Whatever the tongue (or the galaxy), language provides a doorway into new worlds. For Michael Adams, invented languages open up even more possibilities for adventure.
In an evening that’s sure to get people talking, Adams takes a look at how and why invented languages come about, from the lunar language of Francis Goodwin’s The Man in the Moone (1638) to that of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy and MMPORGs (mass multiplayer online role-playing games). Joining him is linguist Marc Okrand, inventor of the Klingon language and a contributor to Adams’ volume. Actors Andrew Shull-Miller and Chuck Young, a company member of WSC Avant Bard, will demonstrate an invented language in action.
Adams is an associate professor of English and director of undergraduate studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, and editor of From Elvish to Klingon: Exploring Invented Languages (Oxford University Press). Okrand has coached actors in the Klingon, Vulcan, and Romulan languages in several Star Trek films.
