$75
weeklyor $525 for 7 classes
Con-Lang Sounds and Sound Patterns
New class
Ages 13-18
Live Group Course
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(22 reviews)
Live video meetings
1x per week, 7 weeks
1-6 learners per class
55 min
What's included
7 live meetings
6 hrs 25 mins in-class hoursProjects
1 hour per week. By the end of the course, students will have produced a tangible document detailing consonant inventory, vowel quality inventory, diphthongs, syllable structures and constraints, and phonological processes for a constructed language. Each phase of the project will receive feedback in a workshop format.Progress Report
includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Intro to Constructed Languages: Sound Patterns is a seven-week course that dives deep into the phonetics and phonology of language creation, offering students the tools to design the unique sounds and syllable structures of their own fictional languages. Over seven sessions, students will learn to create consonant and vowel inventories, establish phonotactic constraints, and apply phonological processes to develop realistic and natural sound systems. This course blends linguistic theory with hands-on application, using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and insights from real-world languages to guide students in building the foundation of their constructed languages. Each week focuses on a key topic, starting with the basics of sound design and progressing through advanced concepts like syllable constraints and the interaction of sounds in language. Students will participate in interactive lectures, guided workshops, and collaborative feedback sessions to refine their work. By the end of the course, they will have a fully developed sound system and a deeper understanding of how phonetics and phonology shape languages, preparing them to continue language creation or explore linguistics further. Lessons are structured to balance creativity with analytical skills in a fun, supportive environment.
Learning Goals
Students will analyze the phonetic and phonological structures of real-world languages to understand how sounds are organized and function.Students will design a unique set of consonants and vowels for their constructed language using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).Syllabus
7 Lessons
over 7 WeeksLesson 1:
Articulatory Phonetics: Consonant Inventories
The articulation of consonants of human languages and typical numbers of consonants in consonant inventories on Earth 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Articulatory Phonetics: Vowel Quality Inventories and Diphthongs
The articulation of vowel qualities of human languages and how to choose the number and types of vowels and diphthongs. Consonant/vowel ratios in human language. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Workshop on Your Phoneme Inventory
Students present the consonant and vowel quality inventory of their constructed language, using the International Phonetic Alphabet and applying understanding of frequencies learned from the World Atlas of Language Structures. The instructor and classmates will provide feedback regarding the sound inventory in progress. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Phonological Processes
Deletion, Apenthesis, Addition, Metathesis, Fortition, Weakening, and other processes involved in the sound systems of human language. 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course does not include any content that is likely to be upsetting or scary to learners. All media content used, such as video clips or slides, is age-appropriate and focuses on materials related to linguistics and language construction. If any adjustments to content are needed based on individual concerns, I am happy to accommodate.
Supply List
Students will use a digital device or paper notebook for the course, of a combination of the two.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Chart (https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/IPAcharts/IPA_chart_orig/pdfs/IPA_Kiel_2020_full.pdf) and accompanying tools, including the IPA Keyboard (https://www.internationalphoneticalphabet.org/html-ipa-keyboard-v1/keyboard/) and Interactive IPA Chart (https://www.ipachart.com/), are essential for accurately representing and analyzing the sounds of both human and constructed languages. These resources allow students to explore and document sounds systematically, providing a universal framework to describe phonetic details. The Diphthongs Guide (https://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/ipa/diphthongs.html) further supports this by offering a specialized focus on vowel transitions, enhancing students’ ability to design realistic and nuanced sound systems for their constructed languages.
The World Atlas of Language Structures (WALS) (https://wals.info/) is used to introduce students to cross-linguistic variation and typology, offering valuable insights into how sounds, structures, and linguistic features vary across human languages. This resource helps students make informed decisions when creating the phonological systems of their languages. Similarly, Ethnologue (https://www.ethnologue.com/) provides a comprehensive overview of existing languages, their demographics, and sociolinguistic contexts, enabling students to ground their projects in real-world linguistic diversity while drawing inspiration for cultural and societal elements in their constructed languages.
Together, these tools foster critical thinking and analytical skills, allowing students to approach language construction with both creativity and linguistic rigor. They also expose students to widely recognized professional tools used in linguistic research, preparing them for future academic and creative pursuits.
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
The teacher holds a BA in Education, an MA in Spanish Literature, and a PhD in Linguistics, bringing a wealth of expertise in language structure, cultural studies, and pedagogy to the course. With a strong academic foundation and years of experience in teaching linguistics and language-related topics, the teacher is passionate about making complex linguistic concepts accessible and engaging. Since 2020, the instructor has been teaching on Outschool, successfully guiding students through creative and analytical projects while fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.Reviews
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