Linguist Forum

Specializations => Phonetics and Phonology => Topic started by: Solokeh on May 11, 2017, 11:16:30 AM

Title: Constructed Root-Based Language
Post by: Solokeh on May 11, 2017, 11:16:30 AM

I'm not a linguist, or even a student of language. English is my only language, though I've posted here before about Russian-esque sounds I can innately form into sentences, similar to a constructed language. That's why I'm posting here, about a con-lang.

I'm writing a fantasy story, which contains constructed words and names of things.

At first, I wanted to use Scots-Gaelic words, since they looked so appealing on paper, but after doing some research into pronunciation, I gave that idea up.

I've decided to develop a dead-simple language for my writings.

It's composed of nine alphabetical letters, all of which are found in the English alphabet.

For consonants, I have J - R - N - M - K - N

And for vowels, A - I - O

Words are made up of combinations of roots, the roots being a combination of two letters, and having a loose meaning.

Some examples are:

Ri - Judgement, finality - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2Tl9mWVVJSV9jVVE

Ja - Power, God, fortress - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2NHoxc0FNSnBjY3M

Kr - Many, countless - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2bEEwSklVTzgzaGs

Rn - stay, stillness, peace - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2Wlh4aVg0SlRPQ2c

Mr - Star, sun, fire, blaze - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2LVhDaFByMWc1akU

Tk - Journey, movement, take - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2eGhob20wUk9MRzg

Or - Animal, base, instinct - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2a0lHTWU1cGE0Mms

Ni - Knowledge, light, ascendance - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2VGJKbHJnQUoxWkk

A word could be "Jari", soft "J", rolled "R", and short "ee" sound "I", with the emphasis on the R. That word would mean powerful judgment, or judgement of God.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz1MNsJ_Qfl2UWZ2QlRzSjFPdFk/view?usp=sharing

I’m wondering how to make this more natural. I don’t need a Tolkien level con-lang here, nothing like that at all. I just need some pointers and direction.

Title: Re: Constructed Root-Based Language
Post by: FlatAssembler on August 14, 2017, 10:40:29 AM

My advice would be to limit the syllable structure to consonant-vowel. That way your language will sound similar to, for example, Hawaiian.