Synopsis
Some languages evolve from other languages, like the romance languages growing out of Latin. And some languages are constructed by humans. These conlangs as they’re called are made for lots of purposes, from fleshing out the history of a thousand-page fantasy novel to allowing people a better way to communicate across cultures. Join Em and Dr. Jesse as they look at some examples, from Hildegard von Bingem’s Lingua Ignota to emojis.
Sources!
Higley, Sarah Lynn. Hildegard of Bingen’s Unknown Language: An Edition, Translation, and Discussion. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
Notes
1/ List of conlangs you may know:
- Esperanto
- Interlingua
- Klingon
- Dothraki
- Elvish
- Modern Hebrew
Here’s a list on Wikipedia–some of these we discuss in the next episode.
2/ Link to Episode 10 on iconography.
3/ Apriori means “before experience,” and a posteriori means “after experience.” Saying “emoji language is a priori” means that no one has to teach you what most of the signs mean—you look at them and you understand. However, some signs (eggplant, peach, water droplets) have developed secondary meanings that you must be taught (or pick up from your peers). (clip of David Tennant on Graham Norton saying “eggplant? What’s an eggplant?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UztioBpKlRk)
4/ Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179): Hildegard’s Ordo Virtutum was discussed in episode 6 (see notes 17 and 23).
Here is Hildegard’s Lingua Ignota.
5/ Definition of Trochee.
Definition of iamb.
6/ The Wikipedia article on Damin!
7/ Iranian mystic Fazlallah Astarabadi (1339/40-1394) created Hurufism and probably Balaibalan.
8/ Enochian was created by John Dee (1527–1608/9) and Edward Kelley (1555–1597/8).
9/ Glossolalia!
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