Post by: Lysabild on March 29, 2011, 08:08:11 pm
Myself have been starting over on the same world 1000's of times because, I can't do things if they're not perfect, sadly I can never get a perfect map for starting to work things out. I want a scientific real explanation of the world, a long evolution, a prehistory, not just "10 gods that sound like a mix of norse, greek and american native mythology decided to do a bunch of stuff and hate eachother."
I am avoiding doing clichés as much as possible personally. Anyways by now I am actually considering using a map of a proposed terraformed Venus, but I'm afraid it'd feel.. Wrong to other people. Personally I'm starting to like the idea, since I can't create something that satisfies myself.
Also! Two bits of language I'm working on, (the one using below number system.)
sin siri cen roc pen - I can't and won't anymore (Literal = i can-and will not more)
waltic Culcohunravactanu la - this is a horse (Literal = thishere Oldhorsemale is)
Original Post:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Post by: RedKing on March 30, 2011, 09:41:51 am
In one of my own conlangs, they use a base-12 system, which goes up to 12^6, called kailora, lit. "(only) God knows". Anything beyond that is still referred to as kailora.
They're a small, preindustrial society of subterranean cave dwellers (they're sorta not-dwarves, honest! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame)), so there's really nothing they can count with precision which is going to number over 2.9 million.
Post by: Lord Dullard on March 30, 2011, 09:46:41 am
Also, I'm a bit of a loss, how would you propose to write millions with this?
XX?
Post by: Lysabild on March 30, 2011, 09:47:56 am
How advanced is the culture? If pre-industrial, they may not need precision at that high of a level. Compare Chinese, which used the number "ten thousand" as a stand-in for any vague, large number.
In one of my own conlangs, they use a base-12 system, which goes up to 12^6, called kailora, lit. "(only) God knows". Anything beyond that is still referred to as kailora.
They're a small, preindustrial society of subterranean cave dwellers (they're sorta not-dwarves, honest! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame)), so there's really nothing they can count with precision which is going to number over 2.9 million.
It's supposed to last from antiquity to the industrial at the very least, but that is a quite nice idea I've included a few chinese elements in the language, like how man/boy woman/girl is rendered. Maybe I should change the topic to just Conworlding so we can discuss all these delicious works of creativity? Hmm.
Also, I'm a bit of a loss, how would you propose to write millions with this?
XX?
Wow, see that's why I posted, I'd never notice something that obvious xD
Post by: Lysabild on March 30, 2011, 02:02:26 pm
Post by: FearfulJesuit on March 30, 2011, 02:33:11 pm
Post by: Lysabild on March 30, 2011, 02:38:44 pm
I'm currently working on a PIE-ish protolang. And my conworld is coming together.
Made to sound/feel as PIE or to fill the same space?
Post by: FearfulJesuit on March 30, 2011, 04:28:12 pm
Post by: Ampersand on March 30, 2011, 08:26:09 pm
In addition, many concepts were conveyed, not with single words, but with multiple in parallel, such as the concept of Poetry, conveyed as "in xochitl, in cuicatl" (The flower, the song)
The -tl ending is the unpossessed singular noun ending, and thus Nahua loan words to other languages usually drop it, or at least the L, for example, Chocolate derived from xocolātl. Note the X, like in Mexican Spanish, is pronounced as a glottal stop, or like a breathy ch.
Post by: Psyco Jelly on March 31, 2011, 01:33:54 pm
The grammar was partially based on Nahuatl, but with only the tiniest hint of Latin influence, as the world itself is based partially on Slavic mythology.
Post by: Lysabild on March 31, 2011, 01:43:09 pm
Nahuatl, that reminds me of a conlang I've been working on. I don't really have much other than the phonobet down so far though. The culture it's meant to represent is a primarily desert-dwelling people that are highly religious, and also very mathematically inclined. The society itself is huge, though they are technologically within the bronze age.
The grammar was partially based on Nahuatl, but with only the tiniest hint of Latin influence, as the world itself is based partially on Slavic mythology.
You can tell more :b
For an interesting language to study, I suggest Nahuatl, more commonly referred to as Aztec. The language is fairly complex, but I feel the linguistic conventions of how the language was written and presumably spoken are more interesting. It is characterized by frequent couplets in which parallel phrases are used to deliver a point. This is something probably confined to high class Nahuatl speakers, because we only have things written down by them, in the same way that the Latin taught in schools is different from the Vulgar Latin spoken by the peasants.
