Milo Swanton's Blog
September 21, 2014
More on Languages
I used historical parallels regarding languages. A mother language, Iriack, spawned others just as Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese came from Latin. The Snarshyimt speak a language with a different root. They brought down an empire just as Germanic tribes brought down the Roman Empire, and they drink beer! Jorgis the Hojyim invented an alphabet for the Snarshyim language as St. Cyril did for the Russians during the 9th century in our world.
To differentiate the Snarshyim language from the others, I decided that Snarshyim words don't start or end with vowels, nor use consecutive vowels, and the other languages don't have blended consonants.
Quotes from the Novel:
Hamunth tried to pronounce the difficult name. "Eereeak?" The Chizdekyim language had similar names with too many connecting sounds. This one even began with a connecting sound.
"I based the Snarshyim symbols on ones from the Iriack language," said Jorgis. "The symbols for all the languages having them--Chizdekyim, Kendulyim, Yarsishyim, and others--are based on Iriack ones."
"I devised Snarshyim symbols like the Chizdekyim language and others have. Each sound in our language has a symbol, twenty-two framing sounds and fifteen connecting ones."
"Consider our names. Jorgis, Befdaul, Kevyar, and Davlek all have two parts, and each part has a connecting sound between two framing sounds."
"We don't have multiple connecting sounds in the Snarshyim language, so they're difficult to say."
"The languages based on the Iriack language don't combine framing sounds like ours does," said Jorgis.
To differentiate the Snarshyim language from the others, I decided that Snarshyim words don't start or end with vowels, nor use consecutive vowels, and the other languages don't have blended consonants.
Quotes from the Novel:
Hamunth tried to pronounce the difficult name. "Eereeak?" The Chizdekyim language had similar names with too many connecting sounds. This one even began with a connecting sound.
"I based the Snarshyim symbols on ones from the Iriack language," said Jorgis. "The symbols for all the languages having them--Chizdekyim, Kendulyim, Yarsishyim, and others--are based on Iriack ones."
"I devised Snarshyim symbols like the Chizdekyim language and others have. Each sound in our language has a symbol, twenty-two framing sounds and fifteen connecting ones."
"Consider our names. Jorgis, Befdaul, Kevyar, and Davlek all have two parts, and each part has a connecting sound between two framing sounds."
"We don't have multiple connecting sounds in the Snarshyim language, so they're difficult to say."
"The languages based on the Iriack language don't combine framing sounds like ours does," said Jorgis.
September 16, 2014
Creating a Language
The Snarshyimt, a sensible people, would have a phonetic language, so I thought about the unique sounds in English, the only language I know well.
I immediately determined that c, q, and x are redundant consonants, and then I recognized that ch, sh, and th are consonant sounds without their own letter in our alphabet. Later I realized how z in azure represents a second sound for that letter, and so I identified 22 unique consonant sounds, each needing its own letter in the Snarshyim language.
The biggest reason English has so many spelling irregularities is a severe shortage of vowels. A languages expert once told me we have 15 vowel sounds, but only 5 vowels for spelling them! Of course the sensible Snarshyimt have 15 letters for vowels, which makes spelling easy. They have no need for spelling tests in their schools, and a spelling bee is as unchallenging a contest for them as a game of tic tac toe.
Having identified 37 unique sounds for the Snarshyim language, I had the task of defining a Snarshyim alphabet. I wanted the characters to accommodate an LCD or LED display for a reason to be revealed in my future (but not next) book Moonstar Quest, so I wrote down the different combinations of using the seven bars on the dual-square format of such a display. I only used the combinations that required the full dimensions of the squares, so each letter uses the same amount of space on a written page.
I had the idea to combine the letters for blends, which didn't work well for LCD/LED-based characters until I had the brainstorm to turn them sideway. Then two dual-square characters could be combined into a single triad of squares. Since the first character lost its first half, I was left with only 10 unique possibilies for a first blended consonant, so I studied which ones were most common and assigned them accordingly.
Concerning blends, I was surprised when I figured how the sound that's spelled tr in English is actually chr when spelled phoetically.
I chose t to make words plural in the Snarshyim language, so it's different than English, and t is actually better because it blends with more other consonants than s does.
