Languages form in many ways. Some languages evolve over centuries in their countries of origin, while others spread throughout the world to form new dialects among their speakers.
But constructed languages don’t work in the same way as other languages. So, how do they begin—and how do they survive? Find out in our guide to constructed languages with explanations, examples, and a brief exploration into the final frontier. (Ever heard of Klingon?)
Table of Contents
What is a constructed language?
A constructed language is a language that was invented. Also known as “conlangs,” constructed languages are artificial languages that did not evolve from ancestral languages or develop from other dialects. These languages are typically developed by linguists, logicians, polyglots, mathematicians, or other experts interested in the intricacies of language and communication.
Most constructed languages don’t have native speakers, meaning that their speakers learn them through classes or instruction rather than through their families. But some constructed languages have been around long enough that many generations have learned them—and they do now have native speakers.
Traits of constructed languages
Although every constructed language is unique, they do tend to share certain traits, including:
- root words from Latin, Greek, and Latin-based Romance languages
- simplified grammar systems that are easy to understand
- small vocabularies with options to change word meaning for clarity
- use of the Latin alphabet (or a modified version)
- straightforward pronunciation
Constructed languages have common traits because they’re usually created to be neutral universal languages (or IAL, International Auxiliary Languages) that incorporate elements of languages around the world. And because they’re intended to be straightforward for speakers of any language, constructed languages tend to be easier to learn than traditional languages.
Examples of constructed languages
The first constructed language we have on record is known as Lingua Ignota (Latin for “unknown language”). Invented by Benedictine Abbess Hildegard von Bingen in the 12th century, Lingua Ignota uses around 1,000 vocabulary words influenced by German and Latin, as well as an alphabet that resembles Greek, Cyrillic, and Roman cursive.
Since the 1100s, over one thousand constructed languages have been recorded in linguistic history. Some of these constructed languages caught the attention of language experts and even larger populations of speakers, while others serve mainly as experiments in logic and language.
Esperanto
Around 100,000 people speak Esperanto, making it one of the most widely spoken and well-known constructed languages in the world. It was developed in 1887 by 19th-century oculist L.L. Zamenhof in present-day Poland, who spoke many languages and wanted to create a universal language of understanding. Originally named la lingvo internacia (the international language), Esperanto comes from Dr. Zamenhof’s pseudonym, Doktoro Esperanto (Dr. Hopeful).
Esperanto uses root words from Romance languages and a variation of the Latin alphabet, which includes 28 accented and unaccented letters with one sound per letter. It also incorporates influences from Polish, Russian, English, Greek, Japanese, German, Arabic, and Hungarian, and uses an agglutinative grammar system with many affixes.
You’ll find Esperanto-speaking communities, including native Esperanto speakers, in Europe, Japan, China, and Brazil. More than 100 periodicals and 30,000 books have been translated into Esperanto today.
| English | Esperanto |
| Hello! How are you? | Saluton! Kiel vi fartas? |
| I love to learn new languages. | Mi amas lerni novajn lingvojn. |
| This is my favorite book. | Ĉi tiu estas mia plej ŝatata libro. |
Ido
The constructed Ido language is largely based on Esperanto. In fact, even the name Ido comes from the Esperanto suffix meaning “derived from.” It was created by logician Louis de Beaufront in 1907, who wanted to fix weaknesses within Esperanto and extend its reach as a universal language.
Ido uses an expanded Esperanto alphabet, a simplified spelling system, and Romance-based grammar and inflections. Despite Ido’s similarities to Esperanto, it is not as common as its language ancestor.
| English | Ido |
| Do you like dogs or cats? | Ka tu amas hundes o katos? |
| I drive a blue car. | Me kondukas un blua auto. |
| John feels happy today. | John sente felice hodie. |
Interlingua
Italian mathematician Giuseppe Peano developed the Interlingua language in 1903 as an IAL between Romance language-speaking countries in Europe. It primarily includes vocabulary from Italian, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as Russian and German. Like other constructed languages, Interlingua is meant to be easy to learn and understand.
