Artificial Changes to Latin

Alan R. LibertDepartment of LinguisticsUniversity of Newcastle

(1) Carpophorophilus’ language (1734)Weltsprache (Volk and Fuchs) (1883)Weltsprache (Eichhorn) (1887)Nov Latin (1890)Linguum Islianum (1901)Reform-Latein (1902)Latino sine Flexione (aka Interlingua) (1903)Mundelingva (1904)Interpres (1908)Eulalia (1908-1910)Uropa (1913)Latinulus (1919)Interlingua Systematic (1922)Latinesco (1925)Latin Simplifié (1925)Latin sin flexion (1929)Neolatinus (1939)Latini (1941)Latina non sine Flexione (1932)Universal-Latein (1952)Ilion (1967)SIMP-LATINA/SPL (1982)Latino Moderne (1996)

(2) Creators’ Statements

Uropa“Uropa is the name I have given to a new language; the outcome of a protracted inquiry into the first principles of speech, the necessary and universal laws which underlie the expression of ideas and their conveyance from one mind to another. It is a growth rather than an invention. All who look forward to a universal philosophical language are requested to read through the following chapters, without mental protest, till the end is reached. Then, but not before, let them pour forth their pent-up fury over its apparent shortcomings and defects. I admit that I should myself protest against every part of it from the alphabet onward, taken piecemeal; and that is why I ask for a patient survey of the chapters and the lessons, as a whole.” (Donisthorpe 1913)

SPL“What are the specifications for an international language? It must be completely phonetic as to spelling, easily pronounceable, and grammatically simple. The Latin language complies with the first two requirements, but not with the third one, due to its very difficult grammar. The roots of Latin are in so many of the modern western languages that they are, in a sense, already international. Close to 70 percent of the words which one meets in English have come from Latin and the percentage is still higher in Romance languages. […] Therefore, the only possible international language must be based on Latin.” (Dominicus 1982:1)

Latino Moderne“Had Latin survived intact, without breaking up into its various dialects as found in the modern Romance languages, but had through the centuries undergone the same linguistic developments and changes as they, how would it appear in its modern form and what would its function be in the modern world? It would undoubtedly be the perfect bridge language for a United Europe and a Pan American interlanguage easily understood and learned by educated persons everywhere. Latino Moderne seeks to answer this question.” (Stark LMSGS)

“Modern Latin (LM) is the language of the ancient Roman Empire in contemporary form. […]Latin survives in the modern world, though covered with modifications of its various dialects. Modern Latin is the distillation of that surviving core language. Where there has [sic] been no surviving forms to follow the forms in Modern Latin have been drawn from analogy based on linguistic principles evident in the development of the romance [sic] languages and in the evolution of Ancient and Medieval Latin itself.Modern Latin should provide a good introduction to foreign languages for those who study it. Students will find that they can readily understand the other romance [sic] languages, and also have a solid foundation for the study of Classical Latin.” (Stark LMSGS)

(3) Comments/Descriptions by Others

Mundelingva“En tiu ci skizo de la lingvo estas nenio rimarkinda kaj essence diferenca de la ceteraj, pli frue publigitaj analogiaj projektoj” (Drezen 1967:160)

Nov Latin“Son principal défaut est de supposer chez l’adepte une certain connaisance de la grammaire latine: et alors, dira-t-on, pourquoi ne pas employer le latin?” (C+L 1903/1979:420)

Weltsprache (E)“Eichhorn’s Weltsprache of 1887 introduced a new principle, whereby each part of speech would be identifiable by its form, with nouns showing two syllables, adjectives three, pronouns one (with the additional proviso that they must begin with a consonant and end in a vowel) … […] Little interest seems to have attended Eichhorn’s project.” (Pei 1968:161)

(4) Samples

Carpophorophilus’ languageO baderus noderus, ki du esso in seluma, fakdade sankadus ha nominanda duus (C+ L 1907/1979:24)

Latino ModerneLatino Moderne es le plus bon lingua pro le communication international!‘Latino Moderne is the best language for international communication!’ (LMSGS)

Latino sine FlexionePatre nostro qui es in celos, que tuo nomine fi sanctificato, que tuo regni adveni (A+B1994:227)

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LatinulusLeos abeo crassa capus circumdata cum longa et ticca comas de fulva colos

‘The lion has a big head surrounded by long and thick hair of tawny color’ (Pei 1968:128)

Linguum IslianumCanus dum ferabat carnum, natans per fluminum, videavit suum simulacrum in speculo lymphorum (Couturat and Leau 1903/1979:543).

