History Main / Conlang

* ''[[{{Series/Zoom}} ZOOM]]'' had Ubbi Dubbi.

In RealLife, the term conlang can be validly used to describe languages constructed for use by a real-world groups (see [[EsperantoTheUniversalLanguage Esperanto]].)

* '''Foreign conversion.''' The language is closely based on a language foreign to the audience, but only differing slightly (in either words or structure) from its derivative. May include special letters and phonemes that are not found in the native language, and require a special pronunciation guide to be spoken properly. Not the same as [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign foreign-sounding]] gibberish.

* [[{{Series/Zoom}} ZOOM]] had Ubbi Dubbi.

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* JRRTolkien (''{{The Lord of the Rings}}'', etc.): The guy was a language professor -- he [[ShownTheirWork knew his stuff]]. He created a world full system of languages, language families and dialects ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Middle-earth#List_of_languages just read through them.]]), with an internal history, along with several scripts and modes in which they could be written. Although most of them are not actually fully detailed languages, several are more detailed, and at least the Elven languages Quenya and Sindarin are complete enough to be learned and spoken. Indeed, the (Elvish) languages came first, and the setting in which they could be spoken came after.

* ''JadeEmpire'' has some NPCs speak "the Old Tongue" (Tho Fan), a weird, not-very-Chinese-sounding, Jabba-the-Hutt language specially invented for the game by a Canadian linguist. This was apparently just for "flavour" since it has no relevance in the game at all, and one wonders why they bothered.

* The DCU has not one, but two alphabet ciphers that translate to one of 26 Roman Alphabet Letters: [[{{Superman}} Kryptonian]] and [[{{LegionOfSuperHeroes}} Interlac]]. It's explicitly stated that English sounds different than Kryptonian (which has been hinted as vaguely Swedish sounding), which sounds different from Interlac, despite having the same amount of symbols to depict those sounds, and that each symbol matches an English symbol as well.

No, they did not just ''say'' that the [[TheGreys Alien]]/[[OurElvesAreBetter Elf]]/BeePeople speak a different language, they [[DoingItForTheArt actually made up]] an exact vocabulary and grammatic format, one that can be translated into English (or equivalent). This is where TranslatorMicrobes are abandoned and a dictionary given to the reader. [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign Gibberish]] does not count as a language, regardless of whether or not the other characters say they can understand it, and using a mere handful of [[SpeakingSimlish alien words]], even if you give them a translation, does not count either.

** Indeed, there are two competing Klingon languages (see also Diane Duane's Vulcan language in Literature, above). The second is much more functionally extensive, but the first has its fans.

* '''Foreign conversion.''' The language is closely based on a language foreign to the audience, but only differing slightly (in either words or structure) from its derivative. May include special letters and phonemes that are not found in the native language, and require a special pronunciation guide to be spoken properly. Not to be confused with [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign foreign-sounding]] gibberish.

** So functional indeed, that they [[strike:translated]] found the original [[http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/The_Klingon_Hamlet Klingon Hamlet.]]

No, they did not just ''say'' that the Alien/[[OurElvesAreBetter Elf]]/BeePeople speak a different language, they actually made up an exact vocabulary and grammatic format, one that can be translated into English (or equivalent). This is where TranslatorMicrobes are abandoned and a dictionary given to the reader. Gibberish does not count as a language, regardless of whether or not the other characters say they can understand it, and using a mere handful of alien words, even if you give them a translation, does not count either.

The more dedicated Fandoms will often design languages -- or at least large vocabulary lists -- of of otherwise unorganized languages. (See {{Fictionary}}.)

* '''Foreign conversion.''' The language is closely based on a language foreign to the audience, but only differing slightly (in either words or structure) from its derivative. May include special letters and phonemes that are not found in the native language, and require a special pronunciation guide to be spoken properly.

* '''Newspeak.''' A language derived from our own with limited change in the actual words, usually as an advanced form of FutureSlang. Overlaps with StrangeSyntaxSpeaker.

* ''[[NineteenEightyFour 1984]]'' does this with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspeak Newspeak]], which is not a new language but a degrading hypersymplification of English. Bonus points because an exact guide for the simplification is given.

* The ''ArtemisFowl'' series has lines of Gnommish and Centaurian running along the bottom of each page (omitted in some U.S. editions.) Rather than being graphemes of a full-on ConLang they constitute a CypherLanguage offering an EasterEgg to those who decode them. There are a few spoken Grommish words such as "d'arvit", which is an emphatic swear word.

* [[http://www.zompist.com/ Zompist]] is the home of the online version of ''The Language Construction Kit'', which is an excellent resource for getting into conlanging. The site's home page also includes a link for purchasing the printed version, which expands upon the online version, including several chapters exclusive to the printed version.

** Actually the Ancient Language is Argot/Direct Translation, above, or in other words just an elaborate cypher for English.
*** Admittedly, I don't have any of the books in front of me to check, but I do remember the structure being different, and it definitely has rules of grammar ([[spoiler: A grammatical error Eragon makes becomes a major plot point later on]]).
*** Rules of grammar that are conveniently similar to English (such as the one the above spoiler depends on, "shielded" being both the past tense and the passive participle).

* [[ExecutiveMeddling At the order of the NBC execs]], [[SidAndMartyKrofftProductions Sid and Marty Krofft]] hired a Ph.D. linguist to create a language for the proto-human Pakuni in LandOfTheLost, with a grammar, syntax, and two hundred word vocabulary. The full language is included as an extra on the Season One DVD.

* [[ExecutiveMeddling At the order of the NBC execs]], Sid and Marty Krofft hired a Ph.D. linguist to create a language for the proto-human Pakuni in LandOfTheLost, with a grammar, syntax, and two hundred word vocabulary. The full language is included as an extra on the Season One DVD.

* ''StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' uses the [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Mando'a Mandalorian language]], developed with a functional grammar, syntax and several thousands of words.

** For the Huttese language, the most common alien language in movies and video games, translations of multiple words and phrases are known, but the lack of grammar of syntax makes a word-by-word reconstruction of the language impossible.

* ''StarWars'' uses the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandalorian Mandalorian language]], apparently still under development.