Language Analysis Assignment

The point of this assignment is to give you a look at how well (or how poorly) we've done in our attempts to create a language that is truly 'alien'. You'll see that some language designers have been more successful than others.

At the beginning of the class, you will be assigned an 'alien' language. This will be a language that has been designed by a science fiction author as part of a created world. I'll help you identify places where you can learn about your alien tongue. You'll then prepare a brief presentation and handout for your classmates. In this presentation, you can talk about

• The sound system of your language: how weird is it?
• The word-making rules of your language: are they like anything we have on earth?
• The syntax of your language: is it earthly?
• Semantics: what kinds of cool stuff does your language have 'a word for' that we lack on Earth?
• Pragmatics: any cultural stuff you can add that is important in communicating in your language?

For some of these languages, the analysis and description will be simple. For others, you'll have to do some digging. One of the differences between ENG480- and ENG 580 is that the 580 crowd will have to work a bit harder to figure their languages out.

I said that each of you would be given an 'alien' language. This is true, except in some certain cases. A few of you will be assigned a quite ordinary Earth language (albeit one you don't speak. Engage your acting skills and present it as though it were just one more created, alien language. At the end of the class, we'll vote to see if any of us can tell which languages were 'the ringers'.