<p>In addition to <em>The Language Construction Kit</em> that @Edvin mentioned in his answer (and linked to), Mr Rosenfelder also has <a href="https://zompist.com/lck2.html" rel="noreferrer"><em>Advanced Language Construction</em></a>, <a href="https://zompist.com/lexipedia.html" rel="noreferrer"><em>The Conlanger’s Lexipedia</em></a>, and <a href="https://zompist.com/syntax.html" rel="noreferrer"><em>The Syntax Construction Kit</em></a>; I have and recommend all four. <em>ALC</em> picks up where <em>LCK</em> leaves off; Mr Rosenfelder recommends using the <em>Lexipedia</em> to assist in building the vocabulary for your language, and <em>SCK</em> focuses on the syntax of languages and some of the problems involved in developing viable ones.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-16T16:31:04.770Z
Good follow on, and I will look at them.  Thank you.
EngrStudent
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-16T13:15:07.230Z
2022-12-16T13:15:07.230Z
Jeff Zeitlin
<p>The Language Construction Kit is where I got my start, but there's also <strong>The Art of Language Invention</strong> by David J Peterson (the creator of Dothraki, among others). This is intended less as a step-by-step guide and more as a discussion of everything involved in conlanging, written by an experienced conlanger.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-16T16:30:55.170Z
Good follow on, and I will look at it.
EngrStudent
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-16T01:23:18.833Z
2022-12-16T01:23:18.833Z
Draconis
<p>One good place where many a conlanger has started out is <a href="https://zompist.com/lckbook.html" rel="noreferrer">The Language Construction Kit by Mark Rosenfelder</a>. I first encountered it as an impressionable teenager, and I think it's hard to overestimate the mark it left in that young brain of mine.</p>
<p>It introduces the reader to topics from phonology to grammar, as well as the overall process of creating a language. It also comes with examples and concrete tips on how to approach a project, what pitfalls to avoid and more!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-16T16:30:35.073Z
They all point to this as the foundation.  That is where I am looking to go.  Thank you.
EngrStudent
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-15T20:20:51.170Z
2022-12-15T20:20:51.170Z
Edvin
<p>I have trivially dabbled in Esperanto, Klingon, and a few other languages. Now I want to build one, and not a distorted copy of an existing one.  I want to make a non-junk constructed language.</p>
<p>Is there a decent guide for how to build a totally novel language?
What sort of approaches are used?</p>
<p>Could you point to decent books, or high-quality articles on the subject?</p>
<p>Are there classes on the subject?</p>
<p>I'm looking for a better start than insert-here for dummies.  What is a high-quality start?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-17T19:41:27.040Z
Don't bag on _«blank» for Dummies_; I've had occasion to use some of them, and they tend to be well-written and organized, and a good introduction to the basics of their subject matter. That's really _all_ they are, though; once you've gone through them, you'll want something more advanced...
Jeff Zeitlin
<conlang-creation><unnatural-features><design-goals>
Roadmap for effective construction of a novel language
# Roadmap for effective construction of a novel language

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-12-15)

I have trivially dabbled in Esperanto, Klingon, and a few other languages. Now I want to build one, and not a distorted copy of an existing one. I want to make a non-junk constructed language.

Is there a decent guide for how to build a totally novel language?
What sort of approaches are used?

Could you point to decent books, or high-quality articles on the subject?

Are there classes on the subject?

I'm looking for a better start than insert-here for dummies. What is a high-quality start?

**Tags:** conlang-creation, unnatural-features, design-goals

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Don't bag on _«blank» for Dummies_; I've had occasion to use some of them, and they tend to be well-written and organized, and a good introduction to the basics of their subject matter. That's really _all_ they are, though; once you've gone through them, you'll want something more advanced...  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-12-15. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

One good place where many a conlanger has started out is [The Language Construction Kit by Mark Rosenfelder](https://zompist.com/lckbook.html). I first encountered it as an impressionable teenager, and I think it's hard to overestimate the mark it left in that young brain of mine.

It introduces the reader to topics from phonology to grammar, as well as the overall process of creating a language. It also comes with examples and concrete tips on how to approach a project, what pitfalls to avoid and more!

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: They all point to this as the foundation.  That is where I am looking to go.  Thank you.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-12-16. Score: 7

In addition to *The Language Construction Kit* that @username_3 mentioned in his answer (and linked to), Mr Rosenfelder also has [*Advanced Language Construction*](https://zompist.com/lck2.html), [*The Conlanger’s Lexipedia*](https://zompist.com/lexipedia.html), and [*The Syntax Construction Kit*](https://zompist.com/syntax.html); I have and recommend all four. *ALC* picks up where *LCK* leaves off; Mr Rosenfelder recommends using the *Lexipedia* to assist in building the vocabulary for your language, and *SCK* focuses on the syntax of languages and some of the problems involved in developing viable ones.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Good follow on, and I will look at them.  Thank you.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2022-12-16. Score: 4

The Language Construction Kit is where I got my start, but there's also **The Art of Language Invention** by David J Peterson (the creator of Dothraki, among others). This is intended less as a step-by-step guide and more as a discussion of everything involved in conlanging, written by an experienced conlanger.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Good follow on, and I will look at it.  

---

