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: Decide if you want demonstrative pronouns Note: These forms may differ from demonstrative modifiers. Tip: Consider your pronoun system as a whole. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Demonstrative pronouns differ from demonstrative modifiers in that they stand alone. In English, the modifier and pronoun forms are identical, so it’s difficult to see any difference when “those”…
Goal: Update your dictionary Note: Include your new pronouns. Tip: Focus on entering the main forms. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share To wrap up the focus on personal pronouns (there are other pronoun forms to come…), today’s task is to update your dictionary, adding entries for your new pronoun forms. If you have already done that, congratulations!…
Goal: Create a personal pronoun chart Note: Include any inflectional forms needed. Tip: Summarize predictable forms. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Now that you’ve created all the forms and reviewed them several times over, today’s goal is to make a reference chart of personal pronoun forms for your language documentation. Having a chart will make it easier…
Goal: Organize your pronoun system notes Note: Focus on how pronouns interact with inflections. Tip: Reduced forms can look quite different. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure I know, I know, I know. I’ve asked you to spend quite a few days creating and thinking about pronoun forms, yet I’m asking you to spend today reviewing everything you’ve…
Goal: Create third-person pronouns, if needed Note: Semantic gender differs from grammatical gender. Tip: Not all languages have third-person forms. Work focus: Create/Make/List As a first note, you may have decided against having any third-person pronouns in your language. If that’s the case, you can start jotting down ideas for how you might use demonstrative…
In Week 12 of the Conlang Year prompts, you will create more personal pronouns, document your pronouns thus far (including a chart to show off all the forms of your personal pronouns!), and create demonstrative pronoun forms. Pronoun forms may feel small, but they are mighty. These forms will show up more than any noun…
Goal: Create second-person pronouns Note: Possessive pronouns may differ from modifiers. Tip: When defining in English, be sure to indicate number. Work focus: Create/Make/List Build on the work you did yesterday to create second-person pronoun forms. Everything from yesterday’s prompt applies to today (e.g. remember to create all the inflected forms you need for your…
Goal: Create first-person pronouns Note: Pronouns are prone to suppletive forms. Tip: Pronouns may hold inflections lost in the noun system. Work focus: Create/Make/List Today’s task is to actually create your first-person pronouns! If you don’t have any nominal inflections in your language, you may only have one form to create (which will then be…
Goal: Brainstorm ideas for personal pronouns Note: Languages typically have first- and second-person distinctions, at the least. Tip: These may be old forms with no sources. Work focus: Learn/Brainstorm/Try Personal pronouns is a series of pronouns that indicate grammatical person. The table below describes the basic referents of personal pronouns for singular and plural forms—that…
Goal: Update your dictionary with demonstrative forms Note: Keep a list of grammaticalized forms. Tip: Remember to add entries for any new forms. Work focus: Solidify/Write/Share Update your dictionary to include the demonstrative forms you created—and be sure to enter any new lexical words you made to support the system. As a small piece of…
