Creating a conlang can be inspired by other works and hobbies, such as playing D&D and being influenced by Tolkien's use of Elvish in the story.
Developing writing systems for conlangs involves considering historical evolution, exploring unique concepts, and effectively representing language features.
Deep dives
Getting into ConLanging
The guest discusses how they first got into conlanging by playing D&D and being inspired by the way Tolkien used Elvish in the story. This sparked an interest in creating a language for their own game. They also talk about how they started their YouTube channel as a hobby without the intention of amassing a large audience.
Developing Writing Systems
The guest shares their approach to developing writing systems for their conlangs. They mention their interest in historical evolution and deriving writing systems, as well as the challenges they faced in creating a script that effectively represents their intended language features. They also discuss their experience with combining different script types and exploring unique concepts like encoding complex syllables within a single glyph.
Transition and Abandonment of Conlangs
The guest talks about their process of transitioning and sometimes abandoning conlangs. They mention the importance of having clear goals for a conlang and how conflicting goals can lead to dissatisfaction. They also explain how they determine when to abandon a conlang, often due to the language no longer fitting the niche or cultural context of their conworld. They emphasize learning and improvement over time.
Future Plans and Advice
The guest shares insights into their future plans for their YouTube channel, including the possibility of exploring alien conlangs and merging different themes. They advise conlangers to have clear goals, understand that conlanging is a learning process, and to consider the historical origins of writing systems when developing scripts.