The Snarshyim language has no curse words. The Snarshyimt think being offended by a sequence of sounds is silly, so when they curse, they simply say, "Curses!"
I immediately determined that c, q, and x are redundant consonants, and then I recognized that ch, sh, and th are consonant sounds without their own letter in our alphabet. Later I realized how z in azure represents a second sound for that letter, and so I identified 22 unique consonant sounds, each needing its own letter in the Snarshyim language.
The biggest reason English has so many spelling irregularities is a severe shortage of vowels. A languages expert once told me we have 15 vowel sounds, but only 5 vowels for spelling them! Of course the sensible Snarshyimt have 15 letters for vowels, which makes spelling easy. They have no need for spelling tests in their schools, and a spelling bee is as unchallenging a contest for them as a game of tic tac toe.
Having identified 37 unique sounds for the Snarshyim language, I had the task of defining a Snarshyim alphabet. I wanted the characters to accommodate an LCD or LED display for a reason to be revealed in my future (but not next) book Moonstar Quest, so I wrote down the different combinations of using the seven bars on the dual-square format of such a display. I only used the combinations that required the full dimensions of the squares, so each letter uses the same amount of space on a written page.
I had the idea to combine the letters for blends, which didn't work well for LCD/LED-based characters until I had the brainstorm to turn them sideway. Then two dual-square characters could be combined into a single triad of squares. Since the first character lost its first half, I was left with only 10 unique possibilies for a first blended consonant, so I studied which ones were most common and assigned them accordingly.
Concerning blends, I was surprised when I figured how the sound that's spelled tr in English is actually chr when spelled phoetically.
I chose t to make words plural in the Snarshyim language, so it's different than English, and t is actually better because it blends with more other consonants than s does.
The Snarshyim language has no curse words. The Snarshyimt think being offended by a sequence of sounds is silly, so when they curse, they simply say, "Curses!"
Creating Characters
Twice while writing Fealty to the King I found myself at my keyboard thinking, I have a new character who is a clean slate. Both times I quickly defined a few facts about the character's life and became amazed what happened.
For Tribemaster Warnek Vinlon, while writing the chapter titled Loyal Companion, I decided his wife left him and took their two children with her, and many years later he still loved and missed her. Voila! I had the character. His inner pain influenced everything he did. The character wrote itself. One of my test readers says about him, He has anger issues.
For Chief Hamunth, while writing the chapter titled His Name is Thoiren, I decided he killed his brother to become chief, and he sired eight children from seven women, none of whom he married. As a result, I needed only one thought to write the character. He's a weasel.
Warnek and Hamunth became two of my favorite characters. They're deliciously complex, a mix of good and bad, but inner pain and weasel made them easy to write.
Another fun character is fun-loving Heptor, who gets into trouble and when he does, it adds significant punch to the story.
My friends who ask me to base a character on them better beware they might get what they ask for. The real Nelber says I nailed him:
He had a young man's shag of hair, not gray but faded sandy brown.
He would continue accepting the life he was given and persevere to the next day.
He remained thankful she never took an interest in him, although he took offense at not being offered.His aging mind had limited space for new information, and he didn't want to waste it on things he didn't care about.
Hoj found Thigrel readying Toush for bed. "I was with Nelber," he told her to explain missing supper. "He enjoys talking."
Nobody would think my friend who was the prototype for Pokyer could change the world, but this simple character did by finding the scrolls.
"Pokyer," he said, as if saying the name aloud made the reality more real.
For Tribemaster Warnek Vinlon, while writing the chapter titled Loyal Companion, I decided his wife left him and took their two children with her, and many years later he still loved and missed her. Voila! I had the character. His inner pain influenced everything he did. The character wrote itself. One of my test readers says about him, He has anger issues.
For Chief Hamunth, while writing the chapter titled His Name is Thoiren, I decided he killed his brother to become chief, and he sired eight children from seven women, none of whom he married. As a result, I needed only one thought to write the character. He's a weasel.
Warnek and Hamunth became two of my favorite characters. They're deliciously complex, a mix of good and bad, but inner pain and weasel made them easy to write.
Another fun character is fun-loving Heptor, who gets into trouble and when he does, it adds significant punch to the story.
My friends who ask me to base a character on them better beware they might get what they ask for. The real Nelber says I nailed him:
He had a young man's shag of hair, not gray but faded sandy brown.
