Despicable Me Minion Translator (Yahoo Image Search)
It isn’t easy writing fiction and delving into the concept of languages. Many of us grew up with the humor of ‘Pig Latin’, which was so ‘cool’ as a child. Now it’s barely uttered and probably on its way to a dead language like Sanskrit and Neanderthal. Though I hear that last one is making a comeback in bars during certain days of the week. Anyway, you can always attempt to make your own language and attempt to be recognized alongside Tolkien and Roddenberry. Here’s some advice from someone who hasn’t tried this:
- DO put some form of translation in your story. Whether a guide or a bilingual character, you need people to understand your language to make it work beyond a minor plot event. Sure, the ‘language barrier’ obstacle can be fun to play out, but if you’re going for greatness then you need more.
- DO NOT jam tons of Y, Q, K, and Z letters into a language. That’s been done and many people find it ridiculous. Once you go for 3 Y’s in a row, you’re probably on your way to an intervention.
- DO take punctuation into account because that can make the difference in your language being understood. Commas, question marks, capitalization, and apostrophes can help clear up the use of a word by putting it in context. It can also help distinguish fantasy words from fantasy names.
- DO NOT slip random Earth words into a story that occurs on a foreign planet or different dimension. Of course, this doesn’t count for the language you’re publishing in. For example, it would make no sense for an elf of Windemere to speak a few words in Russian among their true language. There is no Russia, so such words wouldn’t exist. An added problem is that doing this can throw off whatever language pattern and system you were creating.
- DO study other languages to some extent. Learn about pluralization and gender-specific words within other language systems. If you want a solitary inspiration then pick one language and study it to copy the nuances. Only go for the nuances and not the whole language unless that’s your plan.
- DO NOT refuse to learn your own fictional language. Even if your fans deciphered your language and improved it, you might want to learn a few phrases. You are the progenitor of this new tongue and people will be disappointed if you can’t even say hello or ask to use the bathroom in it.
- DO remember that you still have to use an Earth keyboard, so you can’t go entirely off a fictional alphabet. Somebody is going to have to type your story into a computer or note things in a review. Unless you know how to program language software, you’re going to need to work off the ABC’s.
- DO NOT have every character understand every language in the world. Just as in reality, not everyone is fluent in every language. Have somebody be confused on what’s being said so that the reader doesn’t feel like they’re nothing more than an outsider sitting in the corner of a big party.
- DO take some time to create names that incorporate your new language. Even if they’re nothing more than titles, it brings more cultural credence to the overall language.
- DO NOT use your fictional language as an excuse to mess up the spelling of real words. If a character has a typo in his dialogue, it better be clear that he or she was trying to speak another language. If that isn’t clear then you need to fess up to the oops.
Legends of Windemere 
Greaty post Charles. >KB
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Thanks. 🙂
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Thanks for this great piece of advice, Charles!
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You’re welcome. Glad to be of help.
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Very good points!
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Thanks.
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I’m too lazy to invent my own languages… for names I’ve borrowed from other languages… My Orcs for example all have Sanskrit names… My Elves and Drows use Welsh Names, Dwarves use Norse Names and Humans use Cornish Names mostly although there is overlap with Human names
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Humans always seem to have an ‘overlap’ system with other races. It’s funny how the other races tend to be strict in their structure while humans are ‘whatever’. A friend once called them the cockroaches of D&D because they are everywhere and get into everything.
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well ya, in my book they are a bit of “cockroaches” too, but they play a very significant roll at the end… in fact it is Human “cockroach-isms” that drive home the main theme
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Wonder if there’s a fantasy book out there where humans aren’t present or, at least, insignificant to the main plot. Even in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, the humans are essential.
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Hahah oh man, I think I violated your rules. When I was writing Imminent Danger, I needed my aliens to speak in alien languages, so I basically made up a bunch of words that sounded like the style of language I was going for. Then I had to go back during an edit and figure out what they were actually saying!
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A little scary when the author gets confused during an editing run. 😛 It really proves that you either need a great memory, a system, or context clues.
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Excellent post, and one I found very convicting, especially in regard to everyone knowing the language. I thought about creating a language that was sort of like Pig Latin, but gave that up early on. 🙂 Now characters might speak more formal or casual than others. But I could do way more to show the language differences.
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That’s what I do. Removal of contractions or rate of them is the trick for me.
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Not only do I have to worry about languages, but also their evolution at certain times.
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That’s a real challenge that I’ve never been able to conquer. People seem to forget that part of the puzzle. Good luck.
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qatlho’ !
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Makes me think of a very tiny dwarven warrior’s battle cry.
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It’s Klingon for thank you. I googled it specially. (Wouldn’t want anyone to think I had a working knowledge of Klingon)
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Guess I’m not a Trekkie.
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Elen sila lumenn omentilmo
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Can’t find a working Elvish-English translator.
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As a reader, I like the words to be pronounceable. One of your gifts as a writer is clearly to come up with names that sound like they really fit. 🙂
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Makes me wonder about some fictional languages. A lot of ‘k’, ‘y’, and ‘x’ for some reason.
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Lovely…like these suggestions. I don’t often create words, I must admit, but have certainly read enough books to get frustrated reading stories with strings of strange words that I can’t figure out through their context. Thanks Charles…
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You’re welcome. I’m with you on the weird word strings.
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So I understood…
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Excellent advice, all of it. I’m with L Marie on the formality thing. I’ve made one of the species in my books speak with a slightly regency vibe, all upon my honour and the like. It just makes them different to everyone else without adding any complications to what is, already, a very intricate plot.
Cheers
MTM
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Agreed. A complicated plot can be enough of a challenge without needing a Rosetta Stone. Formality is an odd thing too. I’ve had people complain about it being ‘too fancy’ even for nobles.
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Yeh, luckily no-one’s disliked it so far but a couple of people have remarked on it and noticed that it sets this particular bunch apart.
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Different is good.
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It would be a shame if we were all the same. Different is good oh yeh.
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