Invisible proto-language: Difference between revisions

From The Languages of David J. Peterson
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 11: Line 11:
* [[Proto-Munja'kin language|Proto-Munja'kin]]
* [[Proto-Munja'kin language|Proto-Munja'kin]]
* [[Proto-Plains language|Proto-Plains]]
* [[Proto-Plains language|Proto-Plains]]
* [[Proto-Veda language|Proto-Veda]]
* [[Sungdin language|Sungdin]]
* [[Sungdin language|Sungdin]]



Revision as of 02:44, 19 January 2020

An invisible proto-language is a ad hoc technical term used to refer to a constructed proto-language that is invisible to anyone other than the creator. It's a tool to be used by a conlanger to create another language, but is rarely showcased as a language on its own. This contrasts with a visible proto-language, which is itself a full conlang that is intended for use. For example, the proto-language of Astapori Valyrian is High Valyrian. High Valyrian is a visible proto-language, in that it is also presented as a full conlang. The proto-language of High Valyrian, on the other hand, is Old Valyrian, which is an invisible proto-language. It's not fleshed out to the same extent, and is not intended to serve as a fully functioning conlang.

Given the fact that we still do not know how language emerged for the very first time, an invisible proto-language is likely a necessarily evil in naturalistic conlanging. Much the way one can posit proto-forms for Indo-European languages going all the way back to Proto-Indo-European but no further, a conlanger must state that at a certain point one can delve no further into the history of their conlang.

As a general note, for this wiki, only a priori languages will be included in this list. A language like Lishepus, whose proto-language is essentially a mix of different natural language roots with Proto-Semitic grammar, will not be listed here.

List of Invisible Proto-Languages

List of Languages with Invisible Proto-Languages