He would continue accepting the life he was given and persevere to the next day.
He remained thankful she never took an interest in him, although he took offense at not being offered.His aging mind had limited space for new information, and he didn't want to waste it on things he didn't care about.
Hoj found Thigrel readying Toush for bed. "I was with Nelber," he told her to explain missing supper. "He enjoys talking."
Nobody would think my friend who was the prototype for Pokyer could change the world, but this simple character did by finding the scrolls.
"Pokyer," he said, as if saying the name aloud made the reality more real.
What is Fealty?
I'm surprised more people don't know what fealty means. To say it in two words, it's formal loyalty, or as Webster's defines it, the fidelity of a vassel or feudal tenant to his lord.
I suppose my introduction to the term came when I watched the epic movie El Cid in a scene featuring the great Charleton Heston.
King Alfonso. Castilians, God has called upon me to become your king. I now call upon you to kneel in sign of fealty. Rodrigo of Vivar, called the Cid, why do you alone refuse me fealty?
Rodrigo (Heston). Sire, all those you see here, though none dare say so, harbor the suspicion that you may have counseled your own brother's death. Unless you can prove your innocence,you will have no loyal subjects. Your kingdom will be torn by doubt. Thus I cannot give you fealty nor own you as my liege.
Quotes from the Novel
Brutez stepped away to one side by the crowd, and Klinteg took the place by the iron blooddrop, facing him. He held his axe upright with one arm extended from his body, setting the butt of its shaft on the ground. "Hail the Herkyim warrior Brutez! If I fall, do you pledge fealty to him as clanlord?"
"Hail the Herkyim warrior Brutez! If you fall, we pledge fealty to him as clanlord!" the swordsmen shouted.
Nelber raised his hands. "I've looked up many nights and wondered about the all-knowing and ever-present God. I didn't know to call him that, but I knew he was there. I want to declare fealty to this God. Do you have a ceremony?"
"Tribemaster Warnek," a woman's voice called from the back of the assembly. All looked to the woman dressed in pink. "Will you declare fealty to the king?"
I suppose my introduction to the term came when I watched the epic movie El Cid in a scene featuring the great Charleton Heston.
King Alfonso. Castilians, God has called upon me to become your king. I now call upon you to kneel in sign of fealty. Rodrigo of Vivar, called the Cid, why do you alone refuse me fealty?
Rodrigo (Heston). Sire, all those you see here, though none dare say so, harbor the suspicion that you may have counseled your own brother's death. Unless you can prove your innocence,you will have no loyal subjects. Your kingdom will be torn by doubt. Thus I cannot give you fealty nor own you as my liege.
Quotes from the Novel
Brutez stepped away to one side by the crowd, and Klinteg took the place by the iron blooddrop, facing him. He held his axe upright with one arm extended from his body, setting the butt of its shaft on the ground. "Hail the Herkyim warrior Brutez! If I fall, do you pledge fealty to him as clanlord?"
"Hail the Herkyim warrior Brutez! If you fall, we pledge fealty to him as clanlord!" the swordsmen shouted.
Nelber raised his hands. "I've looked up many nights and wondered about the all-knowing and ever-present God. I didn't know to call him that, but I knew he was there. I want to declare fealty to this God. Do you have a ceremony?"
"Tribemaster Warnek," a woman's voice called from the back of the assembly. All looked to the woman dressed in pink. "Will you declare fealty to the king?"
World Building
I never decided one day to create a world. It merely happened over many years for most of my life.
I started with a poster board cutout village named Tinytown I received as a young boy, but I wanted a larger city so I added my own paper buildings and made poster board roads to fit my Hotwheels and Matchbox cars.
As I wrote stories for the city I built in my bedroom, my family's house and yard became the surrounding country and the map in my book.
The deep blue and red lakes are rooms with blue flooring. Kitchen City (now Taubueth) is located in the kitchen. The Snarshyim and Chizdekyim inlets are the driveway. The Pultanik Ocean is the lake the yard borders.
Eventually I outlined a history for my country and its empire. Fealty to the King is based on the 927-year history of that empire.
I started with a poster board cutout village named Tinytown I received as a young boy, but I wanted a larger city so I added my own paper buildings and made poster board roads to fit my Hotwheels and Matchbox cars.
