The Art and Science of Conlanging

M'athchomaroon! (Hello!)

Join us for an inside look at crafting linguistic systems. 

From the complex sounds of the Fremen dialects in Legendary's "Dune" to the intricacies of Kryptonian Glyphs in the most recent "Superman" movie, come meet the team that brings your favorite fictional languages to life!

In this captivating talk, the renowned David and Jessie Peterson of LangTime Studio will pull back the curtain on the fascinating art and science of “conlanging” (language creation). Whether you’re a linguist, filmmaker, fantasy enthusiast, or simply curious, you’ll gain insight to the detailed process of building a language from scratch—from phonology and grammar to lexicon and culture, complex linguistic concepts are accessible and exciting for everyone! 

In the talk "Corner of a Circle: The Nonlinear Process of Creating a Linear Language," the Petersons discuss how human languages, constrained by time, are produced in a linear fashion, despite the fact that a language has no beginning or end. It's that latter point that makes creating a language so daunting—and, at the same time, so fascinating! Between them, the Petersons have created more than seventy languages for over thirty films, TV shows, and video games. They'll discuss their process as conlangers, and delve into what makes it both frustrating and rewarding—and why any starting point is a great starting point.

Prūmiā līrinoso rēbās! (Walk with a smile in your heart)

This event is presented by the Linguistics and Applied Linguistics / TESOL Program in the Department of English, with support from the Film and Media Studies Program, the Interdisciplinary Committee on Linguistics, the School of International Letters and Cultures and the humanities division of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as part of ASU Humanities Week.

Superman image: The lost colony of Krypton, from "Adventure Comics" #333, June 1965 (DC Comics). Photo credit Joel Kramer on Flickr. Used under CC 2.0.