Software tools for conlanging
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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
- Conlang - textbook on Wikimedia Laboratories (incomplete)
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 by Linguistx (full version available for purchase and download, free contains full grammar and 200 words, full contains much more customizability and 2000 words)
- awkwords by Imploder
- Gleb (random phonology generator) by Alex Fink
- Wordo Word Generator by Matthew Martin (web-based version of WordBuilder)
- Gen by Mark Rosenfelder
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
- ASCA by TheGoatMan
- 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
- IPA Zounds
- Phonix
- Reversible Sound Change Applier (RSCA)
- Sounds - Zompist's SCA
- SCA² - Zompist's SCA, Version 2 (can be used online)
Vocabulary managers
Syntax tools
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 |
