Re: Vocabulary Creation

 --- Kua Sai skrzypszy:

> Hey, Chiming in with a question on vocabulary
> design. How would I go about desiging a lexicon for my language? I
> would like this to be language that derives the terms from roots,
> rather then just randomly generate bunchs from a computer. I really
> can't understand the technique behind this process and would be very
> grateful if someone would go through and creat a few words with me,
> just so I can catch on to the details. Sorry to be Bothersome about
> stupid things! Thanks A Bunch!
> Matthew
Hello, Matthew. If this is your first message, then welcome to the club!

Your question seems simple, but the answer is incredibly difficult to give. My
first counter-question would be: what do you have already? Phonology, alphabet,
morphology, some words? A conculture perhaps? Or just some vague ideas?

Assuming that you are starting from scratch, you will have to answer a few
basic questions: what kind of speakers do you imagine for your language? Are
they human or alien? If they are human, are they European or something else,
and if they are alien, what do they look like and what kind of sounds can they
produce?
Second question: what is more important to you: written or spoken language? Do
you prefer to "hear" it or "see" it? Or both?
Next step is that you must decide what kind of sounds you want to incorporate
or exclude. And what kind of letters you like to see on paper.
And, of course, you must answer another basic question: do you want your
language to be as natural as possible, or do you prefer something more
"scientific"? Do you want to base your language on something existing (say,
Proto-Indo-European or Latin), or do you want to create something entirely new?
Your idea of working with roots rather than with finished words, is definitely
good. It will help you generate vocabulary in a more logical, natural, and
productive way. I will be happy to assist you, and so will many of us. But
first, we need to know some basic things about the kind of language you have in
mind.

Cheers,
Jan

=====
"Originality is the art of concealing your source." - Franklin P. Jones

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