Worldbuilding Part 4: Language
If you have ever taken a foreign language class, you know how complicated it is to learn a new language. But what if you need to write your own? That task can seem daunting, and where exactly does one start? Today I have some helpful tips and resources to building your own languages.
1. Start small. Every language starts with the same simple set of characters: an alphabet. Without an alphabet, your language is formless and has no way of expressing itself. If it’s your first attempt at making a language, you can make it from a form of your own native tongue, alter the symbols as you see fit. For more advanced language-builders, dive right in to creating all new characters for your alphabet!
2. Grammar is your friend. Language is nothing without structure. If you have taken a language class before, pull out your old materials or look up language help online, like from the app DuoLingo. If you’ve never learned another language, I encourage you to take a cheap or free course. Get a handle on how the language is structured, how the vocabulary is arranged. Use that knowledge to make the structure for your own language and develop your vocabulary.
3. Like people, language is not homogeneous. Remember that you may have variations in your language based on geography or class. Don’t be afraid to include it!
4. Every language has its own unique phrases, idioms, and exclamatory remarks. Think of what fits in with your culture, and use these phrases as needed. For example, in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, characters often use terms like “dragon-eaten” or “by Anwar’s elbow”. These phrases refer to mythology, religion, and reality of the world Stengl has created. What is appropriate for your culture?
5. Keep the sounds in mind. Think about how the language will sound. Do you want it full of harsh syllables like in German or Klingon? Do you want smooth, pretty sounding words like Elvish? Focus creation of your vocabulary on the sounds the words make as a whole.
I know it can be intimidating to dive into language creation, but it’s up to you if you even want to go there. You can get away with just using snippets of made up language, as long as it makes sense, or no made-up language at all, if it works for the story. You could even hire someone interested in it to create the language for you! Just let them know what kind of sound you want the language to have. But if you are interested, take a look at some of these resources to make it easier:
The Language Construction Kit
This post from The Council of Elrond
This CNN article by David Peterson (creator of the Dothraki language)
Previously: Introduction - Setting - People