In addition, many concepts were conveyed, not with single words, but with multiple in parallel, such as the concept of Poetry, conveyed as "in xochitl, in cuicatl" (The flower, the song)
The -tl ending is the unpossessed singular noun ending, and thus Nahua loan words to other languages usually drop it, or at least the L, for example, Chocolate derived from xocolātl. Note the X, like in Mexican Spanish, is pronounced as a glottal stop, or like a breathy ch.
Sadly I have some trouble with languages, I have only had highschool Danish and English, didn't pay attention to the German classes, so I don't know basicly any of the highly technical stuff. I don't get half the words in the guides ;_; But I am trying to pick up the slack in various ways reading and reading, still, without a teacher to show and explain many of the sound possibilites it's hard to get my brain around it.
Post by: Strife26 on March 31, 2011, 01:49:31 pm
Post by: Lysabild on March 31, 2011, 02:07:50 pm
I'm horribly bad at making my languages (although I know enough of about a dozen to declare myself American, ask where the bathroom is, and threaten to shoot someone), so I'm afraid that I won't be able to help much. Yeah, my created worlds tend all speak English.
You can still tell us about your worlds, conlang optional :b
Post by: Supercharazad on March 31, 2011, 02:15:21 pm
Post by: Lysabild on March 31, 2011, 02:17:48 pm
So, what is "conlang"? Is it making a fictional language for a fictional world?
Conworld is making a fictional world
Conlang is making a fictional language
Can do either without the other.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructed_language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldbuilding
Post by: Supercharazad on March 31, 2011, 03:44:42 pm
In which case, it sounds like fun, time to write something.
Post by: Psyco Jelly on March 31, 2011, 04:09:21 pm
As for the Slavic influence, there are large number of Fae in the world, usually taking the form of birds in one way or another. In addition, there exist "Revenant", which are based partially on Rusalka myths, which in this world are not limited to women, nor to lakes, instead changing appearance based on how they died. In one culture in particular, revenant easily gain political power. Another kind of being are Moroii, which feed on the emotions of others, eventually driving them to suicide. Moroii can still be killed like any other human, but have a very dulled sense of pain, or anything else for that matter. Vila are female spirits of storms, dwelling on mountaintops and may take the form of birds. There are three mother Vila, Gamiun, Sirin, and Alkanast, which are not only fae but guides to the afterlife as well.
Not to mention Drekavacs, which are beastly wolf-men with howls that oftentimes rally other malevolent spirits.
The world itself is in turmoil, with worshipers of the Tyrants (beings based on the Greek titans) gaining a great following, and fighting against worshipers of the Liberator and other Martyrs (humans had had died for one cause or another, based on early Christian attempts to convert pagans). The worshipers of the Liberator are fighting a losing battle... The Tyrants' influence are much more powerful and direct than all of the Martyrs combined.
Post by: Lysabild on March 31, 2011, 05:09:41 pm
I started work on this world as an original setting for Pathfinder. It focuses mainly on the west part of the continent of Prog Nasik and surrounding Islands. Prog Nasik is primarily desert, with meadowed lowlands to the east, rugged mountainous terrain to the west, and forest to the north. The culture I'm developing the language for is now extinct, though it had spanned nearly the entire continent at one point. Each of the modern nation's languages are influenced in one way or another with Mahr, the language of the ancients, and "Mahr" translates as "Knowing" within itself.
As for the Slavic influence, there are large number of Fae in the world, usually taking the form of birds in one way or another. In addition, there exist "Revenant", which are based partially on Rusalka myths, which in this world are not limited to women, nor to lakes, instead changing appearance based on how they died. In one culture in particular, revenant easily gain political power. Another kind of being are Moroii, which feed on the emotions of others, eventually driving them to suicide. Moroii can still be killed like any other human, but have a very dulled sense of pain, or anything else for that matter. Vila are female spirits of storms, dwelling on mountaintops and may take the form of birds. There are three mother Vila, Gamiun, Sirin, and Alkanast, which are not only fae but guides to the afterlife as well.
Not to mention Drekavacs, which are beastly wolf-men with howls that oftentimes rally other malevolent spirits.
The world itself is in turmoil, with worshipers of the Tyrants (beings based on the Greek titans) gaining a great following, and fighting against worshipers of the Liberator and other Martyrs (humans had had died for one cause or another, based on early Christian attempts to convert pagans). The worshipers of the Liberator are fighting a losing battle... The Tyrants' influence are much more powerful and direct than all of the Martyrs combined.
