Language Builder & Believable Word Generator

Define a language, then generate words that fit in the language.

NOTE: I'm still working on this code, but no longer on GitHub. Please see this issue for instructions on running a previous working version. The latest commit does not work as a whole, though many of its API calls do.

Description

This tool provides classes and methods for building out a custom language. First, do some building and shaping for your language. Assign features to symbols. Define a basic inventory with phonetic symbols and associated graphemes. Define possile syllable structures, grammatical affixes and sound changes. Then, use your language to generate words, including proper names (the original motivation).

Background Motivation

I know someone who's working on a game concept and asked me about generating believable names for characters. I've gone through two iterations playing around with the idea since then.

Getting Started

The code currently exists in two variants - a first take in C# for Unity and a more recent attempt in Python. The Python package is built in 3.6.4. Here is one way to use it:

• get a copy of this repo
• command line your way to your local copy (the same level as setup.py)
• install the package: pip3 install .

Running scripts and packages

After getting your own copy of the project, here are some things you can do with it.

• run the main program: python3 -m languagebuilder
• run one script (grammar.py for example): python3 -m languagebuilder.grammar.grammar
• go through the tests: python3 -m unittest discover -v -p "test_*"

Once you verify it runs, you're probably eager to begin customizing your language. You can start by modifying the demo language in example.py or include the modules into your own project.

TODO

Identified tasks for maintenance and improvement:

• peel this list off and format it as its own doc

• go through tasks in py files and organize them in the doc

• weighting and ordering of phonemes, syllables, rules for choosing and applying

• API documentation

  • idiosyncratic use of "phonetics", "phonology", "ipa", "morphosyntax", "exponent"
  • components: Language, Phonetics, Phonology, Grammar
    • Phonetics -> ipa, features
    • Phonology -> phonemes, rules, syllables, environments
    • Grammar -> properties, word classes, exponents, morphosyntax
  • document user methods for crud and "build" (generate)
  • demo

Contributing

The current project and any future iterations are for play and in various states of tinkered disrepair. Still, I'm curious to hear if you have any suggestions or updates. If this is your thing, feel happy and free to open an issue or PR once you get going.