While most familiar languages have evolved naturally over long periods of time, people interested in the art of language have put their talents to good use by developing their own languages, for a variety of different reasons. These individuals are known as conlangers, and their creations, conlangs (for “constructed languages”).

Regardless of the context, whether for a film, book, television show, or personal use, good conlangers need to keep in mind:

1. the speakers of their language (human or non-human),
2. the language’s format of transmission (spoken, written, or signed),
3. how the various parts of the body are used to express the language,
4. and how to make words build on each other organically.

The conlangs in this article are well-known examples of conlangers doing their jobs so effectively that their creations enter popular use.

Check out these fictional languages and their origins.

This blog is for entertainment purposes only. Interpro Translation Solutions, the author of this blog, and our linguists don’t claim to be an expert in any of these fictional languages.

Klingon

The Klingon language, also known as Klingonese, is a conlang used in the Star Trek universe.

It originated on the fictional planet Qo’noS, the home of the Klingon species. Created by linguist Marc Okrand, Klingon was first introduced in the movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and gained significant attention in subsequent Star Trek films and television series.

The goal with Klingon was to create a believable and coherent language for the warlike Klingon characters, while making it sound unlike any human language. The task began with expanding a few lines of guttural sounds spoken by actors in the original Star Trek series to an organized linguistic system. Drawing inspiration from the existing sounds and phrases, Okrand meticulously crafted the Klingon language, giving it a distinct grammatical structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Over time, the Klingon language has evolved into a fully functional constructed language with its own grammar rules, syntax, and vocabulary, becoming one of the most well-known fictional languages in popular culture. It is considered a real language, complete with books and resources for enthusiasts to learn and speak it. There are around 100 fluent speakers of Klingon, and there are even Klingon translations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Interpro Translation Solutions does not offer Klingon translation services…yet!

Pig Latin

Pig Latin is a playful word game often used by children to create a secret or coded version of English words. To convert a word into Pig Latin, follow these simple rules:

1. Take the first consonant or consonant cluster of the word and move it to the end of the word. If the word starts with a vowel, you keep it as it is.
2. Add “ay” to the new end of the word.

For example:

• “Pig” becomes “igpay.”
• “Latin” becomes “atinlay.”

The origins of Pig Latin are unclear, but it has been a popular game among English-speaking children for generations. It serves as a fun way to communicate secret messages among friends and has appeared in various forms of media, including books, movies, and TV shows.

As it is not a true language, it lacks complex grammar or vocabulary rules, making it more of an entertaining diversion than a fully-functional communication system.

To truly develop a conlang, speakers should move beyond simply substituting words for others in the same sentence structure, and take a holistic approach to viewing the fictional culture whose language they are creating.

Dothraki and Valyrian

Developed by linguist David J. Peterson for the TV series Game of Thrones, and based on the few words and phrases already provided by author George R.R. Martin in the books on which the show was based, Dothraki is the language spoken by the nomadic Dothraki people in the fictional world most famous for the characters of Westeros.

The Dothraki language has no written characters, but has still found an audience. It was first made famous in its fluent portrayal on the lips of actor Jason Momoa who, surprisingly, only has a background in English. Peterson won a competition among conlangers for the opportunity to design the language, and based it on Estonian, Inuktitut, Turkish, Russian, and Swahili.

Also consider Valyrian, another language crafted by David J. Peterson for Game of Thrones.

Valyrian has multiple forms and is spoken by the characters descended from the former empire of Valyria (analogous to our own Rome). Like other languages discussed here, in its world, Valyrian has been splintered among different locales and thus is beginning to be split into entirely different languages. This language draws inspiration from older Earth languages like Latin.

Parseltongue

This serpentine communication, famously expressed by Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort in J.K. Rowling’s iconic book series, is an example of how human/non-human differences impact the use of sounds.

Since snakes have neither lips nor vocal folds, they cannot convey words the way humans do, which creates a somewhat difficult language barrier.  It’s tricky to classify Parseltongue as a language, as it is more a series of sounds than anything written, but it is certainly distinctive. Elements of this conlang are similar to Arabic, as well as Niger Congo dialects.

