Fictionary: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}{{cleanup|Many of the examples here are [[Con Lang]]s, not Fictionaries. They need to be moved to Con Lang if they are not already there, and deleted from this page.}}
{{trope}}
{{quote|''"Don't go putting any bits of your 'Eressëan', or 'Elf-latin', or whatever you call it, into your verses at Oxford. It might scan, but it wouldn't pass."''|'''Oswin Errol''', ''[[The History of Middle Earth|The Lost Road]]'', [[J. R. R. Tolkien|JRR Tolkien]]}}
{{quote|''"Don't go putting any bits of your 'Eressëan', or 'Elf-latin', or whatever you call it, into your verses at Oxford. It might scan, but it wouldn't pass."''
|'''Oswin Errol''', ''[[The History of Middle Earth|The Lost Road]]'', [[J. R. R. Tolkien|JRR Tolkien]]}}


A Fictionary language is based on English, or another well-known language with a replacement vocabulary but no deep changes: the grammatical structure remains the same. Compare with [[Con Lang]], where a full-blown language has been created from scratch for a work of fiction.
A Fictionary language is based on English, or another well-known language with a replacement vocabulary but no deep changes: the grammatical structure remains the same. Compare with [[Con Lang]], where a full-blown language has been created from scratch for a work of fiction.
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When this is done by a character, it's [[Personal Dictionary]].
When this is done by a character, it's [[Personal Dictionary]].
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{{examples}}


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{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* In ''[[Crest of the Stars]]'' the Abh speak [[wikipedia:Baronh|Baronh]], a language created by the author. It follows Japanese rather than English structure.
* In ''[[Crest of the Stars]]'' the Abh speak [[wikipedia:Baronh|Baronh]], a language created by the author. It follows Japanese rather than English structure.
* ''[[Super Dimension Fortress Macross]] Do You Remember Love'' does this as well, giving the Zentradi a fictional language that actually has a rudimentary grammar and a vocabulary.
* ''[[Super Dimension Fortress Macross]] Do You Remember Love'' does this as well, giving the Zentradi a fictional language that actually has a rudimentary grammar and a vocabulary.


== [[Film]]s ==
== [[Film]] ==
* The language spoken by Leeloo in ''[[The Fifth Element]]'' was invented by director Luc Besson and actress [[Milla Jovovich]] (who played Leeloo). It was so thoroughly worked out that reportedly by the end of filming, Besson and Jovovich were regularly holding entire conversations in it.
* The language spoken by Leeloo in ''[[The Fifth Element]]'' was invented by director Luc Besson and actress [[Milla Jovovich]] (who played Leeloo). It was so thoroughly worked out that reportedly by the end of filming, Besson and Jovovich were regularly holding entire conversations in it.
* The vampires in the film adaption of ''30DaysOfNight'' speak most of their lines in a fictional language. Subtitles are used so viewers can tell what they're saying.
* The vampires in the film adaption of ''[[30 Days of Night]]'' speak most of their lines in a fictional language. Subtitles are used so viewers can tell what they're saying.
* In ''[[Quest for Fire]]'', the Neanderthal tribe speaks a language invented by [[Anthony Burgess]] for the film.
* In ''[[Quest for Fire]]'', the Neanderthal tribe speaks a language invented by [[Anthony Burgess]] for the film.
* The Vulcan language as used in the earlier ''[[Star Trek]]'' movies seems to show signs of this—for instance, when the subtitles show frequent use of the word "logic" while the dialogue repeatedly employs the word "olgica".
* The Vulcan language as used in the earlier ''[[Star Trek]]'' movies seems to show signs of this—for instance, when the subtitles show frequent use of the word "logic" while the dialogue repeatedly employs the word "olgica".
** Though the work on the Vulcan dialogue was done by Marc Okrand, the man later responsible for the development of the [[Klingon]] language, so it may be this lies somewhere between Fictionary and [[Constructed Language]].
** Though the work on the Vulcan dialogue was done by Marc Okrand, the man later responsible for the development of the [[Klingon]] language, so it may be this lies somewhere between Fictionary and [[Constructed Language]].
*** While Okrand developed the Vulcan words ''heard'' in both [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture|TMP]] and [[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|TWoK]], this was only ''after'' the scenes had been shot... in English. He had to select phonetic constructions which would plausibly lipsynch to the existing footage, hence why Vulcan sounds somewhat like inside-out English. If the Spock-Saavik exchange is muted, it is quite obvious that the subtitles are only slightly altered from what Nimoy and Alley are actually saying.
