Incorporating Conlangs Incorporating Conlangs Into Your LifeInto Your Life

Evangelizing the “Secret Vice” Evangelizing the “Secret Vice” to Family, Friends,to Family, Friends,

and the World At-largeand the World At-large

How Do We Define How Do We Define Conlanging?Conlanging?

“…“…the fitting of notion to oral symbol, and the fitting of notion to oral symbol, and pleasure in contemplating the new relation pleasure in contemplating the new relation establishedestablished…capable of developing into an …capable of developing into an art…”art…”

~ J.R.R. Tolkien’s definition~ J.R.R. Tolkien’s definition

of of “linguistic invention”“linguistic invention”

from from “A Secret Vice”“A Secret Vice”

The Value of The Value of Conlanging…Conlanging…First, creating a language allows one to better understand First, creating a language allows one to better understand

language itself...More importantly, it gets one thinking language itself...More importantly, it gets one thinking about the multifariousness and beauty of language, and about the multifariousness and beauty of language, and one who can appreciate this is less likely to one who can appreciate this is less likely to misunderstand, deprecate and stereotype those speaking misunderstand, deprecate and stereotype those speaking other languages, which is one of the main causes of other languages, which is one of the main causes of racism and ethnocentrism. In short, language creation is racism and ethnocentrism. In short, language creation is one of the keys to social harmony and world peace. If one one of the keys to social harmony and world peace. If one is going to take anything seriously, certainly world peace is going to take anything seriously, certainly world peace is it, and if so, shouldn't language creation be given some is it, and if so, shouldn't language creation be given some credit too?credit too?

~ David J. Peterson, ~ David J. Peterson, “The Conlang Manifesto” “The Conlang Manifesto” dedalvs.free.fr/notes/manifesto.phpdedalvs.free.fr/notes/manifesto.php

How Do We Share This How Do We Share This Value?Value?

1.1. Increase conlanging’s overall Increase conlanging’s overall awareness in societyawareness in society

2.2. Promote conlanging as a viable Promote conlanging as a viable “art”“art”

3.3. Demonstrate conlanging as a Demonstrate conlanging as a practical tool for writing, education, practical tool for writing, education, etc.etc.

So, How Do We Do It??So, How Do We Do It??

PRIVATEVENUES

Private VenuesPrivate Venues

• FamilyFamily

• FriendsFriends

• WorkWork

• MealsMeals

• PartiesParties

• HolidaysHolidays

Step 2…Step 2…

PUBLICVENUES

PRIVATEVENUES

Public VenuesPublic Venues

• Public Libraries and Public Libraries and LibrariansLibrarians

• Writers’ GroupsWriters’ Groups

• Public Schools and TeachersPublic Schools and Teachers

• Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

Public Venues…Public Venues…

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Private Venues

Libraries

Writers' Groups

Public Schools

Colleges andUniversities

RELATIVE DIFFICULT

Y OF BREAKING

INTO

Finally…Finally…

PUBLICVENUES

PRIVATEVENUES

POPULARCULTURE

Pop Culture…Pop Culture…

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Private Venues

Libraries

Writers' Groups

Public Schools

Colleges andUniversitiesPop Culture

RELATIVE DIFFICULT

Y OF BREAKING

INTO

Pop Culture ConlangsPop Culture Conlangs

• TolkienTolkien – books and films – books and films

• Okrand’s Okrand’s KlingonKlingon – TV, books, – TV, books, films, games, etc…films, games, etc…

• Star WarsStar Wars pseudo-conlangs – pseudo-conlangs – Wookiee, Huttese, Yoda’s OSV, etc…Wookiee, Huttese, Yoda’s OSV, etc…

Not Mutually Exclusive…Not Mutually Exclusive…

PUBLICVENUES

PRIVATEVENUES

POPULARCULTURE

Go ForthGo Forthand Spread the Good News!and Spread the Good News!

• Don’t be bashful about practicing the Don’t be bashful about practicing the “secret vice”“secret vice”

• Be open to people asking questionsBe open to people asking questions

• Take advantage of opportunitiesTake advantage of opportunities

• Start out small and build on your Start out small and build on your successsuccess

• Have fun!Have fun!

FiatFiat

Lingua!Lingua!