Is conlang a generator of conlangers? or a sustainer? (was: Oops!)

So, Christophe, it was studying a foreign language (and a dead one at that
with a complicated grammar) that gave you the idea to create your own?
This brings up another very rich question (I said this would be my last,
but oops I lied)... and that is: are almost all of us conlangers because
we caught the virus independently, or are there a growing number of
conlangers who have been inspired to create because they joined the list?
Now this would add fuel to my idea that an electronic network has not only
made an excellent forum for us, but is actually generating a new hobby.

My other question:  how much was Tolkien an influence on your decision to
invent a language?  I'm made curious by your story, Christophe, since it
mirrors my own (Spanish being the instigation).  I only learned about
Tolkien's books years after I had begun writing down early T.  and
starting a grammar.  This was my reaction:  stunned disbelief, joy, and
sullen resentment.  How could he do this to me?  How could he not only
create a language that was far more complex and beautiful than mine, but
also publish it and become famous?  With a gorgeous script to boot? I was
fourteen. Tolkien then sustained me and determined me, but he didn't give
me the idea.  Other folks have the same experience?  Sorry if I'm
generating just another FAQ.

Sally


On Tue, 6 Oct 1998, Christophe Grandsire wrote:

>         Oops! I forgot to add that I studied Latin for 7 years at school,
> and I learned a little bit of Ancient and Modern Greek by myself.
>
>         It's important because I remember that I had my first idea of
> creating a conlang in Latin class (what I created then was just a superset
> of Latin, but it was just the beginning). I don't know why it's in Latin
> class that I caught the virus, but I never recovered!
>
>                                                 Christophe Grandsire
>                                                 |Sela Jemufan Atlinan C.G.
>
> homepage: http://www.bde.espci.fr/homepage/Christophe.Grandsire/index.html
>
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Sally Caves
scaves@frontiernet.net
http://www.frontiernet.net/~scaves/teonaht.html

Rin euab ouarjo vopy vytssema tohda uo zef:
ar al aippara brottwav; ad kemban aril yllefo
brotwav fenom; vybbrysan brotwav an; he ad
edirmerem brotwav kronom.

"A cat and a man are not all that different.
Both are on my bed; both lay their head on their
arm; both have mustaches; both purr when they
sleep."
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