Abstract
Constructed languages (Conlangs) represent a distinctive domain of linguistic inquiry where intentional design interacts with natural linguistic principles. While prior studies have examined individual conlangs, such as Esperanto (Blanke, 1999; GarvÃa, 2015), Klingon (Okrent, 2009; Stockwell, 2016), and Lojban (Cowan, 1997), there remains limited comparative analysis across fictional, auxiliary, and engineered languages. This study investigates the linguistic structures of three representative conlangs: Klingon, Esperanto, and Lojban, corresponding respectively to artistic, auxiliary, and engineered categories. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach situated within structuralist and typological frameworks (Comrie, 1989; Crystal, 2003), the study examines the phonological, morphological, and syntactic patterns of the selected languages. Data are drawn from published grammars, corpora, and descriptive accounts.Findings reveal that Esperanto demonstrates morphological regularity and accessibility for global communication; Klingon displays deliberate typological deviation reflecting alien identity in fictional contexts; and Lojban embodies logical precision and semantic transparency designed to minimize ambiguity. The study argues that, despite their artificial origins, conlangs exhibit systematic linguistic organization that reflects both linguistic universals and creative divergence. Ultimately, the comparative analysis contributes to ongoing debates on linguistic creativity, typology, and the nature of human linguistic competence, illustrating how language design can be intentionally manipulated, extended, and systematised.
Keywords: Conlangs, Linguistic Structure, Esperanto, Klingon, Lojban, Constructed Languages, Typology
DOI: www.doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2025.v01i02.029
author/Abuh Godswill
journal/Sokoto JOLICS 1(2) | November 2025 |
