How To Create a Fictional Language

These are the 7 levels of linguistics.

In today’s essay, we discuss the 7 levels of linguistics, and apply them to create a new language for a fictional world.

Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, including the sounds, words, and grammar used in communication. There are several levels of linguistics, including phonetics, graphemics, morphology, lexis, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

Let’s walk through each level of linguistics, and build a new language layer by layer.

Phonetics

sounds used to make words

Phonetics is the study of the sounds used to make words. It focuses on the physical properties of sounds, including how they are produced, transmitted, and received.

Let's create an example of a fictional language for a species known as the "Zephyri," who inhabit a forested, mountainous world with a rich tradition of storytelling and song.

Zephyri live in a quiet environment with sounds of rustling leaves and gentle winds, which has influenced their language to be soft and melodious. They utilize a variety of vowel sounds with elongated, singing tones, and gentle, flowing consonants (like 'l', 'm', 'n', 'v', 'z').

Graphemics

basic components (letters)

Graphemics is the study of the basic components of language, such as letters and other written symbols. It looks at how these components are used to represent words and sounds.

The Zephyri have a pictographic writing system carved into tree bark or stone. Symbols are curvilinear and flow into one another, similar to the intertwined branches of their forest homes. They write in a spiraling pattern, starting from the center and moving outwards, which reflects their belief in the cyclical nature of life.