In a Reddit AMA, Paul Frommer (the creator of Na'vi and Barsoomian) answered: Three things: First, anything that promotes an interest in language among the general public is not a waste of time. Second, it's not an either-or proposition. Conlangers can create languages and linguists help endangered languages at the same time. Sometimes the same person can do both! (Hi, Christine! :-) ) (He means Christine Schreyer) Finally, some of the techniques that conlang communities have used to come together, form online societies, and help each other learn the conlang can be adapted to help support endangered languages.
Very illuminating and informative interview, thank you!!
Nice video !
No mentions of his cats in this one!
54:00 when you realize Arrival is not that good when it comes to creating a conlang for an alien species
Ah, the requisite "Why aren't you saving dying language instead of making new languages?" comment...
In a Reddit AMA, Paul Frommer (the creator of Na'vi and Barsoomian) answered:
Three things:
First, anything that promotes an interest in language among the general public is not a waste of time.
Second, it's not an either-or proposition. Conlangers can create languages and linguists help endangered languages at the same time. Sometimes the same person can do both! (Hi, Christine! :-) ) (He means Christine Schreyer)
Finally, some of the techniques that conlang communities have used to come together, form online societies, and help each other learn the conlang can be adapted to help support endangered languages.