A short introduction to glossopoiesis
4. Constructed auxiliary languages
Inventing languages can also be an extremely serious and noble occupation, devoted to improving the ability of people from all over the world to communicate among each other.
It is said that natural languages are unpractical for widespread international communication: they can create imbalance, they can be difficult to learn, they can carry negative political or cultural implications. Constructed languages, on the other hand, can be made as simple and regular as the author wishes, and should carry no implication or imbalance whatsoever.
Although few people remember L.L. Zamenhof's name, many heard about his creation: Esperanto, which styles itself the title of la internacia lingvo ("the international language"). Published in 1887, Esperanto is neither the only constructed auxiliary language nor the oldest, but it is perhaps the most known and the most widespread, with above 1,000,000 estimated speakers.
The constructed language which is generally regarded to as the first IAL is Solresol, created by Jean-François Sudre between 1817 and 1827, and published posthumously in 1866. Solresol is based upon the seven musical notes, and can be sung or played as well as spoken. The language also includes a gestural and a tactile code.
Over time, many constructed IALs have been proposed. A complete list is beyond the scope of this short article, but a few of the most important projects must be named: Volapük (J.M. Schleyer, 1879), Ido (Louis Couturat, 1907-1909), Interlingua (G. Peano et al., 1909), Occidental (Edgar von Wahl, 1921-1922), Novial (Otto Jespersen, 1928), Basic English (Charles Hogden, 1930), Interglossa (Thomas Hogben, 1943), Frater (Pham Xuan Thai, 1957).
The cited projects all have, in the intent of their authors, a universal character. Yet, it must be noted that, in spite of their universal vocation, most IALs are now criticised for being rather Europe-centered in their choices for the grammar and the lexicon. Recently, new projects are appearing that adopt a more balanced and global point of view. Among these, the most promising seems to be, in my opinion, Leo Moser's Acadon, which is also backed by studies on practical and aesthetic considerations.
:: Glossopoiesis Articles :: Previous :: Up :: Next :: Bibliography and links :: Acknowledgements ::