Conlanging can be overwhelming for even the most experienced conlangers—especially in the beginning stages of a new project when swirling swarms of ideas create a flurry of possibilities. I break the process down into daily prompts for a yearlong experience. One year, one conlang. Join me in making this a Conlang Year!
Goal: Plan a strategy for superlative forms in predicative positions Note: Focus for now only on predicative instances like “The mouse is smallest.” Tip: You may also consider instances where the superlative is treated like a nominal: “The mouse is the smallest.” Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Now that you’ve explored options for superlatives, focus today on…
Goal: Brainstorm ideas for superlative strategies Note: This may mean creating new inflections, adverbs, and/or clausal strategies. Tip: Superlatives include examples like “The mouse is smallest” or “The rabbit is most beautiful.” Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal focuses on a feature related to comparative strategies: strategies for forming a superlative, or a comparison of the…
Goal: Write a section on comparative forms Note: Include examples of predicative and, if applicable, attributive comparatives. Tip: This information may fit best in a section on adjectives but may be a better fit in other clausal or phrasal sections. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Document your decisions on comparative forms by writing a section in your…
Goal: Create examples of situations with attributive comparative forms Note: If your language allows it, showcase NP structures when comparatives are used attributively. Tip: If your language doesn’t allow it, show how your language would translate a sentence that includes a NP like “the fancier mouse.” Work focus: Create/Make/List Based on your decisions yesterday, create…
Goal: Decide if comparative forms can be used attributively Note: Consider if you’ll allow noun phrases like “the faster turtle.” Tip: Your strategy may require other types of modifiers in the noun phrase, like an adposition phrase. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Some languages allow comparative forms to be embedded as modifiers inside a noun phrase. For…
Goal: Create sentences with comparative forms Note: Put your plans into action and create example sentences to showcase your comparatives. Tip: Your example sentences may demonstrate how your language handles comparatives without a dedicated comparative form. Work focus: Create/Make/List Put your plans into action and create your first examples of sentences with comparatives! Focus only…
Goal: Create any lexical forms you need for your comparative strategy Note: Be sure to reduce any lexical forms that need to be grammaticalized for your comparative. Tip: Even if you don’t need any new forms, lay out a template to show how your language will handle comparative situations. Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s goal is…
Goal: Draft a plan for comparative strategies Note: List any new forms you need to create to support your decisions. Tip: If you’re not creating comparatives, plan ways of wording clauses to make achieve the same function. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Pick the comparative strategy/form that you will incorporate into your language and plan out what…
Goal: Brainstorm ideas for comparative strategies for adjectives Note: This may mean creating new inflections, adverbs, and/or clausal strategies. Tip: Not all languages have specific comparative forms or structures. Figure out what works best for you! Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal is to brainstorm (and research) ideas for comparative strategies for adjectives. In some languages,…
Goal: Document your non-finite adverbial structures Note: Figure out the best section for this, whether it’s with dependent clauses, adverb forms, or another area. Tip: As ever, remember to include examples and descriptions! Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Today’s task is to document your non-finite adverbial structures and the decisions you’ve made about them. Figure out where…