*** While Okrand developed the Vulcan words ''heard'' in both ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture|TMP]]'' and ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', this was only ''after'' the scenes had been shot... in English. He had to select phonetic constructions which would plausibly lipsynch to the existing footage, hence why Vulcan sounds somewhat like inside-out English. If the Spock-Saavik exchange is muted, it is quite obvious that the subtitles are only slightly altered from what Nimoy and Alley are actually saying.
* The cast of the movie ''[[Caveman]]'' (Except for one Asian guy, who speaks English for some reason) communicate in a made-up language that has maybe two dozen words in it, not counting personal names. There is no real grammatical structure, as there are no sentences spoken with more than three words in them, and these sentences can mean different things depending on context. For example, 'Nya ool' (literally: 'No food') can mean things like 'There is no food', 'I do not have food', or 'This is not food'.
* The cast of the movie ''[[Caveman]]'' (Except for one Asian guy, who speaks English for some reason) communicate in a made-up language that has maybe two dozen words in it, not counting personal names. There is no real grammatical structure, as there are no sentences spoken with more than three words in them, and these sentences can mean different things depending on context. For example, 'Nya ool' (literally: 'No food') can mean things like 'There is no food', 'I do not have food', or 'This is not food'.


== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
* As the page quote indicates, [[J. R. R. Tolkien|JRR Tolkien]]'s fictional languages started out this way, with Quenya based on Finnish and Sindarin based on Welsh. However, by the time he was done with them, they were full-blown [[Constructed Language]]s with their own unique vocabulary and grammar rules.
* As the page quote indicates, [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s fictional languages started out this way, with Quenya based on Finnish and Sindarin based on Welsh. However, by the time he was done with them, they were full-blown [[Constructed Language]]s with their own unique vocabulary and grammar rules.
* [[Christopher Paolini]] invented three languages for the ''[[Inheritance Cycle]]'': the Ancient Language (spoken by elves and magic users, based on Old Norse), [[Our Dwarves Are All the Same|Dwarvish]] (mostly made up by Paolini), and the Urgal language (as of ''Brisingr'', still limited to mainly a few words). There also exists another language spoken by the nomads, but it hasn't been given any detail yet, except for clarification that adding "-no" to the end of a person's name is an honorific. The Ancient Language is similar to English but not entirely the same, so partly crossing over into conlang (although full rules of grammar have yet to be provided), while the dwarven language is far less similar to any pre-existing ones.
* [[Christopher Paolini]] invented three languages for the ''[[Inheritance Cycle]]'': the Ancient Language (spoken by elves and magic users, based on Old Norse), [[Our Dwarves Are All the Same|Dwarvish]] (mostly made up by Paolini), and the Urgal language (as of ''Brisingr'', still limited to mainly a few words). There also exists another language spoken by the nomads, but it hasn't been given any detail yet, except for clarification that adding "-no" to the end of a person's name is an honorific. The Ancient Language is similar to English but not entirely the same, so partly crossing over into conlang (although full rules of grammar have yet to be provided), while the dwarven language is far less similar to any pre-existing ones.
** A common criticism of the [[Inheritance Cycle]] is that the Ancient Language and the Dwarven Language are simply encoded English with a few archaic word orders thrown in to spice it up. This is improved upon slightly in later books. He also [[Critical Research Failure|drops a huge clanger]] when Oromis talks about Eragon's screw-up with Elva, where he applies idiosyncratic rules of English, wrongly, to his fictional language. (Just for the record, "May you be shielded," is not in the past tense).
** A common criticism of the ''[[Inheritance Cycle]]'' is that the Ancient Language and the Dwarven Language are simply encoded English with a few archaic word orders thrown in to spice it up. This is improved upon slightly in later books. He also [[Critical Research Failure|drops a huge clanger]] when Oromis talks about Eragon's screw-up with Elva, where he applies idiosyncratic rules of English, wrongly, to his fictional language. (Just for the record, "May you be shielded," is not in the past tense).
* The ''[[Animorphs]]'' series has "Galard", which functions as that universe's common alien language, though most alien converse in English on Earth, presumably to practise being undercover. There are also snippets of the Andalites' language, used when an Andalite word is untranslatable. There's also the Hork-Bajir language, of which there are at least twenty known words.
