Linguisticsing

[bloodyrosemccoy]

Hey, cool.

I seem to have stumbled into a linguistics project.

A few months ago ellenmillion posted a question for the language nerds on language change. I don’t think she was looking for a really long answer, but you know how it is when someone asks a question about your area of expertise. I launched into an enthusiastic description of the factors that affect language over time, and volunteered to be around to answer any questons she had.

And that’s how I wound up on a team of Ellen and three language nerds, working to create a conlang for a possible future project.

I gotta say, I’m suddenly energized and feeling a lot happier about life now. I owe Ellen a debt of gratitude: she actually made this customer service rep feel like her linguistics degree can serve some purpose. And building a conlang is always just a ton of fun on its own. I’ve never collaborated on one before, but it’s interesting to work through to a consensus on thsi forum. And since the language is for commercial public use, there are different design parameters at work than what you’d have if your language was just for your own enjoyment, or as that sort of backstage information for a story that only manifests on the surface as a tendency for character names to not look like they were pulled out of your ass.* So we’ve been working on not only consistency, but ease of use for native English speakers—not too weird or different a sound system, not too crazily different syntax. It adds an interesting extra dimension to the process when you have to consider the idea of facilitating the learning ...

Plus, it’s fun! I’m not sure how much more I can say about it now than some generalities like that, but I’ll let y’all know when you can take a look at it. It feels good to be able to do a job using what I studied for years—I hope I can show it off when it goes public.


*Most names in stories like Doctors! are carefully worked out—if not the full language, like the arhodes', then at least the sound conventions. Which is a bit harsh on me for the pídebes, whose most common language has a single vowel with ten allophones. That is, the vowel depends on what consonants are in the syllable and the syllable’s tone—which means I have to have a cheat sheet with me when I make up names.

… I may give a longer description of this in a later entry, because it’s an interesting project of its own if you happen to be a language nerd.

Comments

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

That's really cool. *envies* I can't say I've ever run into a situation where I could use my religion degree to do anything useful. Mostly I just bludgeon people over the head with my Biblical knowledge. Which sometimes is necessary, and sometimes even fun, but not lasting or anything like that.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

Oh my! I just notices you don't read Ozarque. She is about a year away from barnes and noble publishing an updates Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense, so she is a little focused right now, but her journal - being as she is Elgin - is always full of lovely verbal shtuffs.
http://www.adrr.com/aa/

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I don't read her blog because I disagree with her to the point where she irritates me. (That's where one of the other people on this tea and I disagree, as well--she quite likes Elgin. She's a damn good conlanger in her own right, though.) But I like that she does science fiction focusing on linguistics--we always need more of that.

Thanks for the recommendation, though--I'm alwasy glad to hear them, becasue I never know what I'll find!

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

I can see where there is a lot in her writing that is her observation and her opinion, which means it is subjective. And even objective stuff can be disagreeably contrary. Sorry to have rubbed an irritating spot.

Next time she does something more science fiction-ey, should I alert you to the rare gem? I really like the way she used fashion gossip news style to great effect to make a teeny tiny story about artificial pets. Very dense language use.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

Commercial purposes?

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

The project is going to be part of a sandbox world that should have a number of participants; the idea is that there'll be a lot of users who work with this world. The languages--to be precise, it's a whole language group--are meant for a mainstream audience, so we're working to make it accessible and not too complicated.

Actually, now that you mention it, it's not actually "commercial"--it's public, with many contributors. Will edit that.

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

No, you had it right the first time: there will probably be some level(s) of paid membership available, in addition to some free option(s).

Re: Hmm...

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

*grin* The trouble is I'm not even sure what the nuanced meanings of "commercial" are. I'll listen to you on this one.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

Ah okay.

It just started to ping my IALometer and I was getting worried.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

B'gods, man, I would NEVER!

Although I do admire the balls of some of the more serious IALers. "I made this language! It is the easiest/universalest language of all!* I envision EVERYONE EVERYWHERE speaking it!" Gotta give it to 'em for chutzpah.


*Often "easiest" means "Most like the languages the creator knows."

[cjtremlett.livejournal.com]

Rock on! That is awesome!

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying that project also. I'm not sure how much we're supposed to promote it yet, though; ask Ellen. None of the stuff is audience-ready yet, but the bits so far are looking nifty.

I think this is the first time I've seriously collaborated on a conlang. It's fascinating. In some ways it's a challenge because I can't just jump in and do everything myself, however I want to -- I have to wait for other people's input, especially Ellen's because she started this whole thing and has an ear for the languages. But I think the end result will be a lot more like a natural language, because it will have core input from different people. Eventually we should be able to codify some content and rules that will allow later contributors to take that stuff and create a new, related language.

I am really, really looking forward to this new exploration of xenolinguistics. It's so getting added to my panel next time I go to a con. (I've been doing xenolinguistics panels for ... gosh, about 13 years now.)

Re: Yay!

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Oh, it hadn't even occurred to me that this could be considered a promotion--I keep thinking in terms of "Here's what I'm doing!" I thought the release date was sometime in 2010, though, so I'm not gonna be holding my breath.

It is cool. I'm usually wary of group projects, but this one at least has the virtue of people who are interested in it and good at it. Always a plus!

Re: Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm not much for group projects either, but this project is cool and like you said the people are great.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

You have been an amazing asset! I really, really had no idea what kind of a can of worms I was opening when I asked my innocent little question however many weeks ago...

Commercial versus public - well, it will be both. I've got some keen ideas for sponsorships and publications, and I want to make sure that contributors of all kind are amply rewarded and encouraged to continue working on the project. :)

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

*grin* I'm just glad I get to use some of what I know!

I hope I haven't crossed any lines mentioning this on here. It seemed innocent enough, but now I'm not so sure ... Sorry.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

No problem, whatsoever. :)

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

Oh, I envy you having that kind of brainpower!!