Constructed language: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:08, 9 February 2007

A constructed or artificial language — also colloquially known as a conlang — is a language whose phonology, grammar, and/or vocabulary have been devised by an individual or group, instead of having naturally evolved. Among the many possible reasons to create a constructed language are the will to ease human communication (see international auxiliary language and code); to make a fictional story or a constructed world more veracious; linguistic experimentation or simply for aesthetic pleasure.

There are two main categories into which a constructed language can be classified:

A priori language: The grammar and vocabulary is created from scratch using the author(s) imagination or, less usually, by taking strings randomly generated by a computer. Examples: Klingon language.

A posteriori language: Its grammar and/or vocabulary are based on some existing language, either as a variation of one or as a mixture of various. Examples: Esperanto.

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 There are two main categories into which a constructed language can be classified:
-*'''A priori language''': The grammar and vocabulary is created from scratch using the author(s) imagination or, less usually, by taking strings randomly generated by a computer.
+*'''A priori language''': The grammar and vocabulary is created from scratch using the author(s) imagination or, less usually, by taking strings randomly generated by a computer. Examples: [[Klingon language]].
-*'''A posteriori language''': Its grammar and/or vocabulary are based on some existing language, either as a variation of an existing one or as a mixture of various.
+*'''A posteriori language''': Its grammar and/or vocabulary are based on some existing language, either as a variation of one or as a mixture of various. Examples: [[Esperanto]].
 [[Category:CZ Live]]
 [[Category:Linguistics Workgroup]]