In this episode of the Tosh Show podcast, David Peterson, a linguist who creates fictional languages (conlangs) for TV shows and movies, shares insights into his career. He reveals his approach to crafting culturally diverse languages and how dedicated fans meticulously analyze the nuances of his work.
Peterson also discusses the various factors influencing the development process of conlangs, ranging from short fiction projects to complex fictional worlds. Additionally, he touches on shared interests like board games and the movie "Elemental" with the host, Daniel Tosh, offering a glimpse into their rapport.
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David Peterson, who studied linguistics at Berkeley, began creating his own languages in college, blending elements from languages like Arabic. He has crafted languages for TV shows and films like "Game of Thrones" and "Dune," though he hasn't always watched the productions he's worked on.
According to Peterson, he strives to create culturally diverse languages to counteract tendencies in media that could be considered racially insensitive. He also met his fiancé Jesse, a professor of linguistics and fellow conlang creator, through the language creation community.
While the concept of a new language can theoretically be created instantaneously, Peterson explains that the actual development process involving grammar rules, vocabulary, and pronunciation guides can take a considerable amount of time. The rates and timeframes vary widely depending on the project's scope and purpose, from a few days for a short story to months or years for complex fictional worlds.
Peterson reveals that some dedicated fans thoroughly examine the use of his constructed languages (conlangs) in media. He recounts instances where fans spotted inconsistencies between spoken lines and subtitles, demonstrating their keen attention to detail.
However, Peterson expresses disappointment that some actors don't take his language recordings seriously, leading to discrepancies between the intended conlang and the spoken lines on screen. This reflects Hollywood's often lax attitude towards employing properly constructed languages over gibberish.
Both Peterson and Daniel Tosh share a fondness for board games, particularly simpler and more stimulating ones like "Sorry" and "Quarto," while disliking more complex games like "Ticket to Ride." Tosh recommends the quick card game "Monopoly Deal" to Peterson.
Additionally, they bonded over the shared experience of seeing the movie "Elemental" with their sons, which holds a special significance for Tosh as it was his son's first theater experience. Peterson's fiancé was involved in the production of "Elemental."
1-Page Summary
David Peterson began his language creation journey during his second year at Berkeley, where he was initially studying Arabic and Russian. The early course scheduling led him to switch to studying linguistics, which he found fascinating due to its focus on the scientific patterns behind all languages. He found himself missing the study of individual languages, which sparked his interest in creating his own, blending elements from languages he admired, especially Arabic.
Peterson has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry by crafting languages for notable projects like "Game of Thrones," "Dune," and many others. Despite his extensive work, he surprisingly admits he has not seen every production he's worked for. From the array of projects, Peterson noted that he would have naturally gravitated towards watching the Marvel movies and Pixar's "Elemental."
Furthermore, Peterson has had to navigate cultural sensitivities in his work. He acknowledges encountering tendencies in media projects that could be considered racially insensitive, and he strives to counteract this by creating languages that reflect a more realistic and respectful cultural diversity.
David Peterson's pers ...
Peterson's Background and Career
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Creating a new language is a complex process that can be theoretically conceived instantaneously. However, the time it takes to fully record and develop that language can vary significantly.
While it's possible for a language to be conceptually created in a moment, the actual development of the language is quite involved. This development includes creating grammar rules, vocabulary lists, pronunciation guides, and potentially a writing system. Recording these details and making sure the language is usable and learnable can take a considerable amount of time and effort.
The rates and time required to develop a new language can differ dramatically based on the scope and purpose of the project. A simple constructed language for a short story may take only a few days to develop b ...
The Process and Time it Takes to Create Languages
David Peterson's constructed languages (conlangs) have amassed a dedicated fanbase, some of whom have taken an active role in examining the use of his languages in popular media, while some Hollywood professionals maintain a lax attitude towards them.
Peterson experiences firsthand how deeply the fans delve into his constructed languages when they spot inconsistencies. He recounts how fans notice when the same phrase appears in "Star Wars" but signifies different meanings according to the subtitles, which they perceive as a mistake. Furthermore, Peterson shares another instance from "Game of Thrones" where a fan caught an error during the live airing. In a scene where a character inquires about the dragons' diet, the Dothraki reply voiced by the actor did not match the subtitled translation. This discrepancy arose because the post-production team altered the subtitles to indicate the dragons were consuming larger amounts of livestock than Peterson's original translation without consulting him to adjust the Dothraki dialogue accordingly.
Peterson reveals his disappoint ...
Reception of Peterson's Languages
Daniel Tosh and David Peterson have a number of common interests, from their tastes in board games to their experiences with their sons at the movies.
David Peterson and Daniel Tosh agree that they both enjoy board games, though with a preference for smarter and simpler games over complex ones. Tosh specifically admires "Sorry" for its simplicity but criticizes "Ticket to Ride" for what he perceives as low-quality game components. He also enjoys "Quarto" for its beautiful board and how it stimulates the mind.
Peterson echoes Tosh's sentiments, sharing a dislike for "Ticket to Ride." Tosh recommends "Monopoly Deal" to Peterson — a card game version of Monopoly which offers quick 10 to 15 minute rounds, describing it as amazing. Additionally, they discuss "Rummy Cub," with Tosh inquiring about its rules and the correct pronunciation.
Peterson and Tosh's Shared Interests
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