Generally in the sci-fi or fantasy I write I assume there is a common language which is than translated to English. If someone does not speak the common language I generally do not go out of my way to make up a language if the differences are like English to Spanish to French or whatever. I might put in some phonetic gibberish if the other language isn't important. the gibberish might have trends but I won't claim it is any great accomplishment to do that. If the language is very unique and takes great effort to translate I might go into more detail why. But even then I don't always make up more than trendy gibberish.
I have attempted to create full languages before:
One language I made up attempted to assign a "word" to every syllable and multi syllable words took meaning from their syllables so their sentences became quite poetic. Writing their dialogue was what made me shelf the project.
Another language I made up when spoken only permitted two concepts per spoken sentence to express how ideas connected to each other. When written it was best nonlinear because otherwise it was just. "Bob hunt. Bob man. man tall. hunt deer. deer female. female young. deer killed. bob go. go home. bring deer. bob have. have wife. have kids. kids four. family eat. eat deer. deer good." Yes it was strange, but that was the point.
One other that I imagined is a language where the group of aliens had every word assigned to a specific pitch so they could communicate VERY fast given their extremely sensitive vocal and hearing abilities.
I like making up very gimmicky languages and seeing what comes from it.
Why not? I'd say elves speaking Portuguese instead of Ümläütlängüäge (even without a good reason, simply because it's their language) would be a nice contrast. In the Portugues translation it would have to be another language, naturally. Why are you "vehemently against it"?
I would have rejoyced if Brom had taught Eragon to use Latin as "the magic language" instead of some made-up bullshit non-language. (Pretending PaoPoa could pull it off decently.) It might have helped some kids with their Latin. Also, it's a nice idea. Why make up something stupid when a much better solution is right around the corner? You could say: The Ancient Language differs from the common language used by the chracters in the same or a similar way modern day English differs from Latin. (I believe quite a few authors used Latin as a magic language. I just don't remember who. I'd have to look it up.)
The concept isn't "they are related to actual Portugues people". The concept is: "they're talking this language and its their native language, to make it visible we use English. There is also a second language. To show that this language differs from the first mentioned we use Portugues." They don't actually talk in English or Portugues or whatever, we simply use it to show they're talking in two different languages. In a possible translation the sides might be switched. We can also use the relations of our modern languages to empathize those of Magic Fantasy World. To me that's completely legit. I even think it would be an amazing thing to do, if done by someone who actually knows a lot about those things and speaks those languages. That would, again, be writing on a much higher level, but why not? It might spark the reader's curiosity on foreign languages, or language in general. He might even learn a thing or two. On the other hand, someone who is fluent in those languages doesn't have to look up nonsese words all the time. He could simply read it and understand the differences.
Because the made-up one is bullshit and the real one you can acutally use?
And who says the character can't understand it? Maybe he does understand it and it's just for the reader to know those are two different languages? (That's done with made-up languages as well) Also, who says the character wrote the story down? What if your pov character can't even write? Would the book have to read like Gibberish? Or maybe you're not using a character point of view at all? There's more than just one possibility.
I still don't think it necessarily has to be a logical inconsistency. It really depends on the way the whole story is constructed and the sense in which the language is used.
Many things in writing, especially Fantasy, only exist to show off. Rumor has it some people actually see a value in it.
I have attempted to create full languages before:
One language I made up attempted to assign a "word" to every syllable and multi syllable words took meaning from their syllables so their sentences became quite poetic. Writing their dialogue was what made me shelf the project.
Another language I made up when spoken only permitted two concepts per spoken sentence to express how ideas connected to each other. When written it was best nonlinear because otherwise it was just. "Bob hunt. Bob man. man tall. hunt deer. deer female. female young. deer killed. bob go. go home. bring deer. bob have. have wife. have kids. kids four. family eat. eat deer. deer good." Yes it was strange, but that was the point.
One other that I imagined is a language where the group of aliens had every word assigned to a specific pitch so they could communicate VERY fast given their extremely sensitive vocal and hearing abilities.
I like making up very gimmicky languages and seeing what comes from it.
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Why are you "vehemently against it"?
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(The comment has been removed)
The concept isn't "they are related to actual Portugues people". The concept is: "they're talking this language and its their native language, to make it visible we use English. There is also a second language. To show that this language differs from the first mentioned we use Portugues." They don't actually talk in English or Portugues or whatever, we simply use it to show they're talking in two different languages. In a possible translation the sides might be switched. We can also use the relations of our modern languages to empathize those of Magic Fantasy World. To me that's completely legit. I even think it would be an amazing thing to do, if done by someone who actually knows a lot about those things and speaks those languages. That would, again, be writing on a much higher level, but why not? It might spark the reader's curiosity on foreign languages, or language in general. He might even learn a thing or two. On the other hand, someone who is fluent in those languages doesn't have to look up nonsese words all the time. He could simply read it and understand the differences.
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And who says the character can't understand it? Maybe he does understand it and it's just for the reader to know those are two different languages? (That's done with made-up languages as well) Also, who says the character wrote the story down? What if your pov character can't even write? Would the book have to read like Gibberish? Or maybe you're not using a character point of view at all? There's more than just one possibility.
I still don't think it necessarily has to be a logical inconsistency. It really depends on the way the whole story is constructed and the sense in which the language is used.
Many things in writing, especially Fantasy, only exist to show off. Rumor has it some people actually see a value in it.
Reply
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