Hello, and Be welcome.
Conlang Wars was an idea I had in 2013.
I know we are back here in 2010, but I'm working with a very long timeline. So, if you see notes on the future, they'll probably be noted with date and stuff like "around" a year or precise date.
It consists of more than one group trying to create a language.
The language can be/work anyhow the players want.
But it consists of a competition around this conlanging and you should take notes on everything -- and don't forget to put the date on the paper.
We are language enthusiasts, so you can use the game to learn and practice a specific language too, as a must.
I'm working on Akkia here at the blog, but it's not a lonely language.
I'm also working on Origa, the language of princesses, also used in diplomatic affairs.
And Ilaendar, the language of imortals, living a long night.
But the wizarding language is for this blog.
As such, I'll have some new words for you to play with.
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Basic Verbs and the Copula
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adda –– to be
atta –– to do, to make, to realize
et(ta) –– temporary to be, used for states
edda –– to have, to exist, to be located
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We also see "da" as the Copula.
Use all Basic Verbs meanings with this one.
The other Copula works only for "to be", and it is "ist", used with some formal pronouns and formal expressions, not likely found in daily conversation.
A "Verlaeksi", or "Conversation", is different from the internal dialogue.
But well, we all know the difference -- one we appreciate, the other we can't escape.
Try not to talk to yourself during one day.
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There are words derived from these Verbs too.
The word "addia" means a "being".
And we use "eddie" with the meaning of "existance".
I'm very fond of "etät", for a "state".
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We need words to form a "verlaeksi" properly.
This way I'm offering the word "doar", which is for "drum(s)", as the word of the day.
It was very difficult to find the meaning for this word.
I have to investigate word for word so to find the right meaning(s).
And it takes too much time and effort (But I like it! It's great).
This is the reason we are in this date, working things as they were by this time.
I'm not recreating things in here, only documenting them.
The Basic Verbs were in fact created in 2006.
Soon after that I was working with the Relationals named Narasalama.
We'll see them in next post, and they got this name because they estabilish "relations", which are very important.
Don't forget to take notes on the vocabulary you need.
Words like "schatka" or "kouta", for "house".
You need to sort words, and we use the d10 for that purpose.
Then, we use arithmancy -- a=1, b=2, c=3, j=1, k=2, etc.
Don't forget we need to change the words to fit into a phonology, the language you're creating must have some characteristics known, as how a syllable may be constructed, or how the words are put together.
For example, during the playtest a group sorted the vilains as "oslu", but the group doesn't wanted "lu" as a word because it's "33", then they changed it into "osla", and give it a meaning: -- "Order of the Sisters of lá", or "OSlá" -- it became a meaning that "lá" is a place, always singular and non capitalized.
They are a sect of vilains, but "lá" is a place acessible to everyone.
It's just a fictional place where the fantastic lives.
You see? We have to change the words to fit into our Story! That's it.
Some names can be decided without the dice.
We are looking for words that fit into a language, so not everyword is good.
I advice you to give experience points to players to use the language.
It happens 10 Xp is good, for every correct use of wording. If you see a try, but a fail, give 5 Xp. If you see a tremendously good use, 15 Xp is good.
15 Xp equals to 3 points of Stats, which gives a new +1 to that one statistic.
Use Tropes to travel into new meanings! Vilain, hero, sidekick, etc.
Then, you're going to have a language that fit into storytelling.
But you may have other oportunities to deal with goals.
A language must be important somehow, to increase the interest from the public, as a racial language, the language of an Empire, or as I did with Origa, which is the language of princesses -- so it must fit the needs of princesses: be beautiful, easy, and may be used into diplomatic affairs.
Or, maybe you would want something as Ilaendar, the language of imortals, which is full of "universal" words. Words can be heard in the whole universe, if you use special words for this purpose of broadcasting.
Akkia is the language of wizards and witches which mixes the influences of Japanese, Finnish and German into one language.
Whatever the reason you and the group find to your language, it's good.
All you need are rules, to decide things as grammar, syllable structure, what is Topic, how to derive new words, like with endings or articles, things a professional conlanger would do, in the depth you want.
You don't need to be a professional to create a new language.
You need to work as a team, the Master and the group.
Don't forget the Master have the final word, just as everything else during the game.
Then, try new examples, try to get words from the paper, and into speech.
Here at the blog, we're teaching Akkia, the wizarding language.
But well, you can apply these teachings to teach and learn any other language too.
The Conlang Wars is another game inside the game.
We already have that, The Great Game, so try to use it well for this purpose.
Two of three years after that, you're going to have a new language.
I like organizing the language into a spreadsheet, or excel table. It helps a lot to have a dictionary. I don't remember all words I created, they just surprise me all the time with the meanings I decided they have long ago.
Put the date on the paper, and it all work very well with that.
I'll share some Conlang Wars notes as soon as possible.
They're not all good enough to fit into a post, but I'll try doing it.
And we're going to move on to the next Classes.
I hope you're enjoying the reading here.
And,... Stay Plugged.
