Another language created for mass media

[omängum fra'uti]

I was looking for articles on the Na'vi language and came across this article which mentions a another language being created for a HBO series.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=fantasy-tv-in-the-service-of-scienc-2010-04-26

The article is suggesting that the language could be constructed to test some linguistic concepts on a language that, presumably, fans are going to be motivated to learn, as they have been with Sindarin, Klingon and Na'vi (Hence why it came up in my search).  I doubt that will actually get read by those responsible for creating the language, but it's some interesting thoughts.

[wm.annis]

I was looking for articles on the Na'vi language and came across this article which mentions a another language being created for a HBO series.

The first official act of the Language Creation Society, I believe.  They want to professionalize language creation for entertainment.  I briefly considered applying for the job of creating language for this series, but the process was a bit of a rush for this first one.  If I'm feeling brave, I may apply for the next one that comes down the line.

I doubt that will actually get read by those responsible for creating the language, but it's some interesting thoughts.

He's already posted in the comments.

I'm not very impressed by the suggestions in this article, I have to say.  It's like the usual nerdy fanboy complaint about sci-fi that this or that story isn't truly alien (a complaint often made of the Na'vi).  The problem is that human entertainments — including sci-fi and fantasy — are always ultimately about humans and humanity.  Almost no one is interested in a genuinely alien language that flouts human linguistic universals.  People who learn these languages are interested in the peoples and cultures attached to the languages, the languages aren't usually what draw people in first.  A language people cannot learn or can only learn with the greatest difficulty is artistically interesting to a vanishingly small number of people.

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

I'm glad they basically link straight to us, the na'vi link brings you to the google page with us right on top. 

The complaint I always hate hearing is: "it's too human to be alien." How exactly would someone know if a language would or would not be used by aliens, as far as I know we haven't had any sort of inter species forum with any yet. 

I honestly hope that language creation doesn't go mainstream, the last thing needed is a knew language for every other television show you turn on, that would take so much out of the point of learning it. A large part of the excitement is when you can just look at yourself one day and say "hey I can actually do something better than the six billion other people on this planet!" It might be too big a leap but it sort of like the Olympics in a way, being able to do something so much better than everyone else. But if everybody is learning 50 different languages for tv shows it all seems rather pointless.

[ShadowedSin]

The fact that the Dothraki warriors of the Khalasar are getting a language is making me even happier to see the Game of Thrones series.

I will only be happy if they do Tyrion correctly though!

And they better talk with Martin about creating Valyrian!

[wm.annis]

I honestly hope that language creation doesn't go mainstream, the last thing needed is a knew language for every other television show you turn on, that would take so much out of the point of learning it.

Where's the fun in that?! 

But I'm not sure it would be a problem for most people.  The sort of people who learn Klingon are not generally going to be learning Na'vi, too.  As I said above, it's not the language itself that draw people to it, but the culture associated with the language in whatever work it appears in.

[Lance R. Casey]

The sort of people who learn Klingon are not generally going to be learning Na'vi, too.

Say what?

[wm.annis]

The sort of people who learn Klingon are not generally going to be learning Na'vi, too.

Say what?

I added that "generally" just for you.

[Lance R. Casey]

I added that "generally" just for you.

Aw.