Creating a Language for Fantasy and Science Fiction Worlds with Frauke Uhlenbruch

Learn the fundamentals of constructing a language or bring your existing constructed language (con-lang) to develop further! In this class, computational linguist, linguistics, and foreign language instructor Frauke Uhlebruh will help writers of all levels find a systematic approach to constructing a language. 

For those new to creating languages, this class will cover basic grammatical structure and vocabulary for a constructed language and guidance for expanding their language after class. 

Bringing your own con-lang? Learn to introduce features of your language and get feedback or suggestions for future development.

There will be an opportunity to workshop and receive feedback on features for all participants.

Topics covered will include:

• Possibilities for linguistic/grammatical structures
• Con-langs and their role in worldbuilding in SFF
• Opportunities in SFF to go beyond the known/human realm when it comes to producing and perceiving languages
• Introducing a con-lang without overwhelming the reader

Students will have opportunities to present features of the language they are working on and/or workshop a passage from their writing in which their language features.

Though these sessions are lecture spaces, attendees will be asked to participate via chat, voice, and/or video.

This class meets online for three 90-minute sessions.

Meeting Dates:

 October 14, 21 & 28 5:30-7:00 pm

No advance preparation is required, but if you have been working on a con-lang, come prepared to talk about it!

About the Instructor: 

Frauke Uhlenbruch is a computational linguist, linguistics and foreign language instructor, translator, and all around grammar nerd. She publishes horror, science fiction, and fantasy as Anna Ziegelhof and is a member of SFWA and HWA.

Website

This event will be held in Zoom. By registering for this class, you agree to follow the Clarion West Code of Conduct and Zoom policies. 

Limited Free Seating: 

We offer a percentage of seats in every class to People of the Global Majority (Asian, Black, African, Latina/o/x, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and/or have been racialized as 'ethnic minorities') for free, regardless of financial need. 

Eligible folks should complete this form to enter the lottery for free seats.  If a seat is available, we will email you 7-10 days before the class begins. For more information, see our equity and inclusion policies.

Sliding Scale Pricing:

The Supporting Tuition rate is shown for each class or workshop for folks who can pay it. Paying the Supporting Tuition rate enables us to continue to pay our staff and instructors equitably, as well as support access to classes for others who may be in a different situation. 

The Helping Hands rate is available to folks under more limited economic circumstances, no matter your background.

For more information, see our financial aid policies.

Our Refund Policy:

Clarion West will refund all class fees if the request is made 30 days before the class date. Refund requests made within 30 days of the class will be honored if we can fill the seat.

Any exceptions are subject to approval by our workshop staff.