Canis, per flumen carnem dum ferret natans,Lympharum in speculo vidit simulacrum suum. (original by Phaedrus, ibid.)

‘A dog, while he carried a piece of meat as he swam in the river, saw his own reflection in the mirror of the waters’ (Pei 1968:127)

SPLNon solum satéllites, sed étiam homines exploratores mittuntur, uti al cognoscunt superfícies et natura di luna.

‘Not only satellites but also men-explorers are sent that they may learn about the surface and nature of the moon.’ (Dominicus 1982:85)

Weltsprache (V + F)Not pater, vel sas in les cöles, ton nomen sanctöt, ton regnon venät (C + L 1903/1979:269)

(5) Articlesdefinite indefinite

Latin no noLatinulus no noSPL no noMundelingva app. no app. noLinguum Islianum no? no?LSF no supposedly no, but v. infraUropa yes yes, but app. only for one use, v. infraLatino Moderne yes yesNov Latin yes yesReform-Latein yes yesWeltsprache (E) yes yesWeltsprache (V+F) yes yesFrench yes yesPortuguese yes yesSpanish yes yesRumanian suffix yes

LSF: The KtI says that the article “is translated with a pronoun [sic], like “illo”, “uno”, etc., when it has the value of a pronoun and its use is necessary”. I do not know what “necessary” means here; consider the following examples given by the KtI:

(6) a. da ad me libro = give me the bookb. da ad [me] uno libro = give me a book.c. da ad me uno meo libro = give me a book mine.

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Uropa: “Y = a certain, a particular thing” (Donisthorpe 1913:9)“Oma medeci furtām: a man fell among thieves. Y oma medeci furtām: a certain manfell among thieves.” (ibid.:8)

“Sy=the: = the same, the said.” (ibid.:9)

“Ma vidi kanam: I saw a dog. Ma vidi sy kanam: I saw the dog; (that is to say ‘the same dog,’ ‘the dog of which we were speaking,’ the said dog).” (ibid.:8)

Apparently to make a NP containing an adjective is definite y is suffixed to the adjective:

“Ruby doma = the red house. Rub doma = a red house” (ibid.:9)

(7) How Many Definite Articles?

Number

Nov LatinSG: le PL: les

Number and Gender

Weltsprache (E) FrenchM F N M F before Vs and some <h>s

SG lo la le SG le la l’PL lö lä li PL les --------------->(C+L 1903/1979:298)

Number and Case

Weltsprache (V+F)SG PL

nom. le lesgen. lis lumdat. li libacc. la las (C+L 1903/1979:262)

(8) Case Systems

Cases in Pers. Pronouns Cases in Nouns DeclensionsLatin 5 (2 gens. in pl.) 6 (+ loc.) 5Linguum Islianum ? at least 4 3Reform-Latein 5 no --SPL 5 no --Latino Moderne 4 no --Mundelingva 4 no --Carpophorophilus 3 (at least) no --Weltsprache (E) 2 no --LSF no no --Nov Latin no no --French 4 no --Rumanian 3 2 (+ voc.) yes

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(9) Plural Markers

Weltsprache (E): -s

LSF: “An ‘s’ marks the plural, but it is omitted when not necessary: tres filios or tres filio = three sons.” (KtI)

Nov Latin: “-s ou -es (suivant des règles d’euphonie)” (C+L 1907/1979:416)

Carpophorophilus: plural marker -im (from Hebrew!), e.g. domusim ‘houses’

Reform-Latein: plural only marked on article: la femina, los femina

Weltsprache (V+F): “Synthetic Declension”

SG PLnom. -- -esgen. -is -umdat. -i -ibacc. -a -as (after C+L 1903/1979:263)

“Les substantives dont le radical se termine par une voyelle (mots étrangers) sont invariables; seul l’article se decline (comme avec les autres substantives, d’ailleurs).” (ibid.)