* The ''[[Animorphs]]'' series has "Galard", which functions as that universe's common alien language, though most alien converse in English on Earth, presumably to practise being undercover. There are also snippets of the Andalites' language, used when an Andalite word is untranslatable. There's also the Hork-Bajir language, of which there are at least twenty known words.
** Galard was the language used by the Hawjabrans, and the Yeerks adopted it for use with Gedd hosts, since they couldn't communicate with ultrasonic squeaks like they did in the Yeerk Pool. Most Andalites wear universal translators in their heads.
** Galard was the language used by the Hawjabrans, and the Yeerks adopted it for use with Gedd hosts, since they couldn't communicate with ultrasonic squeaks like they did in the Yeerk Pool. Most Andalites wear universal translators in their heads.
* The Old Tongue in Robert Jordan's ''[[Wheel of Time]]'' novels is an example of the more fragmentary style.
* The Old Tongue in Robert Jordan's ''[[Wheel of Time]]'' novels is an example of the more fragmentary style.
** The Old Tongue is interesting from a philological standpoint. Almost all formal names and many place names are in it, yet almost all Old Tongue words are actually obvious variations on or mutations of real words from the real world, often very unrelated to what they are describing in the book. For example, the name for the gypsy-like, pacifistic Traveling People, ''Tuatha'an'', is suspiciously like "Tuatha Dé Danann", an Irish mythological group which are known for their skill in battle.
** The Old Tongue is interesting from a philological standpoint. Almost all formal names and many place names are in it, yet almost all Old Tongue words are actually obvious variations on or mutations of real words from the real world, often very unrelated to what they are describing in the book. For example, the name for the gypsy-like, pacifistic Traveling People, ''Tuatha'an'', is suspiciously like "Tuatha Dé Danann", an Irish mythological group which are known for their skill in battle.
*** This is somewhat justified, since it is slightly implied throughout the series that the world is actually our world from the future, as part of the Wheel of Time that spins through seven ages.
*** This is somewhat justified, since it is slightly implied throughout the series that the world is actually our world far in the future, as part of the Wheel of Time that spins through seven ages.
* The ''[[Discworld]]'' novels have mentioned a few words from the languages of trolls and dwarfs. Most of these are [[Translation: "Yes"|humorously concise]], such as the Troll word "aagragaah" (which means "forebodings", but more literally translates as "[[Oh Crap|the moment you see the little pebbles that indicate an avalanche is coming, and realize it's too late to run away]]") and the Dwarf word "drudak'ak" (a word for more traditional dwarfs that literally means "those who do not get out in the fresh air much", possibly idiomatically "homebodies").
* The ''[[Discworld]]'' novels have mentioned a few words from the languages of trolls and dwarfs. Most of these are [[Translation: "Yes"|humorously concise]], such as the Troll word "aagragaah" (which means "forebodings", but more literally translates as "[[Oh Crap|the moment you see the little pebbles that indicate an avalanche is coming, and realize it's too late to run away]]") and the Dwarf word "drudak'ak" (a word for more traditional dwarfs that literally means "those who do not get out in the fresh air much", possibly idiomatically "homebodies").
** It's mentioned that for a human to speak the dwarven language you should preferably have a severe throat infection.
** It's mentioned that for a human to speak the dwarven language you should preferably have a severe throat infection.
* [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]] made up numerous languages for his different novel series, often accompanying them with alphabets which were little more than artistic substitution ciphers.
* [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]] made up numerous languages for his different novel series, often accompanying them with alphabets which were little more than artistic substitution ciphers.
* The Lapine language from ''[[Watership Down]]''.
* The Lapine language from ''[[Watership Down]]''.
* [[H.P. Lovecraft|HP Lovecraft]] would often sprinkle his [[Cosmic Horror]] narratives with non-human languages: "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn", and such. Fans have developed a rudimentary language [http://www.yog-sothoth.com/wiki/index.php/Rlyehian based on it].
* [[H.P. Lovecraft]] would often sprinkle his [[Cosmic Horror]] narratives with non-human languages: "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn", and such. Fans have developed a rudimentary language [http://www.yog-sothoth.com/wiki/index.php/Rlyehian based on it].
* [[Diane Duane]]'s ''[[Star Trek]]'' novels feature a Romulan language ("Rihannsu") that is clearly difficult if not impossible for humans to speak, mainly because—as Duane admitted once—it was generated entirely at random by a program she wrote for her computer.
