Conlangs (Constructed Languages) Megathread

[Democratic Communist Federation]

This thread is devoted to constructed languages (conlangs), such as Esperanto, Ido, Interlingua, Volapük, Lingua Franca Nova/Elefen/LFN, Interslavic, Sambahsa, Lingwa de Planeta/Lidepla/LdP, Unish, Kah, and Neo-Latin. There are even some people who create multiple conlangs as a hobby.

A constructed language is a language which is intentionally created by one or more individuals (as opposed to languages which evolve over time in a culture). Some constructed languages are intended to be either universal languages or universal auxiliary languages (secondary languages to one's native tongue). Other conlangs come from literature or film, such as Klingon and Bajoran (from Star Trek) and the Elvish languages developed by Tolkien. For instance, Bing Translate includes two versions of Klingon in its database. In addition, some constructed languages are based upon one or more natural languages. Others, such as Kah, are entirely original.

I have been interested in constructed languages for as long as I can remember. Originally, I focused on Esperanto and its offshoots (such as Ido). More recently, I have become fascinated with Lingwa de Planeta.

Are you interested in this subject? Have you studied one or more conlangs? Please comment and discuss in this thread.

[Blanco-Campeon]

Esperanto is for nerds.

[Dahon]

Esperanto is for nerds.

This entire site is for nerds. Hell, the entire concept of an Internet was created by a bunch of nerds. Your point?

Anyway, I'm only familiar with Esperanto, Interlingua, and Volapük by name. Are languages masquerading as local or national languages considered conlangs too?

[Democratic Communist Federation]

Anyway, I'm only familiar with Esperanto, Interlingua, and Volapük by name. Are languages masquerading as local or national languages considered conlangs too?

Conlangs have to be intentionally constructed, usually by one person or a committee.

[Blanco-Campeon]

Esperanto is for nerds.

This entire site is for nerds. Hell, the entire concept of an Internet was created by a bunch of nerds. Your point?

It was joke

[Dahon]

Anyway, I'm only familiar with Esperanto, Interlingua, and Volapük by name. Are languages masquerading as local or national languages considered conlangs too?

Conlangs have to be intentionally constructed, usually by one person or a committee.

Ah, so that's the only criterion. I see.

[Sovaal]

Political conlangs are frankly dumb imho.

[Dahon]

Political conlangs are frankly dumb imho.

And what are those? Specialist language for political parties?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

For a spell (meaning for a little while) I was interested in Interlingua, which I found to be better than Esperanto, in my ability to grasp. But I never got too invested in learning it. I figured that there was no point for me to learn a conlang when I could devote that time to learning a language in usage, like Hindi or even to a lesser extent, Gaelic.

[Kalosia]

I would be surprised if it was wrong to assume that some of the RPers on this site don't regularly develop and maintain conlangs for IC purposes.

In terms of mainstream conlangs, I don't really have that much interest but I do have my own, Kalosian. I maintain it in a file that I've made publicly available, that you can view here.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I would be surprised if it was wrong to assume that some of the RPers on this site don't regularly develop and maintain conlangs for IC purposes.

In terms of mainstream conlangs, I don't really have that much interest but I do have my own, Kalosian. I maintain it in a file that I've made publicly available, that you can view here.

Actually, yes. There are a few posters who also RP who have conlanged entire languages for their nation RPs.

[Thermodolia]

Political conlangs are frankly dumb imho.

And what are those? Specialist language for political parties?

Newspeak

[Democratic Communist Federation]

Ah, so that's the only criterion. I see.

Yep.

[Democratic Communist Federation]

Political conlangs are frankly dumb imho.

What is a political conlang?

[Democratic Communist Federation]

I would be surprised if it was wrong to assume that some of the RPers on this site don't regularly develop and maintain conlangs for IC purposes.

In terms of mainstream conlangs, I don't really have that much interest but I do have my own, Kalosian. I maintain it in a file that I've made publicly available, that you can view here.

Very nice.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Political conlangs are frankly dumb imho.

What is a political conlang?

It may mean languages created for breakaway territories or nations that are created for political purposes, declaring themselves to exist alongside UN recognized nations.

[Democratic Communist Federation]

For a spell (meaning for a little while) I was interested in Interlingua, which I found to be better than Esperanto, in my ability to grasp. But I never got too invested in learning it. I figured that there was no point for me to learn a conlang when I could devote that time to learning a language in usage, like Hindi or even to a lesser extent, Gaelic.

The problem is that no conlang has drawn a large enough following to be useful. A conlang needs to have a strong public relations or advertising firm behind it to make it worthwhile.

[Democratic Communist Federation]

It may mean languages created for breakaway territories or nations that are created for political purposes, declaring themselves to exist alongside UN recognized nations.

Maybe, but that's not the way the term is generally used.

[Shofercia]

Isn't Interslavic the language of Slovio? Or is there another Interslavic language?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It may mean languages created for breakaway territories or nations that are created for political purposes, declaring themselves to exist alongside UN recognized nations.

Maybe, but that's not the way the term is generally used.

I guess we have to wait for Sovaal to answer on that one. That, however, is the context I have seen political conlangs used in.

[Democratic Communist Federation]

Isn't Interslavic the language of Slovio? Or is there another Interslavic language?

No, Slovio and Interslavic are two separate conlangs. As far as I know, there is no placed called Slovio.

[Democratic Communist Federation]

I guess we have to wait for Sovaal to answer on that one. That, however, is the context I have seen political conlangs used in.

Generally, conlangs have tried to remain apolitical.

[Valrifell]

Esperanto is for nerds.

No, that's Lojban.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I guess we have to wait for Sovaal to answer on that one. That, however, is the context I have seen political conlangs used in.

Generally, conlangs have tried to remain apolitical.

Apparently, they can be artlangs that are made real for the purpose of a political entity (like a micronation).

These are the languages of micronations, sometimes created for entertainment, but often breakaway nations that are created for political purposes, declaring themselves to exist alongside UN-recognized nations (such as Sealand, the Conch Republic, or Atlantium). The members of these micronations meet up and speak the language they have learned when they are participating in these meets. The language and its creation belong to all the citizens of these micronations. They determine the direction of its evolution, invent new grammatical constructions when they discover it is necessary, and coin new words as they speak.

Some examples of micronational languages:

Talossan

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Conlang/T ... _languages

Although I agree that the concept of the conlang usually tries to remain apolitical because these are constructs that are supposed to help communication, bypassing and regardless of political boundaries.

[Democratic Communist Federation]

No, that's Lojban.

FWIW, Lojban is the only conlang I have actually disliked (all logic and no emotion). It seems like it should be the language of the Planet Vulcan in Star Trek.