Conlanguages

Conlangs & computer games, part 2: The reconstruction of Babel

by
Sennaar Cover Firkant 1

We just can’t let that tower go, can we? When it comes to linguistics in pop culture, and to conlangs in particular, there’s no getting around the Tower of Babel. Chants of Sennaar is a video game released in 2023 by the French studio Rundisc, and it does not bother with sublety when taking its influence from the story of the Tower of Babel. But the confidence is well-earned, as it puts a spin on the story’s themes and makes great use of the medium’s interactivity and the unique opportunities that conlanging provides.

This is part two of a serial about conlangs – i.e. invented languages – and their role in the world of video games. Part one can be … ↪

Conlangs & computer games, part 1: The gaming giants

by
Splatoon screenshot 1 1

Conlangs, or constructed languages, is a category of languages deliberately created by individuals or groups – as opposed to the seven or eight thousand natural languages on this planet. My interest in conlangs is already well-documented here on Lingoblog, but I also have an interest in games: Board games, word games, video games, and the mechanisms which make all of them work.

For the next couple of Wednesdays, I will be discussing a few video games which use conlangs in interesting ways.

I’ve been wanting to write this mini-serial after I noticed a small trend. It seems to me that game developers in recent years have been experimenting with the interactive potential of unique language systems, and this has

… ↪

Learning about language by creating a language – a fun and creative approach to teaching linguistics

by
Screenshot 2023 01 13 at 09.22.15

9780198829881

If you are reading this blogpost, you probably know what linguistics is. However, most people don’t know what to make of the term or have only a vague idea – it’s something about grammar, maybe? Those unknowing people would probably never choose a course titled ‘Introduction to Linguistics’ as an elective, as it sounds either too dry or too daunting. But what if introductory linguistics courses were taught under another cover – that of creating your own language?

Using language invention in the classroom has been increasing in popularity, and courses on language invention have been successful around the world. The book Language Invention in Linguistics Pedagogy explores this new field. It is edited by Jeffrey Punske, Nathan Sanders and … ↪