* [[Diane Duane]]'s ''[[Star Trek]]'' novels feature a Romulan language ("Rihannsu") that is clearly difficult if not impossible for humans to speak, mainly because—as Duane admitted once—it was generated entirely at random by a program she wrote for her computer.
** Contrasting this is the ''other'' Klingon language, "klingonaase", from [[John M. Ford]]'s novel ''The Final Reflection'', and subsequently used in the Klingon supplement for the FASA ''Star Trek'' roleplaying game. Predating the language created for the movies ("tlhIngan Hol"), klingonaase was meticulously thought out and structured as part of a masterful creation of Klingon culture from the ground up, the first attempt at such for ''Trek''. Unlike "tlhIngan Hol", klingonaase was designed to be consistent with what little snippets of Klingon language—personal names, mainly—were heard in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''.
** Contrasting this is the ''other'' Klingon language, "klingonaase", from [[John M. Ford]]'s novel ''The Final Reflection'', and subsequently used in the Klingon supplement for the FASA ''Star Trek'' roleplaying game. Predating the language created for the movies ("tlhIngan Hol"), klingonaase was meticulously thought out and structured as part of a masterful creation of Klingon culture from the ground up, the first attempt at such for ''Trek''. Unlike "tlhIngan Hol", klingonaase was designed to be consistent with what little snippets of Klingon language—personal names, mainly—were heard in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''.
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* Jennifer Roberson's ''Chronicles of the Cheysuli'' series relies on the Cheysuli language for multiple cultural terms, and usually has a glossary in the back of the books.
* Jennifer Roberson's ''Chronicles of the Cheysuli'' series relies on the Cheysuli language for multiple cultural terms, and usually has a glossary in the back of the books.
* ''[[The Dark Tower]]'' series by [[Stephen King]] uses the Low Speech and High Speech of Gilead, which the "America-side" characters can understand as English but which uses a slightly different alphabet and pseudo Ancient Egyptian words such as ''Khef'' the water of life, and "Ka" the ancient Egyptian word for the life force of the soul which takes on its own complex meaning in the story.
* ''[[The Dark Tower]]'' series by [[Stephen King]] uses the Low Speech and High Speech of Gilead, which the "America-side" characters can understand as English but which uses a slightly different alphabet and pseudo Ancient Egyptian words such as ''Khef'' the water of life, and "Ka" the ancient Egyptian word for the life force of the soul which takes on its own complex meaning in the story.
* The [[Encyclopedia Exposita]] in Harry Harrison's ''[[West of Eden]]'' has glossaries of the book's various fictional languages.
* The ''[[Encyclopedia Exposita]]'' in Harry Harrison's ''[[West of Eden]]'' has glossaries of the book's various fictional languages.
* In Barry B. Longyear's ''Enemy Mine'', two main characters learning the other's language is a major theme - so the readers learn some Dracon along with the protagonist. The vocabulary is also used in a couple other stories set in the same universe.
* In Barry B. Longyear's ''Enemy Mine'', two main characters learning the other's language is a major theme - so the readers learn some Dracon along with the protagonist. The vocabulary is also used in a couple other stories set in the same universe.
* [[C. J. Cherryh|C.J. Cherryh's]] ''[[Foreigner (novel)|Foreigner]]'' novels introduce the reader to a good amount of Ragi, a language spoken by the atevi species. Not surprising as the protagonist is a translator by profession.
* [[C. J. Cherryh]]'s ''[[Foreigner (novel)|Foreigner]]'' novels introduce the reader to a good amount of Ragi, a language spoken by the atevi species. Not surprising as the protagonist is a translator by profession.
* In [[Dragonlance]] the language of magic used by Wizards is based off of Indonesian, well actually, it only uses the Indonesian grammar structure, as most of the actual words are just gibberish.
* In ''[[Dragonlance]]'' the language of magic used by Wizards is based off of Indonesian, well actually, it only uses the Indonesian grammar structure, as most of the actual words are just gibberish.
* One of the iconic-character novellas for 3rd edition [[Dungeons & Dragons]] featured a goblin as one of its protagonists, who frequently thinks about things by their Goblin names. His language is rendered by simply stripping all the vowels and some of the consonants from ordinary words ("krenshar", a type of monster, becomes "kshr").
