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Fictional Language

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Synonyms: Conlang, Constructed Language, Artistic Language
See also: Elvish, Klingonese, Na'vi, Vulcan, Cityspeak, Tengwar, Aurabesh, Gallifreyan, Standard Galactic Alphabet
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Fictional Languages are commonly used in science fiction and fantasy to add depth and verisimilitude to fictional worlds; they can range from a few words and phrases to entire languages complete with grammar and slang.

Klingon and Tolkien's Quenya and Sindarin Elvish languages are two of the most commonly studied fictional languages. Other languages from Star Trek are also frequently studied.

Livejournal includes a number of communities for learning fictional languages, including Gen-lis Vuhlkansu for Vulcan and tlhIngan Hol for Klingon.

Fans who often take fictional languages further: studying them, learning to speak and write them, or expanding on the minimal syntax and vocabulary from canon. Clubs, language institutes, conventions, zines and journals can all have a fannish focus on fictional languages.

Creating one's own constructed languages or "conlangs"[1] is another important sphere of fan activity, sometimes called fanlanging. It is also a well known practice outside of fandom. Esperanto is an example of a famous non-fandom constructed language.

Canons

Some fandoms that have an extensive fictional language component:

Others focus on a written language:

AO3 Canonical Languages

Fan-created Conlangs

Outside of canonical conlangs, fans may also opt to create their own based on canon, or expand on very basic canonical conlangs that only consist of a few words or phrases.

The 100

Trigedasleng

Earthsea

Darkover

Doctor Who

Gallifreyan

Gallifreyan

Harry Potter

Parseltongue

Parseltongue

  • The Parselmouth, a fan-created Parseltongue dictionary with audio, inspired by the films. Translation and voice by Phylloxera, founded c. 2008.
  • Parseltongue 101, a Hogwarts Online course to learn a collaboratively fan-developed version of Parseltongue, inspired by The Parselmouth.com and Parseltongue-inspired by Eugene Oh. (c. 2011)
  • Parseltongue translator (now offline), an official Warner Bros. translator "to translate any phrase into Parseltongue", created to promote Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Allowed fans to download .mp3 files of their translations or to share them on social media. It didn't give translations for profanity. The Parseltongue translator was also featured as part of "The Magical Quill" challenge for early Pottermore registration in August 2011. (c. June 2011-2012)

Lord of the Rings

Elvish

Quenya - canon

Sindarin - canon

Tengwar - canon

ámman îar - fanlang

Dwarves

Khuzdul

The Black Speech

Black Speech

Star Trek

a copy of Impulse #5's front cover (1971) showing a note either from Gene Roddenberry or to Gene Roddenberry regarding the Vulcan linguistics article by Jacqueline Lichtenberg called Linguistic Notes by Jacqueline Lichtenberg.

This copy of "Impulse" #5 was sold in 2015 on eBay as part of Gene Roddenberry's personal collection and included a Certificate of Authenticity.

Vulcan

Vulcan Language

Klingon

Klingonese

Romulan

Star Wars

Dai Bendu - Jedi fan made language

Mando'a

Superman

Communities

Various conlang groups exist within science fiction fandom, within other fandoms, and outside of fandom. The livejournal community 'conlangs' is one place conlangers organize. The Language Creation Society has a website for those interested in conlangs.

Some Fan Examples

  • a page from a fan's Andorian dictionary, printed in The Human Factor #2 (1977)

    a page from a fan's Andorian dictionary, printed in The Human Factor #2 (1977)

  • "The Klingon Language, A Federation Text -- a fictional non-fiction article by Professor S. Sarris, M.A., Ph.D, D.L.H., D.L., Linguist in Residence, Starfleet Academy, United Planets of Earth" -- from Archives' Log v.1 n.5 (1974)

    "The Klingon Language, A Federation Text -- a fictional non-fiction article by Professor S. Sarris, M.A., Ph.D, D.L.H., D.L., Linguist in Residence, Starfleet Academy, United Planets of Earth" -- from Archives' Log v.1 n.5 (1974)

  • a poem about the Klingon language, printed in More Missions, More Myths #8 (1987)

    a poem about the Klingon language, printed in More Missions, More Myths #8 (1987)

Fanfiction

Further Reading/Meta

References

  1. ^ Constructed language, Wikipedia (Accessed August 18, 2010)
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