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: Explore options for phrasal coordination Note: Typical basic coordination options include “and, but, or.” Tip: The comitative can double as a coordinator meaning “and.” Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Today’s goal shifts focus to coordination strategies, focusing specifically on phrasal coordination. The most common basic coordinating conjunctions include options for “and” and “or” (though you may…
Goal: Formalize your naming strategies Note: Write a section in your language document about how names are formed. Tip: As you update your dictionary, decide if you want to include place names. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Take some time to formalize your naming strategies in your language documentation, writing a section (or two, if needed) about…
Goal: Create example sentences with names Note: Include both place and personal names to show how they work. Tip: If they inflect, make sure they occur with the appropriate case-marking! Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s goal is to create example sentences that incorporate some of the names you’ve created—both personal and place names. As you build…
Goal: Consider how names will interact with inflections Note: Names can inflect but don’t have to—that decision is up to you! Tip: You may consider a vocative form for addressing a specific person. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Now that you have some names (both personal and place names) in your language, your next decision is how…
Goal: Create a few personal names for your speakers Note: Create just enough names to showcase your chosen naming strategies. Tip: This is an exciting step, so have some fun with it! Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s goal is to use everything you’ve made so far to support creating names and actually create some personal names…
Goal: Create forms needed to make your first names Note: You might create more words or derivations to support your vision. Tip: Focus on what you need to create a few personal names to get started. Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s goal is to create the forms you need to actually make your first few personal…
Goal: Plan the forms you need for personal names Note: It may also be helpful to create a template to reflect your chosen strategy. Tip: Names may include common words, such as Daisy Finder or Big Canoe. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Decide which personal naming strategy (or strategies) you will move forward with and then make…
Goal: Explore strategies for personal names Note: Think about how your speakers will refer to each other as individuals. Tip: Personal names may include familial names. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try It can be quite interesting to think about names and how your speakers will refer to each other and how they will identify one individual from…
Goal: Create place names for communities Note: Consider how your speakers will name towns and spaces within towns. Tip: What makes a “town” depends on how your speakers live in communities! Work focus: Create/Make/List Consider how your speakers name towns (or however their communities are organized) and spaces within those communities. For instance, you can…
Goal: Create area-based place names Note: Focus on naming terrain features, such as rivers, creeks, mountains. Tip: These can be forms like Spring Meadow, Craggy Hill, Winding River, Barton’s Hollow. Work focus: Create/Make/List Create your first place names, focusing first on names that might be given to terrain features, such as rivers, mountains, or fields.…
