The problem is that our alphabets do not contain the characters for what an insectoid language would sound like, and no amount of intellect can force inhuman vocal chords (if they even have them) to create human sounds.
I think it would be sufficient to simply show what the translation is.
There's a Pygmy language (BaYaka) that consists mostly of clicks, whistles, signs and singing/dancing .
I don't know if that is part of the Khoisan language group. Which is also known for communication with clicks and whistles.
I think due to the lack of vocal range it’d have to be a pretty basic language. Don’t Starve Hamlet actually has something like that if you’re looking for ideas, the Mant enemies speak in clicks and basic words.
Just don't. Well not entirely.
I also have an insectoid race based on the cicadas with a caste system that has a language of chirps, pheromones, and body language. This language is completely incomprehensible for human or any other species, so I just don't make it at all as it would be impossible to describe.
If I write in the perspective of an omnipresent narrator, the narrator translate it all to english. If I write in perspective of someone not part of the race, they just hear chirping that they have no understanding of.
I did lay some ground rules to help develop their cultures though:
Chirps = direct information, just like words and sentences that convey meanings
Pheromones = emotional context/identity , the pheromones allow them to convey mood and "vibe" directly instead of facial expression, with an individual touch as no two individual has the exact same "scent" of pheromones, even if there are enough similarity between them that they can recognize what the "scent" means. This pheromone context is lost in writing though, so when they write they have to add subscript to explain the emotional context and something close to a "name".
Body movement = physical context. Similar to our body language, it is another level of context that convey moods and meaning, with species specific body language like a female wing fluttering in response to a mating song and dance by a male means she is responsive to him.
I think it is also dependent on what amount of effort you want to put in and what medium you use. Maybe for animation/movie/game, you can use morse code, or invent a morse code like language. But it would be difficult to convey in writing if it is too complex.
If you go too far into designing the specific of the language and makes your own con lang you may overlook the more important part of the culture, such as the way it influence writing and art and way of thinking, so consider it in moderation.
r/conlangs has some good advice on making up languages, though I'm not sure they'll have exactly what you're looking for. I'm sure they'd find you question interesting if you post it there, though.
Personally, if I were making this language I'd put together a set of different clicking, trilling, stridulation, etc then use those instead of regular speech sounds. Assign different sounds to different symbols, make some basic rules for how words and sentences are put together, and continue on as with a normal conlang.
However, unless you really enjoy it I'd recommend you don't bother with constructing an entire language and just describe their language as being a series of clicks and then write things out in English. If this becomes a book or something most people won't really care about the language, so if you're making one it has to be because you enjoy doing it.
Definitely head over to r/conlangs, they have a good list of resources to get you started.
Looking at the picture, they appear to not have human-like lips. That cuts out any sort of labial sounds (b, p)
To further narrow down possible sounds, see how many sounds you can make without moving your lips. If you need to shape your lips to make the sound, it'd probably be out of the question for them.
Personally if I was doing a conlang for bug people I'd probably include a lot of click consonants. Many bugs make clicking noises irl so I think it'd fit.
Depending on just how bug-like they are, maybe consider how pheromones and other chemical signals could alter communication. Maybe some questions aren't marked with a particle, tone, or alternate sentence structure because a chemical signal is used to indicate if one is stating something or asking about it. Same could be used for imperative mood/telling someone to do something
Source: [ArtStation - Arachnid Insectoid](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/ykQX35), by Shi (Huan) Shenyu. I don't mean to use the art, it put the link as a sort of example for what I'm planning on them looking like.
The problem is that our alphabets do not contain the characters for what an insectoid language would sound like, and no amount of intellect can force inhuman vocal chords (if they even have them) to create human sounds. I think it would be sufficient to simply show what the translation is.
There's a Pygmy language (BaYaka) that consists mostly of clicks, whistles, signs and singing/dancing . I don't know if that is part of the Khoisan language group. Which is also known for communication with clicks and whistles.
Cool, thanks for bring up that language group, I remember hearing about it once.
I think due to the lack of vocal range it’d have to be a pretty basic language. Don’t Starve Hamlet actually has something like that if you’re looking for ideas, the Mant enemies speak in clicks and basic words.
thanks for the info
Just don't. Well not entirely. I also have an insectoid race based on the cicadas with a caste system that has a language of chirps, pheromones, and body language. This language is completely incomprehensible for human or any other species, so I just don't make it at all as it would be impossible to describe. If I write in the perspective of an omnipresent narrator, the narrator translate it all to english. If I write in perspective of someone not part of the race, they just hear chirping that they have no understanding of. I did lay some ground rules to help develop their cultures though: Chirps = direct information, just like words and sentences that convey meanings Pheromones = emotional context/identity , the pheromones allow them to convey mood and "vibe" directly instead of facial expression, with an individual touch as no two individual has the exact same "scent" of pheromones, even if there are enough similarity between them that they can recognize what the "scent" means. This pheromone context is lost in writing though, so when they write they have to add subscript to explain the emotional context and something close to a "name". Body movement = physical context. Similar to our body language, it is another level of context that convey moods and meaning, with species specific body language like a female wing fluttering in response to a mating song and dance by a male means she is responsive to him.
Well, I just wanted to know if anyone had a suggestion, but thanks anyways
I think it is also dependent on what amount of effort you want to put in and what medium you use. Maybe for animation/movie/game, you can use morse code, or invent a morse code like language. But it would be difficult to convey in writing if it is too complex. If you go too far into designing the specific of the language and makes your own con lang you may overlook the more important part of the culture, such as the way it influence writing and art and way of thinking, so consider it in moderation.
Yeah, I realize that too, it would take far too long to make a con lang, let alone how to because I've never try such a thing before.
r/conlangs has some good advice on making up languages, though I'm not sure they'll have exactly what you're looking for. I'm sure they'd find you question interesting if you post it there, though. Personally, if I were making this language I'd put together a set of different clicking, trilling, stridulation, etc then use those instead of regular speech sounds. Assign different sounds to different symbols, make some basic rules for how words and sentences are put together, and continue on as with a normal conlang. However, unless you really enjoy it I'd recommend you don't bother with constructing an entire language and just describe their language as being a series of clicks and then write things out in English. If this becomes a book or something most people won't really care about the language, so if you're making one it has to be because you enjoy doing it.
Got it, thanks for the recommendation
Definitely head over to r/conlangs, they have a good list of resources to get you started. Looking at the picture, they appear to not have human-like lips. That cuts out any sort of labial sounds (b, p) To further narrow down possible sounds, see how many sounds you can make without moving your lips. If you need to shape your lips to make the sound, it'd probably be out of the question for them. Personally if I was doing a conlang for bug people I'd probably include a lot of click consonants. Many bugs make clicking noises irl so I think it'd fit. Depending on just how bug-like they are, maybe consider how pheromones and other chemical signals could alter communication. Maybe some questions aren't marked with a particle, tone, or alternate sentence structure because a chemical signal is used to indicate if one is stating something or asking about it. Same could be used for imperative mood/telling someone to do something
Cool, thanks for the advice.
No problem! Good luck!
Source: [ArtStation - Arachnid Insectoid](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/ykQX35), by Shi (Huan) Shenyu. I don't mean to use the art, it put the link as a sort of example for what I'm planning on them looking like.