Interestingly, in French, “Parseltongue” is translated fourchelangue, or “forked tongue.”  Can you guess in which language J.K. Rowling majored?

Elvish / Sindarin

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium, he developed multiple Elvish languages, including Sindarin and Quenya.

Sindarin is perhaps the father of all modern conlangs, and, since Tolkien was himself a linguist, set a high standard for future fictional languages to come. Sindarin draws heavily from some of Tolkien’s favorite languages, Finnish, Old Norse, Welsh, and Irish.

Tolkien’s thousands of words and notes were built upon by dedicated fans, notably David Salo, enabling the completed lines of dialogue spoken in the Peter Jackson movies decades after Tolkien laid down his pen for the last time.

As mentioned in the introduction, languages change over time based on migration, social stimuli, and tastes. Tolkien established this principle in his own world, dividing Sindarin into the dialects of Doriathrin, Falathrin, North Sindarin, and Noldorin Sindarin. Sindarin itself grew from Common Telerin, itself a child of Common Eldarin, which came from Primitive Quendian, the original language of all Elves. The written script of Sindarin also changed from the Cirth to the Tengwar.

Outside of the world of Middle-earth, in a metatextual way, Tolkien also embarked on a linguistic evolution of his own as his tastes and conceptions of languages changed.

Na’vi

Developed by linguist Paul Frommer for the movie Avatar, Na’vi is the language spoken by the humanoid alien inhabitants of the planet Pandora.

Director James Cameron had written around thirty words early in the development of the film, but felt that a full language was needed to flesh out the world he was creating. To make the language easier on the actors to learn, Frommer used only elements found in the English language, but in a unique combination.

If the actors made mistakes, which they often did, these were attributed to the human characters’ tenuous grasp on the conlang or even incorporated by Frommer into the Na’vi language.

Frommer has taken an active role in the further development of his conlang, translating Avatar’s soundtrack lyrics, creating a compendium, and maintaining a blog on which he posts new words or clarifies grammar. Frommer has described the language as having a “Polynesian flavor.”

Newspeak

Created by George Orwell for his dystopian novel 1984, Newspeak is a fictional language designed to restrict freedom of thought and control the minds of the citizens of Oceania.

Unlike the other languages considered in this article, which change because society changes, in Orwell’s world society changes due to the restrictions of language. Put aptly by Orwell, “if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”

While Newspeak follows most rules of English grammar, words are far simpler, and continue to grow shorter while losing meaning. Newspeak serves as Orwell’s critique of the decline of the English language, which, aside from its lost artistry, represents a decrease in thought as its speakers lose the nuance granted by diversity of language. The population can only speak, as it were, in black and white, as the variety of colors that give language its beauty is thrown out. Newspeak was created as a warning to Orwell’s readers.

Groot

The alien tree-like creature, first introduced in Marvel Comics and later made famous by the Guardians of the Galaxy films, speaks the simplest language in this article, composed primarily of three words: “I am Groot” (Groot itself coming from the Dutch word meaning “tall”).

Logically, it seems that Groot’s inflections within sentences convey the meaning of other words and phrases. In fact, the character Thor states that Groot’s language could be taught in a class.

But James Gunn, the director of all three Guardians films, intended for Groot’s language to only be understood by those who connect with Groot over a period of time. Groot’s teammates learn to understand his speech by growing close with him from the first film to the second.

At the end of the third film, Groot finally speaks a phrase the audience can understand, meaning the viewers have finally reached that level of closeness with Groot.

Lapine

Richard Adams created the Lapine language for his 1972 book Watership Down.

The word “Lapine” comes from the French word for rabbit, lapin, which is appropriate since the novel’s main characters are rabbits. Adams provided several dozen distinct words for the rabbits’ names and objects encountered in their world. The conlang developed slowly and individually; in the words of Adams, “when the rabbits needed a word for something, so did I.”

As a result, some the words resemble the sound they describe, such as hrududu, meaning “motor vehicle,” while others just came from the author’s mind. The conlanger wanted to create a language that sounded “fluffy,” like rabbits themselves. Modern readers have seen the influences of Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and even Arabic.

And More!