Interlingua gathered interest from linguists in the mid-20th century, but today, it’s not a common universal language outside of a few periodicals. Learners who are fluent in a Romance language wouldn’t find Interlingua a challenge to pick up.
| English | Interlingua |
| Where do you work? | Ubi tu labora? |
| I have three brothers. | Io ha tres fratres. |
| Good morning! | Bon matino |
Novial
Like Esperanto and Ido, the language of Novial was meant as a universal language across multiple populations. It was developed by Danish philologist Otto Jespersen in 1928 and shares some traits with Esperanto and Ido, including a similar grammar structure and Romance-based roots. However, with additional root words from German and a similar syntax to English, Novial is a more Germanic language than its predecessors.
If you know German, Danish, or another Germanic language, you may find Novial even easier to learn than Esperanto, though there are not as many Novial speakers or translated works of literature.
| English | Novial |
| That’s a good question. | Tum es bon questione. |
| Where is my son? | Vor es men filio? |
| I have your address. | Me have vun adrese. |
Lingwa de Planeta
One of the more recently constructed languages is Lingwa de Planeta, also known as Lidepla. Inspired by the creation of the Novial language, a language team headed by Russian psychologist Dmitri Ivanov developed Lingwa de Planeta in 2006.
Lingwa de Planeta incorporates elements from Hindi, English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Russian, Persian, Chinese, and many more languages. It uses a 25-word Latin alphabet, a grammar system that does not change word endings for verb tense, and a vocabulary based on Latin roots common around the world. Because Lingwa de Planeta is such a new language, its speakers primarily use the language in small online communities.
| English | Lingwa de Planeta |
| This car is yellow. | Sey auto es hwan. |
| How much does it cost? | Kwanto it kosti? |
| I don’t understand. | Me bu samaji. |
Is English a constructed language?
English is a Germanic language, meaning that it evolved from a Germanic ancestor language and is not a constructed language. However, some versions of English are considered constructed languages, including:
- basic English: a simplified version of English with a smaller vocabulary, fewer grammar rules, and a reduced number of verbs
- special English: a shortened form of English used in 20th-century radio and 21st-century social media
- global English (Globish): a subset of the full English languages used by international English speakers in business contexts
These versions of English are designed for listeners, speakers, and readers to access English communications without being fluent in English. Though these constructed languages are based on English alone, they do serve as universal languages in various settings throughout the world.
Fictional constructed languages
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, or any other movie or literature genre that lives in its own world, you can probably name a few more constructed languages. Millions of speakers fluently speak these languages—they just happen to be mostly fictional people (or other creatures)!
Fascinated by constructed languages and natural languages alike, authors like J.R.R. Tolkien created languages for the many populations living in their stories. Well-known fictional constructed languages in books, movies, and television shows include:
- Elvish, including Quenya and Sindarin (Lord of the Rings)
- Klingon (Star Trek)
- Huttese (Star Wars)
- Dothraki (Game of Thrones)
If you’d like to learn a language by watching TV, one of these languages may be fun to try! Learning a fictional language is also great practice for learning a new language with Rosetta Stone (and you can also use your favorite shows to learn them).
Should you learn a constructed language?
Because they usually include a limited vocabulary and straightforward grammatical system, constructed languages are often easier to learn than more complex languages. They’re especially interesting to linguists and polyglots (although you don’t need to be either to learn a new language!). Additionally, if you know Spanish, French, or another Romance language, you may find that learning constructed languages with Latin roots is not very challenging.
But whether you should learn a constructed language depends on your reasons to learn a new language. They’re not commonly spoken in many regions, so you wouldn’t find many conversation partners. However, if you’d like to learn more about the connections between languages, or if you enjoy reading text in one common language, learning a constructed language may be a great adventure for you!
Key takeaways about constructed languages
Constructed languages bring speakers together all over the world. Here are a few takeaways when it comes to constructed languages:
- Constructed languages are invented by one creator or a team of creators.
- They are meant to be universal languages between populations.
- Esperanto is the most common constructed language in the world today.
- Many writers use elements of constructed languages in their books, movies, and television shows.
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