Re: CHAT: Profile of a Conlanger

On Fri, 14 May 1999, From Http://Members.Aol.Com/Lassailly/Tunuframe.Html wrote:

> I'm goggling at my screen trying to figure that out. Is conlanging safe for
> children when prompted by parents ? Don't take me wrong : I don't criticize
> you at all. I'm just wondering whether this has ever been experienced before.
> Mia too told us about her children knowing about her conlanging. I can't wait
> having children but I already wonder whether I should disclose that hobby to
> them. I'd think it's a peculiar activity that may not appeal to most children.
After all the "...I started conlanging/culturing/map making when I was a
wee nipper..." posts; I'm surprised (and puzzled) at this post.
Conlanging is no more than an extension of what comes natural to children,
i.e., "pretending" or "making believe".  Of course, conlanging (as we seem
to be doing it) is matured and more complex than what we did as kids, or
what our kids are doing now: but then again, professional musicians have
roots in 4 year olds banging on pots and blowing into tubes; generals have
their makings in children with stick swords adventuring through the
neighbourhood. I don't see _how_ you can think playing makebelieve _won't_
appeal to children.  Or are your children aliens with no concept of
"might-have-been".  It's 100% analagous to playing "Cowboys and Injuns"
(for my parents' generation) or "house" or "school" or whatever other game
may be played.  This is simply an extension into mental creativity, rather
than physical creativity.

And of course, it's experienced all the time.  Children are natural
conlangers, and so were we all.  Except that rather than Tokana or
Brithenig, we came up with English or French.  Why is there a problem with
extending this?  It'd be no different than teaching children any other
second language, or encouraging them to learn.  And don't forget, there
are children learning Esperanto as a first language; and Klingon as a
second.

Peculiar is as peculiar does: your children will develop knowing you do
conlang (as Irina's children do) and will see it as normal as whatever
else you do (shopping, church going, reading, etc.)  They will probably be
amazed when they learn that their friends' parents _don't_ conlang (and,
of course, be heartbroken when their friends call them "gay" because you
do conlang, and like as not because they do as well).

Padraic.

>
> Mathias
>