Auxlang
From KneeQuickie
An auxlang is an auxiliary language: a conlang created for the purpose of communication between speakers of different languages, generally within a large region if not the entire world. Auxlangs are generally phonetically and grammatically simple and regular, so as to be easy to learn. Additionally, and particularly in more recent times, many have sought to introduce a level of cultural and linguistic neutrality to auxiliary languages as to make them easier for those unfamiliar with European language to learn.
Among the most famous of auxlangs is Esperanto, created by Dr. Zamenhof. Many people have tried to create auxlangs, most of which have not fallen into everyday use. About 150 such languages are listed on Langmaker (about an eighth of the total number of languages on the site). Certain people (namely Curlyjimsam) are of the opinion that one day everyone will speak an auxlang, but unfortunately no one will speak the same one.
Arguably languages such as classical Chinese and Latin were the first auxlangs, since in spite of developing naturally they filled the same niche coveted by modern auxlangers of providing a common language over whole regions. The earliest true auxlangs did not show up until the 1800s, however, with creations like Solresol and Volapük. Such early examples sparked a trend and by the turn of the century auxlang proposals were popping up regularly with projects like Esperanto, Ido, and Interlingua coming to the fore.
Auxlangs in fiction
In contrast to most conlangs, creators of auxlangs usually intend to use them for real applications rather than in a fictional context. Occasionally, however, writers have introduced auxlangs in fiction for various reasons. In The Lord of the Rings, for instance, the villain Sauron created the Black Speech in an effort to facilitate communication between his underlings. Similarly, the government of Oceania imposed Newspeak as the official language in Orwell's 1984.
Criticism
In spite of the obvious benefits that an auxlang theoretically presents, the concept remains hotly disputed and widely criticized on practical, cultural, and æsthetic grounds. The conlanging community in particular is deeply divided on the subject, with artlangers on one side and auxlangers on the other.
Many opponents regard auxiliary languages as fundamentally impractical. For all the effort spent on establishing a world or even regional auxiliary language, none has yet gained wide acceptance and many believe none ever will. Whether out of apathy, social inertia, or inherent disagreement, humanity, they note, just doesn't lend itself to such sweeping standardization as a world language.
Ironically, the goal of cultural neutrality has proven another stumbling block to the acceptance of an auxiliary language, as many find the lack of an existing cultural background offputting and artificial.
- Exclusionism
List of Auxlangs
- Volapük - One of the first auxlangs to gain widespread recognition
- Esperanto - Perhaps the most well-known and popular
- Interlingua - Another widely favored one based mostly on Romance languages
