Re: proposed conlang database & my classification

http://conlang.alkaline.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Constructed Languages List [mailto:CONLANG@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU]On
Behalf Of Almaran Dungeonmaster
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 12:19 AM
To: CONLANG@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU
Subject: Re: proposed conlang database & my classification

>Where should I categorize languages which are written merely as a an aid to
>conculturing? Some people create a conculture to make conusers for their
>conlangs, while I, on the other hand, create concultures per se, and write
>conlangs merely to give more depths to my concultures (i.e. I do have
>concultures with no conlangs, but I don't have any conlangs that were not
>based on a previous conculture).
that would be under the artistic->scifi/fantasy category.

>Also, it might be an idea to partially use chexk-boxes instead of radio
>buttons in those places where options are not exclusive.
>E.g., when asking for neutral sentence structure, it is either SVO or VSO
>(or some other option) but never more than one (is it?), while on the other
>hand, there may be multiple motivations for creating a language, and it is
>imo to limiting too allows only one option here, so "check any which apply"
>should be in order.
it would be a little harder to program, but i can see it being useful, so i
think i will do it that way. I was originally planning on using a drop-down
menu approach.

>Maybe you should change that to "alien phonology" for languages containing
>sounds which cannot be  pronounced by humans. For instance, on my world of
>Almaran, many languages are not racially bound but culturally bound. As
>there exist mixed cultures (in various proportions) it is hard for me to
>tell whether to classify a language as alien or not, even if it is
primarily
>spoken by an elven population. One of these languages is only a written
>language, was designed by elves (aliens) but is now mainly used by
humans...

I redescribed the two categories to fit your situation better:

sci-fi/fantasy/conculture (human or alien)
sci-fi/fantasy/conculture (only alien-speakable)

>> I created two categories out of the blend (derivation method) category at
>> your suggestion:
>>
>> -source blend (words borrowed multiple language sources)
>> -word blend (words blended from multiple sources)
>
>This is typically a category where you should allow multiple choices.
my plan for the classification sections was to have a primary and a
secondary classification.

>> I created two categories out of the random (derivation method) category:
>>
>> -arbitrary generation
>> -automated random generation
>
>I don't have your previous e-mail at hand, but was there a category for
>"logical derivation from phonology" oslt? That's how I usually create my
>vocab: I start with my phonology, see what words I can create trying to
>reach the good ratio betweenoptimal use of phonemes and clearly distinct
>morphemes). Then I assign meanings based on the culture, where
>culturally/historically  important concepts are assigned to less complex
>morphemes and less frequently used meaning to the more complex morphemes.
>Maarten
if you ever want to see the current state of it, just go to the webpage,
which i have a link to at the top and bottom of almost every e-mail i send
to the list. I redescribed the "categorical generation" option to be
"categorical/logical generation".

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