Re: OT: What makes a good conlang? (was Re: Super OT: Re: CHAT: JRRT)

>
>> It is more difficult to imagine the same for, say, Klingon,
>> Ebisedian or Tirelat (the latter would at least require a different
>> set of colour terms), let alone Ithkuil, Lojban or Morneau's language.
>
>But none of these were intended to be naturalistic, i.e. realistic as
>natlangs.
>
_______________
Believe it or not, about 5 or 6 years ago when I was entering the home
stretch on completing Ithkuil's grammar, I DID have a grand idea for
adapting it to an existing conculture.  Anyone remember the Star Trek:TNG
episode "Ensigns of Command" about the Sheliak?  Their language was
described as defying the Universal Translator and being a complete mystery
to Federation linguists.  Additionally, the Sheliak considered Federation
languages "irrational."  Since Ithkuil was designed from first principles
and operates almost nothing like natlangs, is designed to be ultra-
rational, and is highly logical, systematic, but (probably) unlearnably
complex and barely pronounceable, I figured it would make a good candidate
for Sheliak.  I devised a clever "back story" on how Federation linguists
finally were able to decipher it (via an informant "Goshevan," the leader
of the human colony on the planet being evacuated in the episode, who we
learn stayed behind only to be captured by the Sheliak.  Stung by the
clever manner in which Picard beat them via the Armens treaty, they realize
they've underestimated humans and decide to keep Goshevan alive for study
and experimentation. AS for their ultimate test of human potential:
determine if they can teach Goshevan the Sheliak language!  After 15 years,
they succeed and they return him to Federation territory).  I ended up
writing up ten pages of notes on Sheliak physiology and biology, basic
psychology, culture, and other details, then actually adapted Ithkuil to
the "variable flow" multicolored hexagonal writing system shown in the
first few minutes of the episode.  I got as far as composing a letter of
introduction to Paramount Corp. when, alas, reality overtook idealism and I
realized I was dreaming when it came to the idea of getting Paramount to
publish a "Introductory Sheliak Grammar" a la Okrand's Klingon Dictionary.
Thus, Ithkuil went back to being solely an "engelang" as Jörg put it.

--John Quijada

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