[Conlangs] Commission Work

Taking the first step toward following my dreams of becoming the next David J. Peterson... I have decided that I should continue to flex my conlanging brain and offer commission work!

Conlanging as a hobby can often be an on-and-off process that breathes alongside the work that I do outside of linguistics. I also find motivation to be scarce unless it comes from outside incentives. So I have decided to start doing conlang commissions!

The price of commission work will vary on the nature of the project in question and the scale of the project, but for now I can outline a few different works available with price and time estimates:

• Naming Language / Sketch (~ $50):
• approximately 50 lexical items, phonology, and romanization
• anywhere between 1-3 weeks
• Beginning Conlang (~ $150): 
• approximately 100 lexical items, phonology, romanization, basic morphology and syntax
• anywhere between 3 weeks and 1.5 months
• Full Conlang (~ $300): 
• minimum 500 lexical items, detailed phonology, romanization, detailed morphosyntax
• anywhere between 2-3 months
• + Orthography (~ $150)
• non-latinate writing system, punctuation, numerals
• anywhere between 2-3 months

These prices are approximate and will fluctuate depending on the work hours required of me. A conlang commission also requires clear communication with the patron... the Language Creation Society job boards said it more elegantly than I could:

" Almost everyone in the market for an invented language will care most about one thing: the timely delivery of translations. There are a few things to consider to make that process flow more easily. Translations happen far more quickly if there is a core grammar and vocabulary (500-750 words) already in place when translation time arrives. For even the most experienced conlanger, having to create and translate on the fly is four to six times slower. Creating that core will take between 60 and 80 work works hours. Your conlanger will have other obligations, so it is best to give them at least three months (two in emergency cases) to do the background work. If you are also hiring for a writing system, take into account the time for that, too.
A good conlang -- even one as simple as a naming language -- will not simply be a code for an already existing language (unless it is explicitly supposed to be one!). It touches on culture deeply. It will help your conlanger considerably to have access to any historical and cultural information about the speakers as soon as possible. Your conlanger may also have cultural suggestions. Make sure they know early who to contact for cultural questions.
For print media, you should get to work to be translated to the conlanger in reasonable time for them to complete the work, along with a clear statement about when the translations are due. "

Additionally, the LCS provides an excellent glossary which details the expected product. The prices listed on the LCS glossary are the LCS's minimum pricing requirements, but I will be charging a bit less depending on the nature of the project. (Also, due to the fact that I am not exactly a professional conlanger, I will not be charging as much, especially for not-for-profit artistic projects).


If you wish to discuss a conlang commission, feel free to shoot me an email at danteh@alumni.cmu.edu . Be sure to include [Commission] in the subject line, or I might gloss over your email!