1. Dagolas

    Dagolas Banned

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    Where to list other language

    Discussion in 'Fantasy' started by Dagolas, Feb 4, 2012.

    The book I plan on writing will contain sentences (mainly dialog) in Elvish (which I shall invent myself), and I was wondering if I should display:

    1. Under the text of the page:

    The elf uttered a few words:
    "Porono kiay pokono pankaka"*


    *Do we have any pancakes?

    2. Or should I have a mini dictionary at the end of a box, à la "Eragon" (for those who have read it)
     
  2. fb.

    fb. New Member

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    Me again :)

    Inventing a language is a huge undertaking, but if you don't do it at the start, you'll struggle to do it retrospectively. Remember that Tolkien was actually a Professor of Old English, which is as foreign a language as Elvish would be (example sentence: "wyrd biþ ful aræd!"). So, he knew his stuff before he started making his own up.

    To be honest, if you have your heart set on Elvish, I'd just use a few rare bits for atmosphere, where the meaning is either obvious from context or else doesn't really matter. Actually having to consult footnotes or a glossary to follow the story will get very old very fast.
     
  3. Dagolas

    Dagolas Banned

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    Ok, I shall endeavour to only use it when it matters not, or with spells (or i suppose I should call "magical incantations")
     
  4. akexodia

    akexodia Member

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    The world that my mind spawns!
    :D
    I agree with what fb has to say.
    You need to prepare a solid plot line first and then venture into bringing a new language to life if it's necessary.
     

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