Re: tolkien?

> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Fri, 12 Dec 2003 17:08:37 EST
> From:    J Y S Czhang <czhang23@...>
> Subject: Re: tolkien?
>
>     Science-fiction and Postmodern/HyperModern poetry (as well
> as *EEK!* AuxLangs).
>
>     I found depictions of futuristic language - i.e. "StreetSpeak"
> in the sci-fi movie _Blade Runner_ & the _Star Trek_ series, etc. -
> sorely lacking in linguistic _veritas_. And it was not much better in
> written works either.
>     Reading Walter Meyer's _Aliens and Linguists:
> Language Study and Science Fiction_ - esp'ly the section on the
> future of English - is practically a handbook on how to create plausible
> linguistic creations.
>
>     In recent years, I have found some interesting poetry that has more
> sci-fi and
> linguistic components than most sci-fi.
>
>     Most recently, Christophe G. turned me onto the linguistic mangling in
> Japanese anime and manga.
You know, the funny thing is, reading about how Tolkien created all his
languages started to actually intimidate me after a bit.
My original inspiration was from an article in Dragon Magazine called
"Even Orcish is Logical" by Clyde Heaton.  It's a really basic look at
how to make a language for an RPG, but that's what I was into, so it got
me going.  Somewhere, probably at the bottom of a landfill, there's a
notebook filled with that first attempt.

Since then, I've gotten inspiration from a number of places, including
_Blade Runner_ and Frank Herbert's _Dune_ books.  Not to mention _The
Fifth Element_, _Stargate_, _Star Wars_, Klingon, _The Wizard of
Earthsea_, Enochian, _Alien Nation_, and H.P. Lovecraft.  Recently, I've
also read _Aliens and Linguists_ which is better than I can describe as
a source of inspiration.  But, also, since the web has been around,
there's also been Mark Rosenfelder's Virtual Verduria.

What I think will be interesting will be to see how many people are
inspired by the LOTR movies, which feature language quite prominently.

Thanks,
Jim
--
"It's better to light one candle
   than to curse the darkness."
-Chinese Proverb and The Motto of the Christophers
                      http://www.christophers.org