* One of the iconic-character novellas for 3rd edition [[Dungeons & Dragons]] featured a goblin as one of its protagonists, who frequently thinks about things by their Goblin names. His language is rendered by simply stripping all the vowels and some of the consonants from ordinary words ("krenshar", a type of monster, becomes "kshr").
* Tad Williams' [[Tailchaser's Song]] has a sizable glossary in the back for both the Common Language and the cats' Higher Singing that is used throughout the book.
* Tad Williams' ''[[Tailchaser's Song]]'' has a sizable glossary in the back for both the Common Language and the cats' Higher Singing that is used throughout the book.
* [[Newspeak]] from ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four|1984]]''. Heavily derived from English, but almost totally incomprehensible to a regular English speaker.
* [[Newspeak]] from ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''. Heavily derived from English, but almost totally incomprehensible to a regular English speaker.


== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
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* [[Yoko Kanno]] uses an invented French-like language for some of her songs, with the backup of a philosophy that [[Everything Sounds Sexier in French]].
* [[Yoko Kanno]] uses an invented French-like language for some of her songs, with the backup of a philosophy that [[Everything Sounds Sexier in French]].
* Ditto [[Yuki Kajiura]], whose language has been dubbed "Kajiuran" by her fans.
* Ditto [[Yuki Kajiura]], whose language has been dubbed "Kajiuran" by her fans.
* The recent relaxation of the language restrictions in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] has led to several entries in fictional languages, including "Sanomi" by Urban Trad (Belgium 2003) and "Amambanda" by Treble (Netherlands 2005). Belgium tried it again in 2008 with 'O Julissi'(by Ishtar). The first finished in second place, just two points behind the winner, while the other two didn't get past the semifinal.
* The recent{{when}} relaxation of the language restrictions in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] has led to several entries in fictional languages, including "Sanomi" by Urban Trad (Belgium 2003) and "Amambanda" by Treble (Netherlands 2005). Belgium tried it again in 2008 with "O Julissi" (by Ishtar). The first finished in second place, just two points behind the winner, while the other two didn't get past the semifinal.
* Icelandic band Sigur Rós sing in 'Vonlenska' (normally translated as 'Hopelandic') on many of their songs. Rather than having any specific meaning, it is meant to mean whatever the listener thinks it should.
* The Icelandic band Sigur Rós sing in 'Vonlenska' (normally translated as 'Hopelandic') on many of their songs. Rather than having any specific meaning, it is meant to mean whatever the listener thinks it should.
* The Argentine comedy band [[Les Luthiers]] has Cardoso En Gulevandia; a bilingual opera spoken in Spanish and the Romance-based fictional language Gulevache.
* The Argentine comedy band [[Les Luthiers]] has Cardoso En Gulevandia; a bilingual opera spoken in Spanish and the Romance-based fictional language Gulevache.
* The music of many Cirque du Soleil soundtracks use made-up language, often sounding French, Italian, or based on another Romance language. The sound of the language used seems to differ between each show.
* The music of many [[Cirque du Soleil]] soundtracks use made-up language, often sounding French, Italian, or based on another Romance language. The sound of the language used seems to differ between each show.
** Occasionally songs have straightforward foreign-language lyrics; "Alegria" is probably the best-known example. The 1993 retrospective book explains the made-up language this way: "Gibberish is universal. Gibberish is direct. Gibberish cuts through cultural divides." Fans call this "Cirquish," and it has no literal meaning. (''Mystère'' lampshades this when the emcee tries to announce the theatre rules in Cirquish and his puppet warns him "They don't understand you, stupid!")
** Occasionally songs have straightforward foreign-language lyrics; "Alegria" is probably the best-known example. The 1993 retrospective book explains the made-up language this way: "Gibberish is universal. Gibberish is direct. Gibberish cuts through cultural divides." Fans call this "Cirquish," and it has no literal meaning. (''Mystère'' lampshades this when the emcee tries to announce the theatre rules in Cirquish and his puppet warns him "They don't understand you, stupid!")
* Extreme metal band [[Bal-Sagoth]] have many lyric lines in mystic languages. Some of it is taken from [[H.P. Lovecraft|HP Lovecraft]] or other sources, while the rest is incomprehensible and presumably just evil-sounding gibberish.
* Extreme metal band [[Bal-Sagoth]] have many lyric lines in mystic languages. Some of it is taken from [[H.P. Lovecraft|HP Lovecraft]] or other sources, while the rest is incomprehensible and presumably just evil-sounding gibberish.
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