Re: Has anyone made a real conlang?

 --- Andrew Nowicki skrzypszy:

> Those who do not have a computer cannot use this mailing list.
Oh, that depends. Until a few months ago, I had a old computer at home without
Internet connection, and the list stuff I did at home. Well, needless to say
that I couldn't afford to make whole web pages at work.

> Making a web file and sending it to a website is a trivial task.
> You can make a text file if you cannot make an HTML file.
That depends as well. To be honest, I used to generate HTML with word, and was
heavily criticised for that. Of course, I had no idea what a page would look
like on a Linux computer. At the moment, I am trying to learn some HTML, but it
goes slowly.
As for text files: most people here wouldn't even open them, so why bother?

> JvS> In order words, you call us liars! I am curious what
> JvS> kind of proof your idea is based on...
>
> I spent a few hours comparing the stated vocabulary
> size with the one posted on the web. I did not count
> every word, just made a rough estimate.
Quite possible. But don't forget that there are a few ins and outs to
vocabulary files that do not (or to a far lesser extent) apply to grammar
pages. First of all, vocabulary is changing and growing constantly. Grammar
evolves to a certain point, and then it is fixed. You can of course always make
small modifications or additions, but basically nothing changes. That's why I
put the grammar online as soon as I have it done.
However, vocabulary is a different story. Personally I have the lexicons for my
languages in MS Access files. Now, it is absolutely not easy to convert an
Access file into HTML. Besides, these files are in Dutch. So, before putting it
on the web, I must: first translate everything; then convert it into a
document; edit it nicely; subsequently HTML-ize it; and finally upload it. And
then imagine that the same operation has to be repeated every time I want to
add new words! I *will* do it, eventually, but not before I have lots and lots
of time.
BTW I'm quite sure others have that problem as well. Not even to mention the
fact that many others have their notes on many different sheets of paper stored
in many different places. No, when I think of it, I think the actual number of
word in a language could actually be a lot HIGHER than langmaker.com says.

> Computer programs are called may names, depending on
> their size and purpose. An operating system is bigger than
> most application programs, which are still bigger than
> functions (subroutines). There are games, spreadsheets,
> and many other programs. These names are used because they
> are useful. I do believe there is need to describe conlangs
> more precisely than just artlangs and IALs.
Oh, but such distinctions exist already, although they usually don't deal with
the size of a language but rather with its character or its purpose: conlang,
artlang, auxlang, loglang, lablang, modlang, a priori, a posteriori,
philosophical, experimental, personal, stealth, superset, etc.etc.etc. In my
opinion such subdivisions are far more interesting and adequate than those
based on size.

> By the way, I have not accused anyone of anything.
You called us "arrogant", you stated that we tend to give false numbers for
vocabulary size on langmaker.com, thereby implicitly calling us liars or
frauds. Concretely, you accused Mau of claiming > 2000 words while in reality
there were only 473 (or 493, I don't remember).

> JvS> Do you mean that any artist who prefers to create
> JvS> his own works instead of participating in group
> JvS> projects is arrogant?
>
> Of course, not, but I dear to say (no matter how unpopular
> it is) that most people I know are either arrogant and have
> short attention span.
I, on the other hand, dare to say that most people I know are intelligent
people with a broad range of interest, who are not arrogant at all, and most of
them have an extremely long attention span.

> People in general cannot work as team members.
Depends on the activity. As a programmer, I have no problem at all with team
work; I enjoy it. But creating art (in my case music or conlanging) is such a
highly person thing, that I would never be able (or wish) to do it groupwise.

> You can either have them on your throat or under your heel.
That depends fully on the character of the people involved. Of course, it is
important that people fit well within the team, from the point of view of both
their personalities and their capabilities.

> Internet could be used for many exciting projects if people were more
> cooperative.
AFAIK this happens already.

Jan

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

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