Language
Languages are systems of shared meaning, whether natural, constructed, or symbolic. This category captures their role within a world: how they sound, how they are written, how they function grammatically, and where or by whom they are used. Languages may carry political weight, cultural importance, or fictional depth. The category’s fields are designed to support both lightweight notation and full conlang development.
Languages are a world’s methods of communication. They interact with:
- Characters, Species, and Creatures (who speak, shape, or inherit them)
- Locations and Zones (where languages are regionally dominant or isolated)
- Constructs (for classifying broader typological or ancestral groups)
They are distinct from:
- Constructs (which include ideas, systems, or tools not tied to speech)
- Traits (which describe how a character expresses themselves, but not the system of expression)
Language discussions on GitHub
Fields
Section titled “Fields”Structure
Section titled “Structure”| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
phonology |
text | The language’s sound systems, including phonemes, tone, and pronunciation rules |
grammar |
text | Rules governing syntax, morphology, and sentence structure |
lexicon |
text | Vocabulary principles or full word lists used in the language |
writing |
text | Script or notation system used to represent the language in written form |
classification |
link to Construct | Linguistic group or typological category the language belongs to |
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
status |
text | Current vitality, reputation, or dominance of the language |
spread |
links to Location | Geographical areas where the language is used or spoken |
dialects |
links to Language | Variants or dialect languages derived from the language |