Constructed Languages on the Example of Esperanto Elena

Constructed Languages (on the Example of Esperanto) Elena Nekrylova, Yana Sholokhova, IV year, ICC 3 Instructor: Orlyanskaya T. G. Moscow 2013

What is a Conlang? • A planned or constructed language—known colloquially as a CONLANG—is a language whose phonology, grammar, and/or vocabulary has been consciously devised by an individual or group, instead of having developed naturally. • the 3 most widely-spoken are – Esperanto – Interlingua – Klingon (spoken by the fictional Klingons in the Star Trek universe) • a priori (grammar and vocabulary are created from scratch) vs. a posteriori languages (derived from natural language) – schematic (natural vocabulary is altered: e. g. Esperanto) vs. naturalistic(natural vocabulary retains its normal sound appearance: e. g. Interlingua) • engineered languages (devised for the purpose of experimentation in logic, philosophy, or linguistics) vs. auxiliary languages - IALs (devised for international communication) vs. artistic languages • Sapir–Whorf hypothesis: the language one speaks influences the way one thinks • Telescope Rule: it takes less time to first learn a simple constructed language and then a natural language, than to learn only a natural language

History of Esperanto, (or the One who Hopes) • Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof (1859 – 1917, Polish) - ”Unua Libro” (July 26, 1887): 10 years to create • the first World Congress of Esperanto in France in 1905 (yearly) • worldwide recognition • the language of instruction of the International Academy of Sciences in San Marino + available as an elective at 69 universities • learning Esperanto may provide foundation for learning languages • an alternative and an ethical solution for the threat to the cultural and linguistic diversity related to the expansion of English - ? “(In) the place where I was born, <. . . > in Bialystok the inhabitants were divided into four distinct elements: Russians, Poles, Germans and Jews; each of these spoke their own language and looked on all the others as enemies. <. . . > I was brought up as an idealist; I was taught that all people were brothers <. . . > so I often said to myself that when I grew up I would certainly destroy this evil. "

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Interesting Facts • 1000 native speakers • Books, periodicals, radio stations • Primary language of teaching and administration at International Academy of Sciences in San Marino • Used in sci-fi as the language of the future (Harry Harrison, Isaac Asimov) • Used in computer games (N’gasta! Kvakis!) • Not many idioms or slang words, as they make international communication difficult

Current Usage • has never been a secondary official language • February 2013: a petition to make Esperanto one of the official languages of Europe • Speakers are most numerous in Europe and East Asia: Esperanto clubs • According to the Finnish linguist Jouko Lindstedt: – 10, 000 speak Esperanto fluently – 100, 000 can use it actively – 1, 000 understand a large amount passively – 10, 000 have studied it to some extent at some time • 200 to 2, 000 native speakers (denaskuloj) - Esperanto-speaking parents

Esperanto Culture, (or "the expression of a common human culture, unencumbered by national frontiers” - William Auld ) • over 25, 000 Esperanto books: originals and translations and regularly distributed Esperanto magazines • international scientific communication • featured in many films; full-length films with dialog totally in Esperanto – Angoroj (1964) and Incubus (1965) • music (Kaj Tiel Plu, Pavel Mozhaev) • influence on religion (Spiritism, Oomoto and the Baha'i Faith; Koran and the Old Testament – translated by by L. L. Zamenhof himself) • Zamenhof Day (Zamenhofa Tago), also called Esperanto Day – 15 th December

Advantages Why did Esperanto Fail to Become Lingvo internacia? • Relatively simple grammar without exceptions • Relatively simple pronunciation • Early success (1920 es): Esperanto included in norm (one letter – one sound) the educational curricula of the League • 2000 h studying German of Nations = 1500 h studying English • Response of totalitarian = 1000 h studying Italian regimes: Germany, = 150 h studying Esperanto Spain, Soviet Union, • Preparation for learning other Japan, Italy languages • Failure: English comes to the fore

References • Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Constructed Languages. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Constructed_language • Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Esperanto. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Esperanto • Esperanto in Popular Culture. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Esperanto_in_popular_culture • Where Esperanto Got it Wrong. http: //www. joergrhiemeier. de/Conlang/ranto. html

Dankon