Bored with learning languages like Spanish, Italian, German or Latin? Well, there may be hope for you! We all know about Klingon and how its creation has generated a slew of devoted fans who actually speak it. But did you know that there are over 800 man-made languages in existence? I am sure you have heard of Esperanto, but have you heard of Loglan or Ars Signorum? How about Evoluto or Mu-Nba-B? If mastering the Spanish subjunctive has caused you endless frustration and headaches, rest assured that there are quite a few other options for you!All kidding aside, Arika Okrent has written a captivating book about the various man-made languages out there and some of the crazy personalities who have invented them. Believe it or not, Esperanto was not the first man-made language. The first man-made language made an appearance in the 12th century (Lingua Ignota). Whether you are a traditional linguist or are just curious to learn about some of the man-made languages out there, you will enjoy this book. Who knows? Reading it might inspire you to return to fine-tuning your Spanish skills!
Brian,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and for the link. I agree with your contention that any hope of a global language lies somewhere between Esperanto and English. We will have to see what develops.
-Tom