Re: How to start to make a language?

--- In conlang@y..., Carlos Reyes <charles_kings_swept@Y...> wrote:
>
> Hello Everybody :
Welcome to the world of conlanging!



> I have sent many emails about how to start to make a language.
> I'm going to start Mäpnéet o Mapnêt. But I have not any knowledge
> of phonetic and grammar. And , I hope you can give me an advice,
> since you have greater knowledge of the area.
Have you already looked at the language creation kits by Rosenfelder
and Flores?  They're like standard works on basic conlanging...

     http://www.zompist.com/kit.html
     http://www.angelfire.com/ego/pdf/ng/lng/how/index.html

It would be a good idea to start with the phonology of the language.
Decide which sounds you want to use, and how you are going to write
them in Latin letters.

Try to keep the notation as simple and effective as possible --
sowing unnecessary apostrophes and accents everywhere doesn't do any
good to a language.  Unless, of course, you want your language to
be as weird as possible, which is something only seasoned
conlangers like Christophe Grandsire can pull off without going
crazy.  ;-)

What exactly do those diacritics in Mäpnéet and Mapnêt mean?  If
they are not really required by your phonology, you might be better
off without them.  Too many sci-fi writers "invent" alien languages
just by adding ap'ostr'phe's or äcçénts to the written words without
even pronouncing them differently.  =P



> I am thirteen years old and this one is the first language that
> I am going to create.
One is never too young to begin conlanging!  =)



> I speak spanish very fluently, because is my native language - Hablo español
> muy fluido , porque es mi lengua nativa.
Speaking more than one language fluently is a very good premise for
conlanging.  It will help you to avoid taking features of your
native language for granted and falling into its patterns without
ever noticing.

Happy conlanging,



-- Christian Thalmann

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