Constructed Languages

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the field of linguistics and language typology (the study of crosslinguistic variation and universals) through the project of creating their own constructed languages—conlangs. Students will learn about linguistic phenomena from a variety of diverse languages across the world, serving as inspiration for various aspects of their own conlangs. Broad topics include phonetics and phonology (the study of speech sounds and how they combine), morphology (the structure of words), syntax (the structure of sentences), semantics (how linguistics forms express meanings), historical linguistics (how language changes over time), and writing systems. We will also cover the history of the art of constructed languages. The course culminates in a descriptive sketch grammar of the new language, which will be gradually built up with regular assignments throughout the semester based on the topics discussed in class.