Constructed languages like these add depth and richness to fictional worlds and cultures, enhancing the experience and immersing audiences and readers. In that way, there is a connection between the real and the fictional, as immersion in any culture depends on a knowledge of its language.

Many conlangs have gained substantial followings outside of their original media, with enthusiasts learning and using these languages in fan communities. Though it may blend into the background of our days, language is truly a complex and miraculous phenomenon in all its forms, whether it has taken thousands of years or a decade to develop.

The post Fictional Languages: Exploring their Origin and Cultural Significance appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

Why You Should Choose Credible Resources

As Interpro’s name suggests, I am a language professional. That language, of course, is English. It’s not that I haven’t experienced others, though. My first non-English encounter lasted nine years in the form of Spanish during Catholic school. One might think I would have become fluent given that length of time. But the problem was that I learned from a source that, although once a native of a Spanish-speaking country, had now been living in the United States for several years. Of course, the Spanish language, as all other languages, music trends, and fashion do, had changed in that time. Not only that, but it often felt that the textbooks I was using dated back to before the Columbian Exchange.

Now, it might seem that this is no big deal. After all, we don’t see the English language change, right? Check with your great-great-grandparents and get back to me on that. We see computer software updates several times a year because Mac OS 9 just won’t cut it anymore. Why should we assume that languages are different, remaining functional while sitting stagnant for years at a time?

It’s hard enough for adults to work on old software. But imagine being a child with a voracious and rapidly-developing brain not being pushed to its fullest level. Children are meant to benefit from learning languages.

Children who speak a second language are found to have better problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening skills, as well as improved memory, focus, and multitasking.

If parents want their children to be more creative and flexible, they’ll need to consider looking across the world, and choose a language learning tool that is credible (and fun).

3 Resources for Learning a New Language

Modernity, with its all flaws, has given us more tools than ever to help children reach their language potential. But now, it’s easy than ever to grow your language knowledge with the click of a button. Many apps will even remind you to practice your language daily! Here are three ways to help your child learn a new language.

1. Duolingo

I’ve seen my 55-year-old mother and 20-year-old sister both benefit equally from Duolingo, a fun app with worldwide translation resources from native speakers. As the website itself says, “We use…results to develop new and better courses, expand our universe of language-learning tools, update our materials as languages evolve, and ensure we’re continuing to offer the best language education in the world. Like language, we never stand still.” An adaptable app for a necessarily-flexible type of learning!

2. Stories by Gus on the Go

Or how about Stories by Gus on the Go, an app in which your kids can learn beyond English with some classic fairy tales in a new language? Old stories combined with cutting-edge interpretation technologies make for a truly well-rounded childhood experience. As the website notes, “working with language educators and native speakers around the world, Gus on the Go has become an invaluable tool to help young kids nourish their love for language and inspiring them to become future global citizens.” A truly noble goal!

3. The Movie Method

This is best used in combination with another language-learning strategy. Simply watch your favorite family movies in other languages, and your previous knowledge of the story, combined with the dramatic facial expressions and creative scenes of the films, will help your child pick up on a new language much more easily. This can be paired with occasional “speaking the language” periods at home throughout the day. Think of it as a mini cultural immersion!

With all the disagreement over our children’s curricula, we can all at least agree that foreign languages should be more accessible. At Interpro, many of our employees know a second, third, or even fourth language! If you want what’s best for your children, use the resources we can provide for you today.

Sources:

1. elearningindustry.com/top-5-language-learning-apps-for-kids
2. leadwithlanguages.org/why-learn-languages/early-childhood-elementary/#:~:text=Feed%20Their%20Brains,enhanced%20creativity%20and%20mental%20flexibility
3. kumon.co.uk/blog/is-learning-a-foreign-language-good-for-kids-at-a-young-age/
4. duolingo.com/approach
5. gusonthego.com/meet-team-gus/

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The Language Limitations of PDFs and How to Overcome Them

One of the most appealing features of a PDF is that once a document is saved as such, its content can’t be altered, and it will look exactly the same no matter who views it, or which platform is used to view it. Margins don’t change. Text placement isn’t altered. Your message is preserved consistently and accurately.

