From Elvish to Klingon

From Elvish to Klingon

Author: Michael Adams

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2011-10-27

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 0192807099

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This fascinating book takes invented languages and explores the origins, purpose, and usage of these curious artefacts of culture. Written by experts in the field, chapters discuss a wide range of languages - from Esperanto to Klingon - and uncover the motives behind their creation and the outcomes of their existence.


In the Land of Invented Languages

In the Land of Invented Languages

Author: Arika Okrent

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2010-05-11

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 0812980891

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Here is the captivating story of humankind’s enduring quest to build a better language—and overcome the curse of Babel. Just about everyone has heard of Esperanto, which was nothing less than one man’s attempt to bring about world peace by means of linguistic solidarity. And every Star Trek fan knows about Klingon. But few people have heard of Babm, Blissymbolics, Loglan (not to be confused with Lojban), and the nearly nine hundred other invented languages that represent the hard work, high hopes, and full-blown delusions of so many misguided souls over the centuries. With intelligence and humor, Arika Okrent has written a truly original and enlightening book for all word freaks, grammar geeks, and plain old language lovers.


The Design

The Design

Author: EOS

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2011-12-19

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 1471008886

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How can we build a sustainable, moneyless, world?How can we balance our needs with those of the eco-system?How would a moneyless society work?


Talk on the Wild Side

Talk on the Wild Side

Author: Lane Greene

Publisher: The Economist

Published: 2018-11-06

Total Pages: 258

ISBN-13: 1610398343

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Language is the most human invention. Spontaneous, unruly, passionate, and erratic it resists every attempt to discipline or regularize it--a history celebrated here in all its irreverent glory. Language is a wild thing. It is vague and anarchic. Style, meaning, and usage are continually on the move. Throughout history, for every mutation, idiosyncrasy, and ubiquitous mistake, there have been countervailing rules, pronouncements and systems making some attempt to bring language to heel. From the utopian language-builder to the stereotypical grammatical stickler to the programmer trying to teach a computer to translate, Lane Greene takes the reader through a multi-disciplinary survey of the many different ways in which we attempt to control language, exploring the philosophies, motivations, and complications of each. The result is a highly readable caper that covers history, linguistics, politics, and grammar with the ease and humor of a dinner party anecdote. Talk on the Wild Side is both a guide to the great debates and controversies of usage, and a love letter to language itself. Holding it together is Greene's infectious enthusiasm for his subject. While you can walk away with the finer points of who says "whom" and the strange history of "buxom" schoolboys, most of all, it inspires awe in language itself: for its elegance, resourcefulness, and power.


The Dictionary of Made-Up Languages

The Dictionary of Made-Up Languages

Author: Stephen D Rogers

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2011-10-15

Total Pages: 331

ISBN-13: 1440530394

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Can you converse in Klingon? Ask an Elf the time of day? Greet a speaker of Esperanto? These are among the more than 100 constructed languages you'll find in this book. For each one, author Stephen D. Rogers provides vocabulary, grammatical features, background information on the language and its inventor, and fascinating facts. What's more, easy-to-follow guidelines show you how to construct your own made-up language--everything from building vocabulary to making up a grammar. So pick up this dictionary! In no time, you'll be telling your friends, "Tsun oe nga-hu ni-Na'vi pangkxo a fì-'u oe-ru prrte' lu." ("It's a pleasure to be able to chat with you in Navi.")


Interactive Storytelling

Interactive Storytelling

Author: Andrew Glassner

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2017-08-02

Total Pages: 529

ISBN-13: 1000065340

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We are on the verge of creating an exciting new kind of interactive story form that will involve audiences as active participants. This book provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of classical story structure and classical game structure and explains why it has been surprisingly difficult to bring these two activities together. With this foundation in place, the book presents several ideas for ways to move forward in this appealing quest. The author has a conversational and friendly style, making reading a pleasure.