LINGUIST List 14.718

Wed Mar 12 2003

Books: Lang Descr, Artificial Langs: Libert

Editor for this issue: Marisa Ferrara <marisalinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. LINCOM.EUROPA, Mixed Artificial Languages: Libert

			
Title: Mixed Artificial Languages
Series Title: Languages of the World 29
			
Publication Year: 2003
Publisher: Lincom GmbH
 http://home.t-online.de/home/LINCOM.EUROPA/
			
Availability: Available
		
Author: Alan Libert
				
Hardback: ISBN: 3895868442, Pages: 120, Price: USD 46.70 / EUR 44 /
	 GBP 26.50
			
Abstract:
			
Artificial languages are often classified on the basis of whether they
are based on natural languages or are attempts to build a language (or
at least the vocabulary of a language) "from scratch". The former type
are called 'a posteriori' languages and the latter 'a priori'
languages. This is not a strict dichotomy, but rather a spectrum, and
there may be no truly a priori languages. However, languages with
substantial a priori and a posteriori components have been labelled
'mixed' languages.

This book is a survey of several such languages. After an
introduction, there are chapters on phonetics, lexicon, morphology,
syntax, and semantics. Given that these languages are partly a priori,
one might wonder to what extent they conform to universals posited for
natural languages, and this is examined with respect to various
properties. The languages discussed include Volapuk (by far the best
known and most successful language of this type), the Blue Language,
Gilo, pan-kel, and Vela.
			
Lingfield(s): Language Description
	
Language Family(ies): Artificial Language

Written In: English (Language Code: English)