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Language-related links

Conlang & conscript resources

Cool & interesting conlangs & conscripts

  • Ardalambion - a comprehensive site on Tolkien's languages (if you're interested in Tolkien, I also recommend A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages, edited by Dimitra Fimi & Andrew Higgins!)
  • Toki Pona - a conlang with extremely limited words
  • Oou: the insane language - "even Oou experts cannot communicate clearly using it, as miscommunication and confusion are integral to the language"
  • Ithkuil - a language that uses "a matrix of grammatical concepts intended to express deeper levels of human cognition more overtly, logically, and precisely than natural languages"
  • Hanziyu - a language based on Chinese characters
  • Seraphim - a multi-channel angelic conlang
  • Tapissary - a hieroglyphic language

Cool & interesting real languages

Language-learning

    Japanese
    • Grammar:
      • Japanese Ammo with Misa - Youtube channel with thorough and informative videos on a huge range of grammar points
      • Kaname Naito - Youtube channel with short but informative and effective videos on a huge range of grammar points
      • Michel Thomas method: Japanese foundation course and advanced course - a method of language-learning that doesn't require any note-taking or traditional studying, just listening and repeating. I highly recommend the Japanese course, it gives a really solid foundation of basic grammar (even the "advanced" course is still incredibly basic, jsyk) but I can't personally vouch for any of the others.
    • Listening comprehension:
    • Reading comprehension:
      • Wanikani - great system for learning Japanese kanji
      • Hukumusume - site with lots of children's stories and fairytales

    Other languages
  • Learn Cherokee on RSU TV - a really extensive free video course on Cherokee
  • Commanding Hands - Youtube channel teaching British Sign Language vocabulary
  • Scottish Gaelic on Duolingo - yeah yeah I know about the memes but the Scottish Gaelic course is actually really good You beefed it, Duolingo!! you fucked up!!! Do not use Duolingo to learn languages anymore, they have destroyed their platform with "AI". I firmly believe that languages, as living, breathing systems of communication, are not best learned from computers which are unable to detect, express, or explain nuance.

Language videos I like