Wow that's a lot of physical mythology :o I usually work much more on realistic worlds with the fantasy being other races (which I even make evolutionary history for) and animals. I especially want to make a world with no plants or creatures(races included.) in common with real life. The revenants sound like a cool story, what are the Rusalka?
Pathfinder is that the amazingly unrealistic viking movie where big bad extreme vikings with horned helms ravage the poor indians? xD Never saw the movie but it looked like a nice comedy to me being danish and really interested in my scandinavian history :b
Post by: Willfor on March 31, 2011, 05:26:35 pm
Post by: Lysabild on March 31, 2011, 05:28:46 pm
Actually, I think it's for the Pathfinder RPG (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/), a project looking to continue D&D 3.5 now that 4E is out.
Ahh that makes sense, and his world sounds well suited for D&D actually.
Post by: Supermikhail on April 01, 2011, 09:42:12 am
Why can't you use some obscure real language for your world/writing, instead of inventing your own?
Post by: Psyco Jelly on April 01, 2011, 12:25:05 pm
As for what Revenant actually are, when you die, there is a small chance you will re-enter the world as a Revenant. Revenant are usually dead-set on one goal very personal to them, and tend to "die" after that task is completed. However, others are more random, and are nearly immortal (unless you kill them of course). A Revenant that had been hung might appear with a scar around his or her neck, one that died in a fire might bear burn marks, even if the body was destroyed. One that drowned might have constantly slick and wet hair, or one that starved might appear emaciated.
So far my players have enjoyed it, with one even becoming the leader of a cult to Kinjit, one of the Tyrants. There really haven't been much mention of fae so far, since my players are more interested in the politics of the city the campaign is based in rather than the wilderness.
Post by: Lysabild on April 01, 2011, 01:45:43 pm
So far my players have enjoyed it, with one even becoming the leader of a cult to Kinjit, one of the Tyrants. There really haven't been much mention of fae so far, since my players are more interested in the politics of the city the campaign is based in rather than the wilderness.Success as a GM is nice and all that really matters in P&P is that your players love what is going on.
Spoiler: Logical explanation to the pennies (click to show/hide)
Post by: Supermikhail on April 02, 2011, 04:10:38 am
Spoiler: Only choice pieces, still not peaceful (click to show/hide)
Post by: RedKing on April 02, 2011, 01:03:21 pm
You may as well ask why any fiction writer writes? They get an idea, a character, a scene in their head, and it demands to be fleshed out.
Post by: Supermikhail on April 03, 2011, 02:42:36 am
Is anybody in this thread a linguist / on their way to becoming a linguist? Did anybody in this thread have good linguistic knowledge before being inspired to make their own language? If not, isn't this interest fleeting?
I really think one should start language-making from a solid base of fascination with linguistics in general. And serious studying of linguistics involves learning languages - in an academic case, not necessarily in comfortable proximity to your sofa and laptop.
Also I forgot last time - usually you don't have to go far to find an obscure language. I myself haven't researched linguistics to any great extent, but I believe the thing with obscure languages is that they have few speakers, but there is a lot of them, and they are pretty much everywhere, excluding some large cities and areas where single language was historically enforced by the government - and even those places can boast colorful dialects.
Anyway, I suddenly feel that I've vented all my steam. I guess, sorry for the derail. Although, whatever - my efforts at constructivising on the Internet have never come to anything.
Post by: Supermikhail on April 04, 2011, 01:46:26 pm
Post by: Lysabild on April 04, 2011, 07:28:16 pm
Hey, guys. There's a thread that could use contribution from conworlders - http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=81069.0 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=81069.0). If you aren't afraid of a lot of words... and can actually put effort into something which isn't your fantasies.
Excuse me but what is your problem? What's with this sour attitude and crusade against this hobby? It's bording between complete ignorancy and bigotry and is quite mildly said tiring.
Post by: Supermikhail on April 04, 2011, 10:52:44 pm
Post by: FearfulJesuit on April 05, 2011, 09:33:25 pm
Post by: Lysabild on April 05, 2011, 09:43:35 pm
You kids should check out www.zompist.com/virtuver.htm.I have his conworld book ^^ I ordered the conlang one too but it was out of stock :/
Post by: Supermikhail on April 06, 2011, 07:36:52 am