(10) Personal Pronouns

Nov Latin Weltsprache (E)

SG PL SG PL1 me nos 1 mo noi2 te vos 2 do voi3M il ils 3M ro rö3F la ilas 3F ra rä

3N re ri (+ ACC forms in sg.)

(11) Personal Pronouns: Regularization/Elimination of Suppletive Forms

Mundelingva 1st Person Personal Pronouns (after C+L 1907/1979:77):

SG PLNOM ego egosGEN ega egasDAT ege egesACC egi egis

elo ‘you’ (sg.), ero ‘he’, efo ‘she’, eso ‘it’, elos ‘you’ (pl.); and eliso ‘you’ (pol.)

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(12) Personal Pronouns: Addition of Polite Forms

Universal-Latein (based on Pötzl-Pecelius 1952:15):

1st 2nd AnredeformM F

3rdM F N

SG NOM ego tu Voso Vosa ejo eja ejuGEN mei tui Vosoi Vosai ejoi ejai ejuiDAT al men al ten al Voson al Vosan al ejon al ejan al ejunACC men ten Voson Vosan ejon ejan ejun

PL NOM nosos vosos Vosos Vosas ejos ejas ejuesGEN nosoru vosoru Vosoru Vosaru ejoru ejaru ejuruDAT al nosons al vosons al Vosons al Vosans al ejons al ejans al ejunsACC nosons vosons Vosons Vosans ejons ejans ejuns

French, and various other IE and non-IE languages, are similar in making a familiar/polite distinction. Note however that while in French the polite form is identical to the plural, here it is not identical, but very similar. Note also the fact that the polite forms, unlike the regular forms, have gender distinctions. French does not make gender distinctions in 2nd person pronouns; Spanish does, but only in the familiar plural forms (vosotros vs. vosotras).

(13) Cardinal Numbers

Latin ūnus duo trēs quattuor quīnqueLatin sin flexion un du tri quatuor quinqueLatino Moderne uno duo tres quatro cinqueLatino sine Flexione uno duo tres quatuor quinqueMundelingva uno duo trio karo kinoNov Latin un du tre quat quinSPL unus duo tres quáttuor quinqueUniversal-Latein une due tre quattuor quinqueUropa yw dw trw frw pwWeltsprache (E) ak ek ik ok ukWeltsprache (V+F) un du tres cvart cvintFrench un deux trois quatre cinqItalian uno due tre quattro cinqueRumanian unu doi trei patru cinciSpanish uno dos tres cuatro cinco

(Uropa <w> = [u]; Weltsprache (V+F) <c> = [k])

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(14) Verbal Systems

Tenses/Asps. Pers. Ends.? Subjunc.? ConjugationsLatin 6 yes yes 4Reform-Latein 6 yes yes 1Linguum Islianum 6? yes? ? 1Weltsprache (E) 6 no. only! yes* (+condit.) app. 1SPL 4* yes no, condit.* 4Latinulus 4 + 4* no yes (+condit.) 3Latino Moderne 3 + 3* yes yes (aka condit.) 3Nov Latin 2 +4* no no, condit* 3Carpophorophilus 2 + at least 3* no same as indic. 1LSF (3*) no no 1Uropa ? (v. infra) noFrench 3 (+ ps + *) yes yes 3Spanish yes yes 3

(* = analytic)

Irr. Vs? Synthetic Passive? Deponents?Latin yes yes, in 3 T/As yesReform-Latein 1 (sum)Linguum Islianum 1 (esse)Weltsprache (E) yesSPL yes yes yesLatinulus noLatino Moderne yesCarpophorophilus no --LSF noFrench yes no --Spanish yes: “almost 900” no --

(Green 1988:99)

(17) Weltsprache (V+F): some verb formsem diligam ‘I love’at diligas ‘you (sg.) love’il diligat ‘he loves’ems diligami ‘we love’ats diligasi ‘you (pl.) love’ils diligati ‘they love’ (after C+L 1903/1979:266)

indic. subjunc.pres. diligam diligämperf. diligesam diligesäm

optativeimperf. diligasam diligasämpluperf. diligisam diligisäm

conditionalfut. diligosam diligosämfut. ant. diligusam diligusäm (ibid.)

