International auxiliary language facts for kids

An International auxiliary language (often called an IAL or auxlang) is a special language designed to help people from different countries talk to each other. Imagine people who speak completely different languages, like English, Chinese, and Spanish, needing to communicate. An IAL would be a common language they could all use.

For hundreds of years, some natural languages became very important for international talk. For example, Latin was used across the Roman Empire, and later for science and religion. Other languages like Greek, Standard Arabic, Standard Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish have also been used by many people across the world for trade, diplomacy, and culture.

However, some people thought it would be better to create a brand new language just for this purpose. These are called constructed languages, and they are built from scratch. Famous examples include Esperanto, Ido, and Interlingua.

What is an Auxiliary Language?

An auxiliary language acts like a bridge between different cultures. It helps people share ideas, do business, and understand each other without everyone having to learn many difficult languages. The goal is to make communication easier and fairer for everyone.

Why Do We Need Them?

Imagine a big international meeting where everyone speaks a different language. It would be very hard to talk! An auxiliary language would give everyone a common ground. It could help avoid situations where one country's language becomes too dominant, making it easier for all nations to participate equally.

Types of Auxiliary Languages

There are two main types of auxiliary languages: those that developed naturally and those that were created on purpose.

Natural Auxiliary Languages

These are languages that grew organically over time and became widely used by people who didn't speak them as their first language.

Historical Examples

• Latin: For many centuries, Latin was the language of learning, science, and the church in Europe. Even after the Roman Empire fell, scholars and scientists continued to use Latin to share their discoveries.
• French: In the 18th and 19th centuries, French became the language of diplomacy and high society across Europe. Many international treaties were written in French.
• English: Today, English is often seen as the most common international auxiliary language. It's widely used in business, science, technology, and travel around the world.

Pidgins and Creoles

Sometimes, when groups of people who speak different languages need to communicate quickly, they create a simplified language called a pidgin. Pidgins often have a small vocabulary and simpler grammar.

• Mediterranean Lingua Franca: This was a pidgin used by sailors and traders in the Mediterranean Sea from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. It was based mostly on Romance languages like Italian, Spanish, and French.
• Tok Pisin: This is a pidgin that developed in Papua New Guinea, mainly from English words. It is now an official language there and is spoken by millions of people.

If a pidgin becomes the main language for a community and children start learning it as their first language, it can develop into a more complex language called a creole.

Constructed Auxiliary Languages

These are languages that someone deliberately created. The goal is often to make them easy to learn and fair for everyone, without the irregular rules that many natural languages have.

Famous Constructed Languages

• Volapük: This was one of the first widely used constructed languages, created in 1879 by Johann Martin Schleyer. It gained some popularity but was later overshadowed by Esperanto.
• Esperanto: Created by L. L. Zamenhof in 1887, Esperanto is the most successful constructed language. It has a very regular grammar and pronunciation, making it relatively easy to learn. It has up to 2,000,000 speakers worldwide.
  • Ido: This language was created in 1907 as a reformed version of Esperanto, aiming to make it even more logical and easy to use.
• Interlingua: Developed in the mid-20th century, Interlingua was designed to be easily understood by people who already speak Romance languages (like Spanish, French, or Italian) because its vocabulary comes from these languages.
• Interlingue: Also known as Occidental, this language was created in 1922. It aimed to be natural-looking and easy to read for people familiar with European languages.
• Basic English: This is not a completely new language but a simplified form of English. It uses a much smaller number of words (around 850) and simpler grammar rules, making it easier for non-native speakers to learn and use.

Images for kids

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  English has become a language of communication across the globe.

See also

In Spanish: Lengua auxiliar para niños