The Dictionary of Made-Up Languages : From Adunaic to Elvish, Zaum to Klingon - The Anwa (Real) Origins of Invented Lexicons

"taH pagh, taH be!" ("To be or not to be..." in Klingon). "Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo." ("A star shines upon the hour of our meeting," the standard Elvish greeting). "Ne dankinde." ("You're welcome," in Esperanto). Language buffs will love this one-of-a-kind dictionary of imaginary tongues. From the nineteenth century grammarian's Anglic (with its perfectly simple syntax) to Tolkien's fantastical Elvish (with its vaguely Finnish undertones), this intriguing collection of the most popular made-up lexicons offers endless hours of fun for word lovers everywhere. Readers can master the exotic enunciations of "Avatar's Na'vi aliens" in one sitting - and take on the intricate phrasings of Vulcan, Venusian, and Volapuk in the next (just to name the Vs). This comprehensive volume also includes pronunciation and punctuation guides, as well as must-know conversational terms for every language. With thousands of words in more than 100 languages pulled from history, literature, and pop culture, "The Dictionary of Made-Up Languages" is the perfect lexicographical companion for ordway overslays (word lovers in Pig Latin) everywhere!

Stephen D. Rogers (Buzzards Bay, MA) has taught students in middle school, high school, and college and thus has an intimate familiarity with made-up language. He is the editor of My First Year in the Classroom: 50 Stories That Celebrate the Good, the Bad, and the Most Unforgettable Moments.