Debra K - July 27, 2010 writes:

I`ve always been interested in coming up with new languages, in particular for a brand new world I had been creating years ago. Naturally it probably wouldn`t do to create too many languages and I ain`t no Tolkien either! But it is definitely something I would like to do (if I could)yet I wouldnt know where to start. Would I need to be gifted at languages to even consider doing something like this? What`s everyones thoughts on this?

Tina B - July 27, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra,

My sister and I have a language we use when we don't want people to know what we're saying. We used to use it in front of our kids, but they soon learnt it and they can now talk in it too.

My husband can understand what I'm saying when I use it, so I can talk to him in it, but he can't answer back in it, lol.

Ours is still based on English, but with the insertion of certain letters in between each syllable of each word.

So 'my name is Tina' is 'mulugy nulugame ulugis Tuluginuluga' for instance.

It would have to be a language that was relatively easy to pick up and still understandable.

Tina

Catherine H - July 28, 2010 replied:

Wow, Tina, I can imagine that would sound impressive when spoken at normal speed! Don't think I'd be able to keep up with something like that! Creating a whole new language would be really interesting to do, but not sure on the best way to go about it. It would need some basis in a current language I'd guess, if only to make it easier for yourself. For fantasy stuff that I think up, I always find naming things quite hard or giving people or "beings" unusual names, but I imagine that all the words JK Rowling created sounded silly to her at first! Good luck with it and feel free to try anything you create on us :)

Debra K - July 28, 2010 replied:

Yes, I know Tolkien based one of his elven languages on Welsh, or at least it had a welsh lilt to it. Hmmm...I`ll have to have a good think about that one. Thanks for responding. If anyone else has any other ideas or opinions please feel free to share.

Samyukta S - August 16, 2010 replied:

I used to think I was the only one who thought I wanted to make a new island country and have a new language in it. Though I really wanted it to be voracious, and have words from all different languages I know or rather a language made of words that are basically random letters with no connection to any existing language.(some thing like windings in MS Word!!) That's how the proper languages must have been made, don't you think so?! All words are random syllables and even sound funny and strange if you speak them aloud again and again with a frame of mind that you have to break the word into atomic level pieces! Best of luck for the new language!

Antony B - August 19, 2010 replied:

If, as I assume, this is for a book then keep the languages limited. Very few people read all of the language-based appendices in Lord of the Rings, and the publishers weren't keen on having them at all. Star Trek fans get frustrated at the script writers when they fail to make the characters speak 'proper' Klingon. Making up a language sounds fun, but could detract from a good story. (In my opinion).

Samyukta S - August 19, 2010 replied:

Well Antony, Debra started this post so I really don't know what was in her mind but,I sure replied in context to my childhood fantasy of owning an Island and on and on...

Debra K - August 19, 2010 replied:

You know what? It seems to me that after all there is such a thing as having too much imagination. It was stupid of me to even consider a new language. I`ll leave it at that.

Samyukta S - August 21, 2010 replied:

Well Debra it is your decision but imagining or fantasising is not really bad. I fell it keeps the human in you alive! I read this some where and I made this my motto-" Imagination is the power you cannot even imagine."
Anyway Debra, I am from India where are you from?

Debra K - August 26, 2010 replied:

I`m from the UK.

Samyukta S - August 26, 2010 replied:

Do you have a blog Debra? The url to mine is http://samimagines.blogspot.com/. I would like to follow yours if you have one.

Debra K - August 31, 2010 replied:

No Samyukta I do not have a blog.