Good evening to all.
In fulfillment of a long-held ambition of mine, I have been working on a project to elucidate the Phantomilian language of Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil. I had sworn to myself when I was young that if ever I knew enough about languages, I would someday try to unravel the grammar of a language that seems – on the face of it – to have so much underlying structure. That was fifteen years ago.
Sometimes, one takes a while to get around to things.
I have completed the first of what will hopefully be a series of papers toward an actual grammar of Phantomilian and intend to post it later in the week after some pressing duties are behind me. However, I did not want to simply swoop in, walls-of-text in hand, without first introducing myself to the board.
I hope that this project will be of use and interest to the Klonoa community. After having heard of the film, and being sorely disappointed by the news of its cancellation, I too want to do my part to bring some more exposure and recognition to a character and series that seems to touch so many so deeply. It might just be my myopia, but seeing how many over the years have expressed an interest in gathering together a Phantomilian lexicon, having a group actually speaking what is manifestly a beautiful language in its way – however contrived – would be a powerful testimony to how deeply Klonoa touches so many.
I look forward to interacting with you all. If nothing else, may you all derive some pleasure from watching me contort nonsense into the rank-and-file of syntax and paradigms (if, in the end, it is possible).
-Foxmane
