Portland State University PDXScholar University Honors Theses University Honors College 3-1-2018 Babel from Scratch: Examining the Impact and Usage of Constructed Languages in Literature Estephan G. Campisi Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/honorstheses Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Campisi, Estephan G., "Babel from Scratch: Examining the Impact and Usage of Constructed Languages in Literature" (2018). University Honors Theses. Paper 522. https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.527 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in University Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible:
[email protected]. PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY An Undergraduate Honors Thesis Submitted to the University Honors College & Department of English In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Babel From Scratch: Examining The Impact and Usage Of Constructed Languages in Literature Written By: Estephan Campisi Thesis Advisor: Dr. Kimberley Brown Submitted On: 3/23/18 Abstract: Constructed languages are becoming more ubiquitous in literature and popular fiction. Ever since J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, authors in speculative fiction have developed their own created languages for the purposes of illustrating fictional cultures. This paper examined conlangs from an artistic and literary perspective by asking two questions: first, how do conlangs operate in a literary text and enhance a reading of that text through its inclusion, and second, how are conlangs valid as their own art projects? This first involved a historical and literary lens on the background of constructing languages by reviewing the literature on conlangs up to now, and then using independent research to come to new conclusions about the subject.