| artificial language |
| Definition: A language invented by an individual or a group for a particular purpose. |
| Example: Some example artificial languages are Basic English, E-prime, and Newspeak |
| OED: The term's first citation is from 1864: "An artificial language might be much more perfect, more regular, more easy to learn, than any of the spoken tongues of man." (Max Müller Lect. Sci. Language 2 ser. ii. 61) |
| Feedback:
Since the 18th century, various attempts have been made to create artificial languages. But the first (and largely only) successful attempt was Esperanto, devised by the Polish doctor Zamenhof. Its advantages over earlier efforts are simplicity in vocabulary, grammar, and word formation. However, it has some quirky features like an "h" with a circumflex and nouns with case endings, which has resulted in numerous variations being produced, reducing the impact of Esperanto. Dictatorships have often banned Esperanto, but competition from English is probably the factor that is the greatest threat to this struggling movement. Other artificial languages are Volapük, Ido, Interlingua, Mondial and Latine sine flexione.
(nielshovmoller@gmail.com) |