The Language Construction Kit

I was vaguely familiar with consonant grid (stops/fricatives/affricates/nasals vs labial/labiodental/alveolar/etc). But I loved seeing this all laid out, and then trying to reproduce the missing consonants that English doesn't have (like: a labial affricate?). I did a lot of muttering to myself out loud, trying to feel my way through unfamiliar consonants and vowels.

Noted on July 9, 2024

Maybe not surprisingly, the book has to spend most of its time explaining linguistics and grammar. A good condensed guide to linguistics turns out to be really fun to read, for me! I took one semester of linguistics in college and really enjoyed it; this is even broader because it covers all the ways different kinds of languages handle stuff. And I've done the 'first ten hours' of multiple languages, so I am a little familiar with a bunch of ideas here. But definitely surprising stuff here, and one of my favorite bits about fantasy or scifi books is when the language or culture is really well thought out in interesting ways.

Noted on July 9, 2024

OK, there's something so refreshing about a meaty nonfiction book that is also a little bit charming. (Cf The Pebbles on the Beach for an example!). This is a very straightforward, but fun guide to creating a new language (conlang!) for your fantasy or scifi novel. I picked it up because Robin mentioned referencing it for his new novel, and I love a 'beginners guide to x' on any topic.

Noted on July 9, 2024