Comments on: Recently read: In the Land of Invented Languages http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/ Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:53:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Chris http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7417 Chris Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:05:03 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7417 Like I said, her discussion of Loglan (and Lojban) touches on some of that. It's pretty funny to read her description of how hard it is to actually speak. Like I said, her discussion of Loglan (and Lojban) touches on some of that. It’s pretty funny to read her description of how hard it is to actually speak.

]]> By: ben http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7415 ben Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:20:23 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7415 I believe you do understand what I'm talking about! Surely it would be interesting to look at the rise of logic first as a replacement for messy natural languages (Frege, Russell, etc) and then as a model for natural languages (all who come later, as far as I care to tell) through the lens of the history of constructed languages and the purposes for which they're cosntructed. I believe you do understand what I’m talking about! Surely it would be interesting to look at the rise of logic first as a replacement for messy natural languages (Frege, Russell, etc) and then as a model for natural languages (all who come later, as far as I care to tell) through the lens of the history of constructed languages and the purposes for which they’re cosntructed.

]]> By: Bernardo Verda http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7413 Bernardo Verda Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:42:05 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7413 Arika Okrent devoted a fair amount to Ben Yehuda's project to revive or re-invent a modern Hebrew, largely incorporated in the parts of the book dealing with Esperanto. Zamenhof and Yehuda's worked on their projects at around around the same time, and even more remarkably actually succeeded in becoming actual "living" languages in practical use today. She also had at least a chapter's worth about Loglan and Lojban. She actually researched the topic -- and it needs to be noted that a truly astounding proportion of linguists and language professionals seem quite happy to pass off their casual impressions, assumptions and prejudices as well-founded, authoritative knowledge of this topic. All in all, I found the book to be a relatively light, but still a quite worthwhile and entertaining, read. Arika Okrent devoted a fair amount to Ben Yehuda’s project to revive or re-invent a modern Hebrew, largely incorporated in the parts of the book dealing with Esperanto. Zamenhof and Yehuda’s worked on their projects at around around the same time, and even more remarkably actually succeeded in becoming actual “living” languages in practical use today.

She also had at least a chapter’s worth about Loglan and Lojban.

She actually researched the topic — and it needs to be noted that a truly astounding proportion of linguists and language professionals seem quite happy to pass off their casual impressions, assumptions and prejudices as well-founded, authoritative knowledge of this topic.

All in all, I found the book to be a relatively light, but still a quite worthwhile and entertaining, read.

]]> By: Chris http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7411 Chris Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:07:09 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7411 I honestly can't remember now whether she specifically mentions it. But <a href="http://www.loglan.org/" rel="nofollow">Loglan</a>, an attempt to produce a highly precise and logical language, touches on related issues (if I understand what you're asking about). I honestly can’t remember now whether she specifically mentions it. But Loglan, an attempt to produce a highly precise and logical language, touches on related issues (if I understand what you’re asking about).

]]> By: Brian Barker http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7410 Brian Barker Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:10:46 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7410 Interest in Esperanto has peaked ! Just Google the word "Esperanto" and see how many hits you get. Otherwise check http://www.lernu.net Interest in Esperanto has peaked !

Just Google the word “Esperanto” and see how many hits you get.

Otherwise check http://www.lernu.net

]]> By: ben wolfson http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7409 ben wolfson Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:36:34 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7409 what about the Begriffsschrift? what about the Begriffsschrift?

]]> By: Chris http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7408 Chris Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:45:45 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7408 Yes, actually, there's a brief discussion in the book of modern Hebrew, and the way in which it was revived in the 20th Century. The discussion is really brief, unfortunately---just enough to make me want to know more. Yes, actually, there’s a brief discussion in the book of modern Hebrew, and the way in which it was revived in the 20th Century. The discussion is really brief, unfortunately—just enough to make me want to know more.

]]> By: upyernoz http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7407 upyernoz Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:04:06 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7407 the books sounds great, i'll have to track it down. does it discuss the phenomenon of modern hebrew? arguably, it's also an artificial language, and if so, probably the most successful artificial language ever attempted. they took ancient hebrew, which was a dead liturgical language, and filled it out so it could be used in everyday life by grafting on concepts and vocabulary from other semitic languages like arabic. then they got a whole lot of immigrants who came to palestine from all over europe (and mostly didn't speak hebrew) to learn it and make it the first language of their children. it's always amazed me that they ever pulled it off. the books sounds great, i’ll have to track it down.

does it discuss the phenomenon of modern hebrew? arguably, it’s also an artificial language, and if so, probably the most successful artificial language ever attempted. they took ancient hebrew, which was a dead liturgical language, and filled it out so it could be used in everyday life by grafting on concepts and vocabulary from other semitic languages like arabic. then they got a whole lot of immigrants who came to palestine from all over europe (and mostly didn’t speak hebrew) to learn it and make it the first language of their children. it’s always amazed me that they ever pulled it off.

]]> By: Chris http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7406 Chris Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:57:09 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7406 I don't recall any connection with metric itself. However, she spends a lot of time looking at the work of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkins" rel="nofollow">John Wilkins</a> (1614-1672), an interesting guy, who did propose a more rational system of measurement that Wikipedia tells me was a precursor of metric. His language is an awesome mix of ambition and oddness. It's the one that tries to name things according to what they are, which requires him to first specify what everything is. By pre-French Revolution, do you mean pre-Enlightenment? Either way, Wilkins qualifies as before when scholars usually date all that stuff. I don’t recall any connection with metric itself. However, she spends a lot of time looking at the work of John Wilkins (1614-1672), an interesting guy, who did propose a more rational system of measurement that Wikipedia tells me was a precursor of metric. His language is an awesome mix of ambition and oddness. It’s the one that tries to name things according to what they are, which requires him to first specify what everything is.

By pre-French Revolution, do you mean pre-Enlightenment? Either way, Wilkins qualifies as before when scholars usually date all that stuff.

]]> By: Steve Laniel http://www.explananda.com/2009/11/29/recently-read-in-the-land-of-invented-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-7405 Steve Laniel Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:19:18 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=3415#comment-7405 Are there any connections with the metric system, and more generally with the Age of Enlightenment or the French Revolution? I'm thinking of the metric system's doing away with arbitrary units like the length of the king's toe or whatnot, replacing it with a system pristine in its rationality. In particular, I'm curious if there were any pre-French Revolution rational languages. Are there any connections with the metric system, and more generally with the Age of Enlightenment or the French Revolution? I’m thinking of the metric system’s doing away with arbitrary units like the length of the king’s toe or whatnot, replacing it with a system pristine in its rationality.

In particular, I’m curious if there were any pre-French Revolution rational languages.

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