Are Elvish, Klingon, Dothraki and Na’vi real languages?
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What do Game of Thrones’ Dothraki, Avatar’s Na’vi, Star Trek’s Klingon and LOTR’s Elvish have in common? They are all fantasy constructed languages, or conlangs. Conlangs have all the delicious complexities of real languages: a high volume of words, grammar rules, and room for messiness and evolution. John McWhorter explains why these invented languages captivate fans long past the rolling credits.
If you were assigned to make up a language, how would you come up with words? Based on what sounds pleasant, or a system of some kind, or something random?
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Meet The Creators
- Educator John McWhorter
- Director Joyce Stenneke
- Sound Designer Werner Urban
- Narrator John McWhorter
