Category: Organize/Plan/Structure

Goal: List any features that shift for modality or communication situation Note: Modality refers to the method of transmission while communication situation reflects purpose.  Tip: Use this as a guide for yourself as you begin creating longer pieces. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Spend time today making a list, table, or other guide that highlights the features…

Goal: Review and clean up the translation Note: Check to make sure the full text feels cohesive in your conlang. Tip: It can help to work backwards from your language back into English. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Now that you are finished with the translation, spend time today reviewing it and cleaning up any areas as…

Goal: Identify lexical gaps you need to fill in your conlang Note: Not all lexical gaps need to be filled with new words in your language. Tip: Sometimes rewording a section is your best option. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Now that you’ve gone through the text and filled in the words you have in your language,…

Goal: Fill in the lexical forms you already have in your conlang Note: In your templatic structure, add words from your language. Tip: Remember to look for synonyms or “rough” matches. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure So far you have created a template for translation, restructuring the clauses and rewording areas to better fit how your language…

Goal: Consider the semantics, rewording as necessary Note: Pay attention to any areas you highlighted yesterday. Tip: These include idioms, cultural expressions, and different ways of saying roughly the same thing. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Go back through your text carefully, considering the semantics of and constructions used in the clauses and paying close attention to…

Goal: Grammatically structure the text to fit your language Note: Restructure the sentences so constituents roughly match your word order. Tip: This is just the first pass. Highlight areas you want to focus on later. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Restructure the text you selected so that it roughly matches the expected word order of your language.…

Goal: Review and update your dictionary Note: Add any new words you’ve created as you worked on quotatives. Tip: If select verbs occur in quotatives, you can indicate them in their entries. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Today’s goal is to review and update your dictionary as necessary to add any new words you’ve created as you…

Goal: Plan how you will weave together dialogue and narration Note: Many stories move between narrative and reported speech. Tip: Think about the best way to connect these elements seamlessly. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Telling stories (whether they are spoken or written) often involves movement from background prose and narration into instances of dialogue and then…

Goal: Make a plan for expanding quotative constructions Note: Consider how you will add adverbial elements or noun modification. Tip: “Heavy” quotatives may behave differently than “light” ones. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Today’s goal is to figure out ways your language might allow for additional modification in quotative constructions, such as adverbial elements (e.g. adposition phrases,…

Goal: Organize your notes on (in)direct speech strategies Note: Make a list of any forms you need, whether it’s new verbs or a subordinator. Tip: If you also mark evidentiality, consider how those markers interact with (in)direct speech. Work focus: Organize/Plan/Structure Today’s goal is to organize the notes you’ve made over the past couple days…