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Dylan Hilber
10/23/2014

The Influence of Tolkien, Esperanto, and Klingon on the

Work of Video Game Linguists
Proposal
For this project I will look at the work of video game linguists who have created unique
languages for their respective games. I will primarily be looking at the constructed languages of
Elvish, Klingon, and Esperanto, and how they have influenced the way video game linguists
create languages. I will write a paper that looks into how Tolkien created the Elvish languages
for the Lord of the Rings Series, the creation of Esperanto, and the creation of the Klingon. By
exploring the history of how these languages were created I will be better be able to understand
what is involved in the process. I will then look into the process used by the creators of video
game languages to see what similarities there are. Creating a new language is no easy task,
because you want it sound authentic and unique, rather than unauthentic and bland. When a
unique language is created for a work of fiction, or for a video game, it adds to the sense of
immersion you get when reading or playing. After compiling all my research I hope to examine
what went into the creation of the languages of Elvish, Esperanto, and Klingon and then compare
them to the work video game linguists do.

Objectives
This project will allow me to do research that combines my favorite hobby, video games, with
my major. Throughout my life I have encountered many different fictional worlds in video
games, and a handful of them have even had their own languages. A good example of a game
with a fictional language is Jade Empire. The developers of Jade Empire actually hired a linguist
to create a unique and believable language for the games world. It was after reading this that I
started to think about the work that must be involved when it comes to creating a new language.
It takes a lot of work to make these languages, in most cases developers create languages that are
combination of two real world languages. By looking at Tolkiens work I can see how he crafted
the different Elvish languages, and I can see what real world languages served as his influence.
The creation of Esperanto will show me what was needed to make construct an auxiliary
language that supposedly anyone can learn. Klingon is another example of a well-known and
popular language that was constructed for a fictional universe. I also plan to look at what went
into Ivar Aasens invention of Nynorsk. By looking at all of these languages I can see what
exactly is needed in order to attempt to create a new language.

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Methods
My research will be comprised of both library research and interviews. For my interviews I plan
to interview a speaker of Esperanto, as well as a video game linguist. I have managed to find
books that directly discuss the languages created by Tolkien, as well as a book which discusses
the history of Esperanto. I also found an encyclopedia which contains many different fictional
languages, including those used in the Lord of the
Rings series. I also have so far been able to find a few articles online which also pertain to my
topic. I also found a website which has an article which contains an interview of Richard Garriot,
who has created languages for the video games Ultima and Tabula Rasa. My hope is to be able to
closely examine the fictional language of Tho Fan, which was created for the game Jade Empire.
Through my readings I hope to answer a number of questions:

How did Tolkiens background help him create the languages found in the LOTR series?
How did L.L. Zamenhofs background help him create the Esperanto Language?
How did Marc Okrands background help him create the Klingon Language?
What is the history of Esperantos creation?
What went into the creation of the Klingon language?
How many people speak the languages of Esperanto and Klingon?
What has given Esperanto and Klingon the staying power that they have?
How have video game linguist been influenced by these languages?

Timeline
The Gant chart below shows the tentative deadlines that I have given myself to complete each
task:

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18-Oct

28-Oct

7-Nov

17-Nov

27-Nov

7-Dec

17-Dec

27-Dec

Gather and analyze sources

Annotated bibliography

Progress Report

Abstract

Presentations

Final Draft

Portfolio

For each task I have given myself a number of days to work on and then complete each task. The
date range for the presentation completion date is more up in the air because I do not know the
exact date I will be presenting. I think I have given myself a comfortable amount to both learn
through my research and get each assignment completed. I plan to be done with most, if not all,
of my main research by October 26 so that I can began to write my annotated bibliography. With
my research completed I will then be able to work on each step of my project until it is
eventually completed. As far as my meetings with Dr. Maylath are concerned I hope to be able to
meet with him at least once every two weeks, but of course if we can meet more often thats even
better.

Working Bibliography

Boswell, George. Tolkien as Littrateur The South Central Bulletin 1972: 188-197. Print.
Conley, Tim, and Stephen Cain. Encyclopedia of Fictional and Fantastic Languages. Westport, CT:
Greenwood, 2006. Print.
Janton, Pierre, and Humphrey Tonkin. Esperanto: Language, Literature, and Community. Albany:
State U of New York, 1993. Print.

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Krgeloh, Chris, and Tia Neha. "Lexical Expansion and Terminological Planning in Indigenous and
Planned Languages." EBSCO. N.p., 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
Portnow, James. "In Tongues: Richard Garriott on In-Game Languages GameCareerGuide.com." Game Career Guide Article. N.p., 8 Jan. 2008. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Salo, David. A Gateway to Sindarin: A Grammar of an Elvish Language from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of
the Rings. Salt Lake City: U of Utah, 2004. Print.