A conlang, short for "constructed language," refers to an artificial or human-made language that is deliberately designed by individuals, groups, or organizations. Unlike natural languages that have evolved and developed over centuries, conlangs are intentionally created with specific purposes, usually for artistic, fictional, or practical reasons. They can range from simple systems with a limited vocabulary and grammar to complex languages with intricate linguistic structures.
The construction of a conlang involves deliberate linguistic choices and decisions, including the creation of phonetic sounds, a unique vocabulary, grammar rules, and syntactic patterns. Conlangers, the individuals who design conlangs, often aim to achieve certain linguistic characteristics, such as logical consistency, simplicity, or aesthetic appeal.
Conlangs can serve various purposes, such as serving as a communication tool for fictional worlds, enabling improved intercultural communication, or providing an experimental platform for exploring linguistic concepts. Famous examples of conlangs include J.R.R. Tolkien's Elvish languages, such as Quenya and Sindarin, as well as the Klingon language created for the Star Trek series.
The study and analysis of conlangs are known as "conlanging" or "conlanger," and the community of conlangers is a vibrant, creative, and collaborative group. Conlanging often involves sharing, critiquing, and documenting conlangs, as well as exploring the theoretical aspects of language construction.
