing fantasy races and their evolution towards intelligence necessary for civilization.

Understanding Language and Its Evolution

• Language is defined as a structured system of communication unique to humans; proto-languages are believed to have existed since Homo habilis over 2 million years ago.

• The evolution of language from proto-languages has led to the diverse languages we see today, with English being a product of numerous iterations.

Constructed Languages (Conlangs)

• Conlang refers to constructed languages that are deliberately created rather than evolving naturally. This approach allows for more immediate language creation in world-building.

• Instead of creating an entire language, one can develop a Proto-language—a simple foundational language that can evolve later if desired.

Starting Point: Phonetics

• Phonetics is identified as the starting point for most languages; it involves understanding sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

• The IPA provides an inventory of all possible human sounds, which is crucial for creating believable languages tailored for human audiences.

Articulation and Sound Selection

• Sounds in the IPA are categorized by place and manner of articulation; this helps in understanding how different sounds are produced.

• Examples illustrate how voiceless and voiced sounds often coexist within languages, highlighting sound selection's importance in conlang development.

Simplifying Sound Selection

• Not all IPA sounds appear in every language; many only use a limited set grouped by articulation types.

• For effective conlanging, simplicity is key—focusing on fewer sounds leads to clearer phonological structures.

Creating Phonologies for Fantasy Species

• Matthew outlines four fantasy species created previously: Sileran, Urakan, Naquil, and humans. He emphasizes focusing on non-human species first.

Creating Unique Languages for Fictional Creatures

Phonological Structure of the Language

• The language design excludes labial sounds due to their difficulty for certain creatures, opting instead for a simplified five-vowel system.

• A strong trend in human languages is noted where the word for "bear" includes a trilled 'R' sound; this will be incorporated into the new language.

• The phonetic structure will include coronal sounds while excluding less common sounds like 'sh', and will also incorporate nasals, plosives, and fricatives.

• The Urakan language will utilize a schwa sound instead of an 'er' sound, along with a glottal stop that mimics real-life bear vocalizations when scared.

• Naquil's language draws inspiration from otherworldly sources but maintains standard phonology with elongated vowel equivalents.

Syllable Structure and Stress Patterns

• Syllables are divided into onset, nucleus, and coda; the nucleus is typically a vowel while onsets and codas consist of consonants.

• Different languages are assigned specific syllable structures: Sileran (CVC), Urakan (CCVC), and Naquil (CCVCC), affecting pronunciation complexity.

• Stress placement in words can change meanings significantly; default stress is proposed to fall on the second-to-last syllable across all languages.

• An initial set of rules for stress placement is established to maintain consistency as the languages evolve over time.

Establishing Basic Grammar Rules

• A proto-language framework is created with basic root words; simplicity is emphasized since these sapient creatures start with rudimentary communication.

• Default word order varies by language: Sileran uses VSO, Urakan follows SVO like English, while Naquil has a free word order requiring prefixes/suffixes for clarity.

• Adjectives derived from nouns and adpositions from verbs simplify sentence structure; adjectives appear after nouns in most cases except in free-order languages.

• Possession follows similar ordering rules as adjectives/nouns, treating possessors as adjectives within sentences.

Creating Unique Languages for World Building

Guidelines for Sentence Structure

• The discussion emphasizes that the outlined sentence structure serves as guidelines, with real-life languages providing examples of deviations. Unique languages can develop, but complexity increases with deviation from these guidelines.

Proto-Language Development

• The Urakan language is introduced as an example of a proto-language, showcasing its straightforward translation to English: "I am going to the river to fish for food."

• Sileran's version of the same phrase aims to reflect the personality of both languages, even in their primitive forms.

Language Evolution and Naming Conventions

• As species discover new concepts (e.g., agriculture or metallurgy), they will likely create new words. This reflects real-world language evolution where diverse languages emerge.

• For simplicity in world-building, focus on major languages rather than tracking hundreds across multiple species. Naming conventions can be established using existing words.

Establishing Place Names

• An example is given where a settlement at a river mouth might be named "senanut Gru," which could evolve into a suffix like "Gru Bier" over time.

• It’s crucial to define what old words meant when creating new terms; otherwise, confusion may arise among speakers regarding meanings.

Human Language Strategy in World Building

• Humans will not have a fictional language but will use real-world languages akin to "Galactic Basic" in Star Wars. This approach makes worlds more accessible while maintaining exotic elements through constructed languages (conlangs).

Depth of Language Creation

• Most audiences prefer minimal exposure to fictional languages; names and short phrases are sufficient for immersion without overwhelming them.

• The video only scratches the surface of language creation; advanced conlanging involves complex factors such as vowel/consonant harmonies and rule exceptions.

Recap and Future Directions

• Constructing a language requires phonological inventory, syllable structure, sentence structure, and root words. These elements provide foundational cultural evolution for fictional species.