As I wrote stories for the city I built in my bedroom, my family's house and yard became the surrounding country and the map in my book.
The deep blue and red lakes are rooms with blue flooring. Kitchen City (now Taubueth) is located in the kitchen. The Snarshyim and Chizdekyim inlets are the driveway. The Pultanik Ocean is the lake the yard borders.
Eventually I outlined a history for my country and its empire. Fealty to the King is based on the 927-year history of that empire.
September 15, 2014
Historical Fantasy?
When somebody asked me about my book, I couldn't easily fit it into a broad category, so I called it fantasy for lack of a better description, although the only fantasy about it is an imaginary world. I think of it more as historical fiction.
More potential readers exist for a familiar genre, but I'm hoping the originality of my book gets it noticed by a niche audience, and when I searched on Fantasy Historical Fiction, I was pleasantly surprised to discover such a niche exists for a sub-genre called historical fantasy.
According to Wikipedia , three types of historical fantasy are:
1) Mythical creatures or the paranormal exist within the mundane world, while the majority of people are none the wiser (e.g. Harry Potter).
2) The story takes place in an alternate history with clear differences from our own (e.g. Fatherland in which Germany wins World War II).
3) The story takes place in a secondary world with specific and recognizable parallels to the real world.
My novel is the third type of historical fantasy, containing the elements of a fictional universe as described in Wikipedia :
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting that can be almost indistinguishable from the real world, except for the presence of invented characters and events that characterize a work of fiction. It has an established continuity and internal logic that must be adhered to throughout the work.
The history and geography of a fictional universe are well-defined, and maps and timelines are often included in works set within them. The works may introduce fictional cities, countries, or even planets (mine does on a planetary scale). Even languages (e.g. the Snarshyim language) may be constructed.
I've encountered the term Low Fantasy to describe fantasy that downplays the supernatural in favor of realism. I would say my book is Lower Fantasy.
More potential readers exist for a familiar genre, but I'm hoping the originality of my book gets it noticed by a niche audience, and when I searched on Fantasy Historical Fiction, I was pleasantly surprised to discover such a niche exists for a sub-genre called historical fantasy.
According to Wikipedia , three types of historical fantasy are:
1) Mythical creatures or the paranormal exist within the mundane world, while the majority of people are none the wiser (e.g. Harry Potter).
2) The story takes place in an alternate history with clear differences from our own (e.g. Fatherland in which Germany wins World War II).
3) The story takes place in a secondary world with specific and recognizable parallels to the real world.
My novel is the third type of historical fantasy, containing the elements of a fictional universe as described in Wikipedia :
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting that can be almost indistinguishable from the real world, except for the presence of invented characters and events that characterize a work of fiction. It has an established continuity and internal logic that must be adhered to throughout the work.
The history and geography of a fictional universe are well-defined, and maps and timelines are often included in works set within them. The works may introduce fictional cities, countries, or even planets (mine does on a planetary scale). Even languages (e.g. the Snarshyim language) may be constructed.
I've encountered the term Low Fantasy to describe fantasy that downplays the supernatural in favor of realism. I would say my book is Lower Fantasy.
September 14, 2014
The Joy of Writing
The joy of writing comes from creating a story. I'm in total control, like being God. If I need somebody to accomplish some purpose, I create a character. If I need a circumstance for something to happen, I arrange it. I even can make the weather whatever I want. It's so much fun!
I don't mean to be disrespectful by feeling like God when I write. God is a creative being, and since he made us in his image, we're creative beings. Creating something, accomplishing some purpose, is enjoyable because that's what God means for us to do, just as he means for birds to fly and fish to swim.
If my writing entertains anybody, making them laugh, or causes them to think, considering something they haven't contemplated before, so much the better! I don't want to write only for myself, but to connect with my readers on a meaningful level.
I don't mean to be disrespectful by feeling like God when I write. God is a creative being, and since he made us in his image, we're creative beings. Creating something, accomplishing some purpose, is enjoyable because that's what God means for us to do, just as he means for birds to fly and fish to swim.
If my writing entertains anybody, making them laugh, or causes them to think, considering something they haven't contemplated before, so much the better! I don't want to write only for myself, but to connect with my readers on a meaningful level.
