We can hire a conlanger via the Language Creation Society’s (LCS) site at https://conlang.org/. Simply fill out an application that includes details of what is needed and by when, and potential conlangers will contact us about fulfilling the job; LCS recommends providing 2-3 months lead time. As they note, clients (that’s us) always want to know how quickly we can receive a translation for our needs; patience and planning are helpful.
Even when hiring someone, they’re likely to use terms we don’t understand if we haven’t read any of the books mentioned in this chapter. For example, do we know what phonology is? Our conlanger may use terms like this and it behooves us to know what they’re talking about and what we’re buying, not to mention how to use it.
LCS suggests four order options, based on how much material we receive from the conlanger, who retains the right to suggest their own pricing. What follows are quotes, as of 2020, from their website: https://jobs.conlang.org/pricing
Option 1
- “Naming Language”
- Phonology (the sounds of the language)
- No grammar at all
- 2 dozen names
- $100 United States dollars (USD)
Option 2
- “Conlang Sketch”
- Phonology (the sounds of the language)
- A few basic forms of grammar
- 50 lexical items (vocabulary words, including names)
- $200 USD
Option 3
- Phonology (the sounds of the language)
- Basic grammar
- 150 lexical items (vocabulary words, including names)
- 5 sample sentences
- $400 USD
Option 4
- Phonology (the sounds of the language)
- Detailed grammar
- 500 lexical items (vocabulary words, including names)
- 20 sample sentences
- $800 USD