Tantako

Tantako (pronounced tan-TAH-koh) is a constructed language (conlang) created by the American linguist and artist, Dave Szutenbach, starting in the late 1980s. Its development is ongoing, with Szutenbach actively refining and adding to the language's vocabulary and grammar.

Tantako is notable for its agglutinative morphology, meaning that words are formed by stringing together various affixes to a root. These affixes typically have clear and consistent meanings, allowing for the creation of complex words that express nuanced concepts. Its phonology draws inspiration from various languages, aiming for a balance of pronounceability and distinctiveness.

The language features a fairly regular grammatical structure, although it includes some elements considered atypical in more widely spoken natural languages. Its vocabulary is a mix of neologisms and loanwords adapted to Tantako's phonetic rules. Szutenbach intends the language to sound and feel "alien" yet still be learnable.

While Tantako is not intended for widespread adoption, its creator uses it as a vehicle for exploring linguistic possibilities and expressing artistic ideas. Information about the language's grammar, phonology, and vocabulary is available through various online resources, primarily maintained by Szutenbach himself. These resources provide the basis for those interested in learning or further studying Tantako. The language's primary purpose is artistic expression and linguistic experimentation, rather than practical communication.