Language Template

a WIP by Juniper Jones
See also A Dictionary of Stylistics by Katie Wales for more ideas.
Please note: I am not a linguist or conlang-er. My interest in language is largely for world-building purposes, and I will probably get things wrong. Feel free to send me corrections and I'll look into adding them to this WIP!

Spoken Words

• Is this a language for a specific species, race, class, profession, gender, etc.?
• How widely spoken is this language?
• Is this language related to another, and if so, how did this connection form?
• Does this language borrow words or phrases from other languages (i.e., English, pidgin)?
• How has the language changed over time?
  • Is some or all of the language codified and immutable, or does it change frequently?
    • If codified, who governs this?
    • If it changes, how drastically does it change? How quickly?
      • Do different generations struggle to communicate clearly?
• Is this language fully functional (can it express anything one could normally express in language) or is it limited to a certain scope?
  • If it is limited, why is that, and how does it stay that way?
• Are there specific words or phrases associated with specific classes, genders, or species?
  • Are specific classes, etc. expected to "code switch" to another version of this language? (see video)
• Are there variations in speech patterns, syntax, slang, etc. from one social class to another?
  • Are there variations in speech patterns, etc. from one occupation to another?
• Are there regional variations in speech, such as accents?
• What areas do local slang phrases come from (i.e., surfer slang, Cockney)? How do they spread?
• What kinds of colorful turns of phrase, aphorisms, or proverbs do people use?
• What would a local language have many specific words for to indicate fine differences (i.e., snow)?
• What do people use as curse words?
• How close do people stand to one another when speaking?
  • Does personal space differ from place to place?
  • How do people with different ideas of personal space react to one another?
• How are stories told within this culture?
• Find an Earth language that sounds similar to how you think this language would sound. What differentiates it from other Earth languages?
  • Ancient languages
  • Asian languages Part 2
    • Alternate source Part 2
  • European languages Part 2
  • African languages Part 2
  • Indigenous American languages
  • Pacific languages Another
  • Or do none of these fit? What makes this language unique?

Written Words

• How common is literacy in this language specifically? Does it differ based on class or subgroup?
• Are dictionaries, thesauri, and other reference books available?
• How common is letter writing?
  • Are there specific forms of address in writing that differ from spoken salutations?
• How common are diaries?
  • Are diaries kept, published, erased, burned, etc.?
• How are letters or words formed on the page (i.e., alphabet, discrete symbols for each word)?
  • Are there different forms of writing for different purposes (i.e., hiragana vs. katakana vs. kanji)?
  • What direction does the writing flow in?
  • Are there different forms of scripts, such as cursive or calligraphy, for different purposes? Why would they be used?
• What's the most popular genre of literature in this language?
• If this is a magical language, do written texts possess that magic innately? How does this change their books?
• Is a large amount of information stored in particular formats, like scrolls, books, codices? Are there multi-volume works?

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