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(16) Uropa tenses/aspectsMa salte ‘I jump’Ma salti ‘I jumped’Ma saltu ‘I shall jump’ Ma saltee ‘I am jumping’Ma saltie ‘I have jumped’Ma saltue ‘I am going to jump’ Ma saltei ‘I was jumping’Ma saltii ‘I had jumped’Ma saltui ‘I was going to jump’ Ma salteu ‘I shall be jumping’Ma saltiu ‘I shall have jumped’Ma saltuu ‘I shall be about to jump’ (Donisthorpe 1913:13)

“There are no inflexions or terminations in Uropa; nothing but WORDS. Thus e, i, and u, [sic] are distinct words and are used separately. Hy besta e parda = this animal is a leopard. […]

It is obvious that the number of possible tenses is infinite, and they can all be expressed in Uropa: but a dozen is even more than enough.

‘Ma larmeie toen epys va abivi.’ ‘I have been crying ever since you left.’ This is a tense which is not in the above, and it is seldom needed. Even in English we do not trouble to say ‘I shall be about to depart when you shall be arriving.’ Pretty names like ‘paulo-post-futurum’ can be given to all the above tenses by those who enjoy complicated nomenclature. Reader! We don’t!” (ibid.)

(17) Adjectival Agreement

Latin yesLinguum Islianum yesSPL yes bonus puer, boni pueri, bella puella (Dominicus 1982:11)Latino Moderne yes, if after noun, but optional for plural (required for gender?)Carpophorophilus noLatinulus noReform-Latein no la magna pars, un pulcher carmen (C+L 19031979:544)Weltsprache (E) noFrench yes

(18) Basic Word Order (note that these are sometimes not clear/disputed for nat. langs.)

Latin free, but basic order is SOVSPL “natural order” Dominicus (1982:3) is SVOSpanish VO, but “SVO, VSO, and VOS orders are all found” (Green 1988:115)Rumanian “essentially SVO” (Mallinson 1988:408)French SVOPortuguese SVO

Nov Latin: “Pour la syntaxe, l’auteur n’édicte aucune règle spéciale. Il permet de suivre la syntaxe de n’importe quell langue romane ou germanique, pourvu qu’on observe les precepts suivants:

1° Suivre l’ordre le plus logique; …” (C+L 1903:417)

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References

Albani, P. & B. Buonarroti (1994) Aga Magéra Difúra. Zanichelli, Bologna.

Couturat, L. & L. Leau (1903 and 1907/1979). Histoire de la langue universelle bound with Les nouvelles langues internationale. Georg Olms Verlag, Hildesheim. (C+L)

Dominicus, R. (1982) SPL: An International Language based on Simplified Latin. Dominicus Publishing House, Wisconsin (no city given).

Donisthorpe, W. (1913) Uropa: A New Simple Philosophically-Constructed Language Based on Latin Roots. Guildford.

Drezen, E. 1967. Historio de la mondolingvo (3rd edition, 1st edition, translated and edited by N. Hohlov and N. Nekrasov). Osaka: Pirato.

Green, J. N. (1988) “Spanish”. In M. Harris and N. Vincent, eds., The Romance Languages. Routledge, London.

Key to Interlingua (original printed version 1931) Internet WWW pages at URL <http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/2948/key.html>. (KtI)

Mallinson, G. (1988) “Rumanian”. In M. Harris and N. Vincent, eds., The Romance Languages. Routledge, London.

Pei, M. (1968) One Language for the World. Biblo and Tannen, New York.

Pötzl-Pecelius, K. (and A. Schlögelhofer “als Mitarbeiter”) (1952) Universal-Latein. Vienna.

Stark, David (1996) Latino Moderne Le Summario de la Grammatica Sue. Internet WWW pages at URL <http://www.geocities.com/Athens/3150/latinomoderne.html>. (LMSGS)

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