@article{ART003381646},
author={Jeong, Sunwoo and James Whang},
title={Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2026},
volume={83},
number={3},
pages={327-367}
TY - JOUR
AU - Jeong, Sunwoo
AU - James Whang
TI - Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2026
VL - 83
IS - 3
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 327
EP - 367
SN - 1598-3021
AB - Speculative fiction has long provided a fruitful backdrop against which “conlang”-ing efforts have flourished, as evidenced by T olkien’s Elvish, Star Trek’s Klingon, and many others. Although aspects of linguistic theory continue to guide conlangers , it remains open how exactly these theories , which are grounded in descriptive data on natural languages, hinder or help the conlanging endeavor, which often aims to push the imagination beyond the attested data. This study examines the creative process of making an alien language for Na, Hong-Jin’s 2026 film, HOPE. Offering the project as a case study, we propose that linguistic theories, especially those on linguistic typology and implicational hierarchies, can productively guide the creative process of conlanging, clarifying what types of phonemes, morphemes, morphosyntax, and sound-meaning associations are marked and why. To break the rules more creatively, one must first be fully acquainted with the rules of the game.
KW - Linguistic Universals;Constructed Language (Conlang);Linguistic Typology; Implicational Hierarchy;Language in Fiction;Language in Film
DO -
UR -
ER -
Jeong, Sunwoo and James Whang. (2026). Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 83(3), 327-367.
Jeong, Sunwoo and James Whang. 2026, "Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.83, no.3 pp.327-367.
Jeong, Sunwoo, James Whang "Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83.3 pp.327-367 (2026) : 327.
Jeong, Sunwoo, James Whang. Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE. 2026; 83(3), 327-367.
Jeong, Sunwoo and James Whang. "Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83, no.3 (2026) : 327-367.
Jeong, Sunwoo; James Whang. Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 83(3), 327-367.
Jeong, Sunwoo; James Whang. Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2026; 83(3) 327-367.
Jeong, Sunwoo, James Whang. Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE. 2026; 83(3), 327-367.
Jeong, Sunwoo and James Whang. "Between Words and Worlds: How Linguistic Theories Inform Fictional Language Making — A Case Study on the Film HOPE" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83, no.3 (2026) : 327-367.
