Dothraki language change - linguistic implications and paradigm shift in conlang studies

Abstract

Constructed language has always been deemed as a tool of linguistic, unfit for academic study. This study discusses the merits of study conlangs, in particular, Dothraki from HBO's Game of Thrones, in which the language itself experience canonical language change as well as non-canonical language change through actor improvisation. Studying conlang also allows for metalinguistic observations on the fundamental logic behind language formation. Lastly, the paper discusses a shift in paradigm of the usage of conlangs by placing it into a Live Action Roleplaying (LARP) community to allow for a naturalistic environment for a language to grow whilst we observe it, yet, allowing researchers control to manipulate various factors that could potentially affect language change.