Software tools for conlanging

Many ingenious people have created software tools for conlanging. In addition to this, a number of programs not originally intended for conlanging can be put to great use when creating languages. This article aims to become a comprehensive list of useful conlanging software available on the internet.

General guides to conlanging

• Language Construction Kit by Zompist (Mark Rosenfelder)
• How to Create a Language by Pablo David Flores

All-purpose software

• SIL FieldWorks - a software suite for professional linguists
• PolyGlot by Draque (Conlang creation software with dictionary, auto conjugation functionality, grammar guide, and recordable sound examples)
• Conlang Dictionary by faiuwle (usable, but many features are still to come)
• Computerized Conlang Creator Project by (mainly) Praesidium and Jotomicron (probably a dead project?)

Word generators

Online

• Vulgar: a Language Generator by Linguistx (full version available for purchase, free contains full grammar and 200 words, full contains much more customizability and 4000 words)
• awkwords by Imploder
• Wordo Word Generator by Matthew Martin (web-based version of WordBuilder)
• Gen by Mark Rosenfelder
• Atlas (an International Auxiliary Language tool)

Downloadable to run offline

• WordBuilder by Alfar
• Lexifer by William Annis
• Logopoeist by Logan Kearsley
• Instructions and downloadable version of Gleb by Alex Fink
• Boris by John Fisher and Jim Henry (also includes a meta-generator, which generates random phonologies and mutates them via genetic algorithm)
• everyword.pl by John Cowan and Jim Henry
• Scripts to generate phonologically redundant vocabulary by Jim Henry

Documents describing techniques

• A method of generating "flavoured" words (not really a generator, but still interesting)

Sound change appliers

• Versatile Sound Change Applier (VSCA) by MUBA
• Geoff's SCA Version 0.5 by bricka (Geoff Eddy)
• Geoff's SCA Version 0.8 by bricka (Geoff Eddy)
• Haedus Toolbox SCA by Samantha McCabe
• Reversible Sound Change Applier (RSCA)
• Sounds - Zompist's SCA
• SCA² - Zompist's SCA, Version 2 (can be used online)

Vocabulary managers

• The Field Linguist's Toolbox
• Lexique Pro

Syntax tools

• RSyntaxTree

Corpus analyzers

• frequencies.pl by Jim Henry -- finds frequency of words and phrases in one or more text files
• The Frequentizer by Jan Strasser -- finds frequency of phonemes in a text corpus

Translation exercises

• Arthaey Angosii's collection of translation exercises
• Graded Sentences for Analysis
• Sentences to Test Conlang Syntax (a selected subset of the above)

Free Unicode fonts

• SIL Font page. Recommended: Gentium, Charis SIL, Doulos SIL

• SIL TypeTuner Web Fonts2Go. Customizable versions of SIL Unicode fonts with glyph variants and more, e.g. if you want a wedge-shaped caron on d, l, t or a different glyph for uppercase Ŋ. Most (all?) of these variants are available as OpenType or Graphite features e.g. with XeLaTeX but a custom font is easier to work with and can be used anywhere.

Keyboard Layout editors

• Tavultesoft Keyman for Windows
• Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC)
• Ukelele for Mac OS X
• SymbolChooser conlang word processor for Windows

Font editors

• FontForge (works well together with Inkscape)
• High Logic's FontCreator (30 days' evaluation, unless you afford those 80 USAnian bucks)

Other

• The Conlanger's Library Web Resources Page
• Language Creation Society
• Conlang Mailing List archive
• CXS/XSAMPA <-> IPA converter by Henrik Theiling
• The Derivizer by Jan Strasser -- assists in coming up with derivations and compounds
• relay-scheduler.pl by Mark Reed and Jim Henry -- tool for finding optimal sequences for conlang translation relays, based on people's preferences about what conlang to follow/precede. Needs work to find optimal dates based on when people are available, as well.
• Scripts to turn formatted text files into interlinear gloss or hyperlinked gloss HTML files by Jim Henry; need tweaking to work with other conlangs than gzb
• Conlang Atlas of Language Structures
• Dictionary Center (for conlangs)
• LingoJam create an online translator for your language

This article is part of a series on Conlanging Culture. Conlanging culture: Conlang flag * Conlang terminology * Language Creation Conference * Smiley Award Conlanging organizations: Language Creation Society Conlanging forums and online communities: CBB * Conlang-L FAQ * List of communities * PFJ * Zompist Bulletin Board Conlanging websites: Cwnc.net Conlanging games: Conlang relay * Comentary Conlanging * Glossotechnia * #Lexember Misc: Software tools for conlanging * My First Conlang * St Hildegard's day * *