On Topic Wednesday: Universal Synthetic Languages

Or rather, what seems to me to be the disappearance of
them in SF, although this could be (and probably is) due a
biased sample.

The idea, as I understand it, that if everyone speaks
the same language, they are more likely to be able to get along
(as demonstrated in the USA circa 1860) or at least will be fighing
over real disagreements rather than misunderstandings, and by
using a designed language avoid the appearance of imperialism
by one language group -and- can in theory design out inefficiencies
in natural languages, if one thinks they exist.

The main proponent I recall pushing a universal synthetic
language is Harry Harrison and Esperanto, and while I have not sought
out his fiction for ages, I think he's since dropped the idea. It's
a pity because the realism of his civil war series could only have
been improved by both the CSA and USA deciding to dump English for
a language that would not be developed for another generation.

I think part of it is that most SF writers come from backgrounds
where there effectively is a universal language, English, and they
think about it as much as a fish thinks about water. Also, if the
language issues don't figure into the plot, they may not be worth
using up pages to talk about.

--
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/
http://www.livejournal.com/users/james_nicoll
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: On Topic Wednesday: Universal Synthetic Languages
    ... biased sample. ... The idea, as I understand it, that if everyone speaks ... the same language, they are more likely to be able to get along ... by one language group -and- can in theory design out inefficiencies ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: On Topic Wednesday: Universal Synthetic Languages
    ... the same language, they are more likely to be able to get along ... using a designed language avoid the appearance of imperialism ... by one language group -and- can in theory design out inefficiencies ... the sorts of insanity that natural languages force our thought patterns ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: On Topic Wednesday: Universal Synthetic Languages
    ... the same language, they are more likely to be able to get along ... That's funny. ... over real disagreements rather than misunderstandings, ... using a designed language avoid the appearance of imperialism ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)