Re: tips for new conlangers

Yoon Ha Lee wrote:
>
> On Fri, 29 Jun 2001, Robert Hailman wrote:
>
> > "[Adam K. Shuck]" wrote:
> > > Hey - this is Adam.  I'm not a new conlanger, but I was wondering if
> > > anyone
> > > had any tips to help me start up a new language.  I have some good
> > > ideas, but
> > > I can't seem to begin the outline of the language.  Thanks.
> >
> > Well, it's all up to you, but...
> >
> > Have you checked out Mark Rosenfelder's Language Construction Kit? I
> > don't have the exact link handy, but you can get to it from
> > www.zompist.com. That's a good place to start.
>
> I second that recommendation.  And the outline below is a pretty good
> approximation to how I work it.  :-)  I tend to start with phonology
> because I want to be able to work with *sounds* before I can do anything
> else.  My mind just doesn't handle abstracted patterns very well.
Actually, I did start with a phonology, but it's written out in a way I
can't easily replicate here. However, I didn't come up with any words or
affixes or whatever for Ajuk, at least, until I had the basic outline
made up. Each language is a bit different, though.

> A book I've found very helpful in terms of offering questions for
> contemplating/filling in is Thomas Payne's _Describing Morphosyntax_,
> which was recommended at various points by various other members on the
> list.  It's worth at least looking at if you can track down a copy.
Hmm. I've never heard of this one. I'll have to see if I can't find a
copy.

--
Robert