[PROPOSAL] International Constructed Language?

[Kryssolia]

We have toyed with the idea of proposing a law that enacts an International Constructed Language. The purpose is to make discourse between nations and peoples which speak different languages easier and to foster mutual understanding, and to counter the bias that is inherent in the current de-facto lingua franca, English, which puts certain nations and cultures at a disadvantage. Before we draft anything in detail we would like to discuss some ideas, and we are more than happy to hear your responses.

These are the points:

1. The International Constructed Language will be entirely constructed by a committee of experts in a way that avoids bias towards any existing culture, language or politic. (One way to do this is to have a language which takes its vocabulary from many diverse existing language-groups. A currently existing example is Lojban)

2. This language will be taught as a second language in the schools of all WA nations. While instruction in this language will be mandatory, all WA nations will be GUARANTEED the right to teach their own language as a primary language; therefore, the International Constructed Language will only be a second language and is NOT DESIGNED to supplant the primary language of any nation. We, of course, value diversity of all the cultures of the world.

3. In the future, all WA meetings will be conducted in this international language. This is not immediately possible, of course, since the education of this new language requires more than a generation of sustained effort. Nevertheless, this will be the goal in the future.

4. To the objection that this would cause an undue strain on the education system of most nations, especially those with multiple official languages, we note that in reality many nations already teach English as a de-facto international language. We note that it is far better to supplant English with a new, culture-neutral international language.

5. Provisions will be made for the funding & promotion of such a radical idea.

Sincerely,
The Department of State,
Department of Commerce,
and Department of Education of the
Federal Republic of Kryssolia

[Tritonalia]

This is an interesting proposal. However, constructed languages have been tried, and have failed. For example, take Esperanto. That was tried, and whilst it may have been established as an actual languge, it has often been said that Esperanto provids bias towards European nations. Perhaps this would be a good idea, but new nations will join the WA. It would then, therefore be biased towards previous member states, and not new members. I would probably say that a completely foreign language should be adopted, such aa a dead language ain to Latin or Greek. There would already be teachers for it, as well as it being completely unbiased towards any other language. It could then be used as a language for international business, and political documents, such as treaties. As long as all the WA were to learn this language, it would become the new 'lingua franca' as you put it. Furthermore, if it were to become tha language of international business, this would encourage rouge states to join the WA and gain access to teachers, and materials to gai nthis advantage.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Wouldn't the proposal be illegal for metagaming?

[Kryssolia]

Wouldn't the proposal be illegal for metagaming?

Ah... your honor, I already took that under consideration Since the language will take more than a generation of education to be fully implemented, we can continue to conduct WA affairs and laws in English. Thus, we avoid making meta-game changes

This is an interesting proposal. However, constructed languages have been tried, and have failed. For example, take Esperanto.

Your honor, I would argue that is because no international body has put measures into action to enforce it.

I would probably say that a completely foreign language should be adopted, such aa a dead language ain to Latin or Greek. There would already be teachers for it, as well as it being completely unbiased towards any other language. It could then be used as a language for international business, and political documents, such as treaties. As long as all the WA were to learn this language, it would become the new 'lingua franca' as you put it. Furthermore, if it were to become the language of international business, this would encourage rouge states to join the WA and gain access to teachers, and materials to gain this advantage.

I like these points. I might disagree somewhat regarding "Latin or Greek" though. These two languages will DEFINITELY be culturally Eurocentric. But the solidarity that an international language does give the WA more attraction to rogue nations.

Perhaps this would be a good idea, but new nations will join the WA. It would then, therefore be biased towards previous member states, and not new members.

True. You do raise an important point -- that ABSOLUTE impartiality is impossible. However, after consulting with the leading linguists and sociologists of Kryssolia, we have determined that a constructed language under this proposal would be MUCH MORE fair and balanced than any alternative. It would be fairer than English, the current world language in practical terms. It would also be better than having no international language at all and thus creating barriers, inefficiencies and inconveniences. Perhaps an improvement would be to have our constructed language also draw its vocabulary from major language groups of non-WA nations.

Sincerely,
The Department of State,
Department of Commerce,
and Department of Education of the
Federal Republic of Kryssolia

[Grays Harbor]

An legislated and enforced language? Seriously? We think not.

