Translating Modern Technology Into A Conlang

If you are creating a fictional world with a fictional language and you want to include modern technology in this world, then this article guide is for you. Typically, modern technology does not apply to a worldbuilding project.

If you intend to challenge yourself to such a feat, then I can show you some methods of making use of using your conlang to directly transpose modern technology into your world.

Calque Translations

If we can hope to come up with words for technology of our world, then an option we can choose involves direct translations. It would involve really delving into the etymologies of the words. In English words, not only would you take into account the original French loanwords, but also their Ancient Greek, Ancient Latin, and even Proto-Indo-European roots.

Direct translations are easy, since you can whittle them down to basic words such as “to hear” or “to see.”

For the examplang Thipsqam, we will provide 10 forms of technology for translation:

Metaphorical Translations

Another option, one that real-world languages tend to do, is to use an already existing noun to refer to the appearance or function of the neologism. A classic example among language revival projects is the translation of the word computer to mean “lightning brain.”

Sources

• Wiktionary.