What happens when the authoring language of your PDF isn’t the language that a reader understands best? Perhaps you’ve designed a manual for a product, and now your product is expanding to a global market. Maybe you’ve created an HR manual, and now your workforce is expanding internationally. Whatever the reason, as your business grows, you may need to make your PDF available in multiple languages. However, a translator can’t just open a PDF and start typing in the translation as PDFs cannot, in most cases, be edited. The bright side is that there are several different options to make that PDF editable and translation-ready!

Understanding PDF Types

Before you explore your PDF translation options, it is important to understand how that PDF document was created. Many times, when we read a PDF, we are actually viewing the published version from a source file authored in Word, Power Point, Adobe InDesign, or Illustrator, for example. In essence, we aren’t looking at the source text; we are actually viewing an image of text. In this state, PDFs can be difficult to edit. When planning on translating a PDF, it is always advisable to provide the source files, if available.

Working on the source files rather than the PDFs is the preferred procedure for several reasons as it saves time and cost. If we receive only the PDF for translation, we need to extract text manually (or with the help of a software application designed for this purpose).

This process is time consuming (time is money) and is also error-prone (e.g. the software extracts misspelled words if they are present in the PDF). More time would be also needed to complete the final formatting of the translated files, as compared to the time that would be required if we work with source files instead.

PDF Files Aren’t Just About Text

Pictures aren’t just worth 1,000 words; they’re invaluable, especially when you consider the purpose of a PDF. Many times, PDFs include instructions and tutorials aimed at educating clients, customers, or employees. The meaning would become garbled if the text was no longer aligned with the images. As a result, PDF translation is about images as much as it is about words.

In this instance, you would likely want a translated PDF to match the source formatting. The most cost-effective way to translate a PDF is to provide your translation partner with all source files used to create the PDF. Recreation of a PDF without source files can be time consuming, as well as potentially having a negative impact on quality. For example, without source files, images may remain as low-resolution. Thinking about the amount of time, skill, and expertise that go into creating a source language file, you probably already realize that PDF translation often requires professional support.

When to Call in a Pro for PDF Translation

If your business is just starting to expand to overseas markets, you might feel that translating your PDF is not really necessary. Given the information below, you probably want to re-think that!

Please take this into consideration:

• Where will your PDF “live”? Is it a link buried at the bottom of your site? Or will it be heavily trafficked?
• Will it be digital or print? Are you planning to only have people access your PDF electronically? Will you be printing brochures, catalogs, or merchandise guides?
• Who is your new audience? By expanding the languages of your PDF, who are you able to reach? Do they just speak a different language or are they also part of a different culture?

No company wants to be associated with errors. Whether it’s bad information or a simple typo, mistakes look unprofessional. Furthermore, when it comes to localizing documents, most of the time we are not simply “translating” word for word.

We are adapting the original content for the new target audience, ensuring that the original message is accurately conveyed. As part of this process, it may also be necessary to modify other elements within the document, such as images or even the choice of colors on a page, because these non-verbal components may very well carry as much meaning as the translation itself. Localizing these elements also helps your brand maintain its integrity and core values by not creating content that is culturally insensitive or offensive.

It is always best to have in mind all aspects of the localization process, and deliver a final product that will be positively received by the target market. This is especially true with PDFs, because recalling a PDF after it is distributed internally to staff or externally to clients can prove difficult.

With all these variables in mind, it is worth noting that a professional translation team isn’t just comprised of language experts. Multilingual desktop publishing specialists also work as part of a PDF translation team, ensuring that the translated PDFs are visually appealing and mirror the source language layout as closely as possible. These experts understand everything from white space to text expansion and contraction. As a result, your translated PDF is as accurate and appealing to your new audience as it is to the original audience. The end goal is to provide a localized PDF that looks the same – if not better – than the source language it is translated from.

Final Thoughts on PDF Translation

How many PDFs do you come across throughout your workday? Whether you are sharing information with co-workers or clients, employers or employees, there is a good chance that PDFs are part of your everyday life. When your everyday life connects you with the rest of the world, PDF translation is essential. Understanding the various options that exist when it comes to translating PDFs can help you make the right call for your company.

The post PDF Translation: 4 Facts You Need to Know Before Calling a Pro appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.