Building a conlang (constructed language) can be a fascinating and creative endeavor. Below, I'll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to build a conlang from scratch.
Before diving into the details, consider the purpose and scope of your conlang. Ask yourself questions like:
Decide on the sounds your conlang will use. Start by choosing consonants and vowels from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) or create new ones. Consider factors like voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation. Develop phonotactics, which determine the allowed sequences of sounds in your language. This will form the basis of your conlang's phonology.
Develop the grammar of your conlang, including its syntax (word order), morphology (word structure), and grammatical features. Decide if your language will be isolating (few affixes), synthetic (many affixes), or agglutinative (each affix has a single meaning). Determine the rules for noun and verb inflections, tenses, cases, and other grammatical elements.
Create the vocabulary of your conlang. Start with basic words and gradually expand into more complex terms. Consider the culture, environment, or fictional context of your conlang to influence word creation. You can also derive new words from existing ones through affixation, compounding, or other word formation processes.
Establish the rules for sentence structure and syntax. Determine the word order (subject-verb-object, verb-subject-object, etc.), and consider how your conlang handles adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and other sentence components. Decide how questions, negations, and other sentence types are formed.
Consider how your conlang handles pragmatics and discourse. Define politeness levels, honorifics, and other social aspects of communication. Think about how your language expresses emotions, sarcasm, irony, or other forms of non-literal meaning.
Decide on a writing system for your conlang. It can be an alphabet, a syllabary, a logography, or a combination of systems. Design the script, characters, and rules for writing in your conlang. If you prefer, you can use an existing writing system like the Latin script or Devanagari.
Use it. The best way to test a conlang is to use it. This means speaking it, writing it, and translating it into other languages. As you use your conlang, you will start to identify areas that need improvement.
Get feedback from others. Once you have a basic version of your conlang, share it with other people and get their feedback. This could include other conlangers, linguists, or simply friends and family. Feedback from others can help you identify areas where your conlang is unclear, inconsistent, or simply doesn't work.
Compare it to natural languages. Another way to test your conlang is to compare it to natural languages. This could involve looking at the phonology, grammar, and vocabulary of other languages. By comparing your conlang to natural languages, you can see how it stacks up and identify areas where it needs improvement.
Iterate and improve. The process of testing and refining a conlang is iterative. This means that you will need to constantly go back and make changes based on the feedback you receive. Don't be afraid to make changes, even major ones. The goal is to create a conlang that is both functional and enjoyable to use.
Create a website or blog. This is a great way to share information about your conlang, including its phonology, grammar, and vocabulary. You can also use your website or blog to post articles, stories, and other creative works written in your conlang.
Join online conlanging communities. There are a number of online communities where you can connect with other conlangers and share your creations. These communities can be a great way to get feedback on your conlang and find people who are interested in learning it.
Post about your conlang on social media. This is a great way to reach a wider audience. When you post about your conlang, be sure to include clear and concise information about it, as well as links to your website or blog.
Create videos or podcasts about your conlang. This is a great way to engage people's attention and make your conlang more accessible. When you create videos or podcasts, be sure to speak clearly and use visuals to help people understand your conlang.
Attend conlanging conferences and workshops. This is a great way to meet other conlangers and get feedback on your conlang. You can also learn about new conlanging techniques and resources.
Make sure your conlang is well-documented. This means having a clear and concise grammar and vocabulary. You should also have examples of your conlang being used in different contexts, such as stories, poems, and songs.
Be patient. It takes time to build an audience for your conlang. Don't expect to become famous overnight. Just keep working on your conlang and sharing it with others, and eventually you will find people who are interested in learning it.
No matter which methods you choose, be sure to be persistent and creative. It takes time and effort to build an audience for your conlang, but it is definitely possible.
Building your conlang should be enjoyable. If you're not having fun, it will show. So relax, be yourself, and let your passion for your conlang shine through.