[Rutianas]

(OOC: English is used here since that's the language most people on the forums know. Don't assume it's what all ambassadors are using. Paula Jenner, my ambassador, may know English, but that's not necessarily what she always speaks in. She uses Rutian quite a lot as well. It's just translated into whatever language others around here uses. Some nations don't have English as a language that's spoken. Some don't have an Earth based language at all. Not everyone is located on Earth.)

IC:

I see no reason for this. The translators would lose their jobs. I'd like their opinion on this one personally. It would likely be a resounding hell no.

Paula Jenner, Rutianas and Swarming Cute Kittens Ambassador

[Kryssolia]

An legislated and enforced language? Seriously? We think not.

May I ask what is the rationale behind this reasoning?

[Mikedor]

An legislated and enforced language? Seriously? We think not.

May I ask what is the rationale behind this reasoning?

Enforcing a language upon people is a tool of racial and cultural oppression.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Wouldn't the proposal be illegal for metagaming?

Ah... your honor, I already took that under consideration Since the language will take more than a generation of education to be fully implemented, we can continue to conduct WA affairs and laws in English. Thus, we avoid making meta-game changes

Honoured ambassador, the proposal is trying to change the rules of the WA forum, which is illegal. I mean, Game Mechanics?

[Embolalia]

Wouldn't the proposal be illegal for metagaming?

Ah... your honor, I already took that under consideration Since the language will take more than a generation of education to be fully implemented, we can continue to conduct WA affairs and laws in English. Thus, we avoid making meta-game changes.

Plenty of nations in the assembly use alternative timelines and timescales. A generation for them could be tomorrow afternoon. Not to mention, you're assuming the WA conducts in English. In fact, that's just the language used in the forums. Plenty of nations out there have never even heard of English. Not to mention: if these constructed languages are so great, why aren't they used IRL? Esperanto has been around for 123 years, (thus predating the RL UN) and is the most widely spoken constructed language, but I have never in my life heard someone speak it.

[Eireann Fae]

Emissary Episky, who already uses a translator all the time (her own language rarely being taught to outsiders), seems confused by the proposed legislation. She expresses such confusion to her ward, who addresses the Assembly.

"What is the point of this? You claim there is a cultural bias, but we do not know what you mean by this. Language is a means of communication. The language we happen to use, and the culture it comes from, is irrelevant. As long as everybody is able to communicate their ideas amongst one another, what is the problem? Unless you can give real justification for creating a new language (and having to re-train all the Ambassadors and their translators), we must oppose this proposal."

[Rechnarg]

Chrome sputters, startled by the unexpected legislation on the part of the Kryssolians. She taps her mechanical translator and stands.

"Last time I looked, most everyone seems to speak english at least decently. We- er, I see no need for there to be money wasted on implementing a official language. Besides, what's wrong with what everyone speaks now?"

[Intellect and the Arts]

Problem number one: You're approaching this from a Real World standpoint. For all you know, the majority of Nations in the WA (for that is all the WA can affect) teach mutant fish tongue as the primary language for communication with outsiders.

Problem number two: You're approaching this from a Real World standpoint. What impact would this have on sapient Nations that don't even "speak" in the conventional hominid method? Would you impose this spoken, written language on psychic cultures or those that communicate through prolonged foot massages?

Problem number three: The WA only has influence on WA Nations. Enforcing a universal language on WA Nations would make communication worse if and when they had to deal with non-WA Nations, which would not have access to this language and would not bother with it if they did. You would be widening the gulf between WA Nations and non-WA Nations.

Problem number four: Say goodbye to cultural, scientific, and other types of interactive advancement. Advancement happens because there is a problem that must be overcome. Remove language barriers, and you dilute the field of thought.

Problem number five: It's anthropologically unsound in the worst of ways. No language imposed on a people whose members live a great distance from each other would last in one form universally across boundaries over a period of time lasting longer than a handful of generations at best. It is in the nature of language to evolve according to the people who speak it, and this evolution becomes more disparate the farther apart these people reside. Even within a region you have dialects that vary greatly from each other within a single language, and one family does not even speak the same way as another in a fully congruent manner.

In short, impossible to maintain, improbable to enact, unwieldy to design, and unworthy of WA action. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.

[Enn]

Language is tied to culture in ways we cannot yet fully comprehend. An artificial language would not have those cultural ties, those idioms, those ambiguities, those subtle distinctions, that truly make a language memorable.

Angelo Lanerik,
WA Co-Ambassador for Enn