Artificial Languages: A Deep Dive
Though you may not have heard of the official term “artificial language,” you’ve most likely encountered one before. Artificial languages are languages that have been intentionally designed for a specific purpose, and are also known as conlangs (constructed languages). Whether they are created for a secret code or a fictional universe, the development of these languages does not happen over the course of thousands of years, as opposed to the evolution of natural languages. Esperanto, as the world’s most widely spoken constructed language, is a famous example. It was designed by Dr. L. L. Zamenhof in 1887 with the purpose of allowing people who speak different languages to communicate efficiently, as its accessibility and simple grammar make it easy to learn. Famous conlangs in media include Klingon from Star Trek, Quenya from Tolkien’s creation, and Valyrian from A Song of Ice and Fire. This article will discuss why artificial languages are significant in storytelling, the process of creating one, and their impact on pop culture.
Can you imagine what reading The Lord of the Rings or watching Thor might have been like without a fictional language to match the imaginary world? A crucial sense of immersion would be lost, and experiencing these famous stories would not be nearly as special. Language itself elevates human expression. There is an undeniable beauty found within all languages which should be equivalently replicated in fiction. One of the greatest aspects of storytelling is the ability to build a world. Though Middle-earth and Asgard are obviously fictional, fantasy worlds mimic our reality, merely with supernatural elements mixed in. The intricacy and detail behind world-building can make the story more tangible and believable, transporting the audience into a mystical universe. A consistent, realistic constructed language, as an essential part of designing fictional people and culture, elevates this experience further. In the TV series Game of Thrones, Dothraki is a conlang created by language inventor and linguist David J. Peterson. The production of this language was meant to encapsulate the nomadic nature of the Dothroki tribe and was inspired by languages from historic nomadic cultures.
While artificial languages can provide a more riveting and immersive experience for the audience, the process of creating them is complex and requires consideration of many linguistic elements. Marc Okrand, the creator of the world’s most popular fictional language (Klingon in Star Trek), provides a step-by-step analysis into this process. Okrand initially sat down with different phonetic sounds from various languages, including Japanese, Arabic, and Old Norse, and compiled them into a completely unique language. He also designed Klingon's syntax, which uses the rare object-verb-subject word order. According to a 2018 interview with CNN, Orkand remarks how he strictly avoided creating new words for the dictionary that relied heavily on the plot or culture of Klingons because it could disrupt a new plot further down the franchise.
Due to the success of these major fictional universes, super-fans have taken it upon themselves to learn and teach the languages in their favorite fantasy worlds. Online resources make this possible—in 2017, language learning app Duolingo released their course on High Valyrian to Game of Thrones fans. The impact of artificial languages on pop culture is significant, leading to a deeper sense of connection and community amongst fanbases. Without the existence of such inspirational and creative languages, a sense of magic would be lost from our favorite imaginary books, shows, and movies. Constructed languages provide a unique sense of immersion in fantasy worlds and connectivity with other fans for the vast population of modern day consumers of media.
