St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-08
VOLAPUCK.
The New Language That is to be
Universal.

The New Language That is to be
Universal.
Volapuck? Volapuck? What is it?
What does it mean? 1t might be the magic
password of professorof the black art,
the thiefs sesame, or the Allah-il-Alah of
some savage tribe beyond the borders of
civilization. Some twelve months ago the
mysterious word was now and then heard
in certain learned circles here, and then it
appeared in some newspaper paragraph (the
spelling of the word beng somewhat unde-
cided), and then for time nothing more
was heard of it. Now it forces its way
once more into the world, not tlmidly as be-
fore, but with the obstinacy and courage Of
Self-cOnscious merit, and from the house
steps it cries; Il am Volapuck, the uni
versal language. Make me your own, and
you will return to the blissful times before
the Babylonian confusion" 1t is discussed
in the press of the whole world-seriously
i'll some, contemptuously in most cases.
Minerva Volapuck," says Russian con-
temporary, has sprung from the brains of
Jupiter-Schleyer, fully armed to go out and
conquer the world"
Herr Schleyer of Constance, the inventor
of this universal language, has, after twenty
years hard work, at last completed his
task. There are at present 1853 certiticated
professors of Volapuck ready to instruct
the world in the new science. One of them
M. Auguste Kertchoffs, professor OF litera-
ture, has been teaching it for the last three
months at the Etole des Hautes EtudeS
Commercials at Paris, and the ffty-two
societies in Germany, Austria, Holland
Sweden, England and the United States
are propagating the same cause. So great
is the zeal and enthusiasm OF M. Schleyers
disciples that at a recent congress of 800
members of the different societies, which
was held at Fredrichshafen, a successor 10
NJ. Schleyer was chosen to take his place
in case he should prematurely die. On the
same occasion it was decided to found an
academy which will be charged with the
regulation of all Volapuck difficulties. And
these difficulties, Notwithstanding the as
sertion that VOlapuck is the simplest of all
languages, are by no means small. Without
dwelling on any other difficulties which
accompany the acquisition of any language
be it never so simple, let it be supposed
that each nation were to pronounce Vola-
puck according to the pronunciation of its
own language, Would not this result in
another Babylonan confusion? But the
details about the destruction of the Vola-
puck tongue have not yet been given to the
world at large. Meanwhile dictionaries,
not only for all European nations but for
the use of Chinese and Hottentots, are be-
ing published, and the two Volapuck re-
views are enjoying much popularity among
| the initiated.
Confirmed disciples have been heard to
explain that it is chiefly in order to facili-
tate the commercial relations between ma
| lions that VOlapuck has been invented.
| With regard to this we quote the opinion
of contemporary on this side of the queS-
| ton: THE question of exchange may be
summarized by the following primitive
| idea: Give me good deal of
| what you possess and l will give
you little of what 1 possess with
this corollary understanding, Whether
you like it or not. 1 am the
stronger, and 1 shall get something out Of
you 1t is, therefore unnecessary to en-
ploy Volapuck to put this idea into peoples
heads" But given that this law of COM
meree is not adhered to In the generality of
cases, there is still far easier mode Of
procedure current among the traders in the
East, by which business transactions are
settled without the utterance even of
single word. Buyer and seller take each
other by the hand, and in order to keep their
arrangements quite private, the hands are
covered with a cloth or veil. Then by
pressing the hand. or part of it, the intend
ing purchaser makes his offer, and receives
his answer in a similar way. Each sign
has its special meaning. the Interpretation
being as follows: If the whole first finger
is taken hold of the numbers 1, 10, or 100
are understood. (The number which is
meant is rarely misunderstood, as business
men are always acquainted with the ap-
proXimate value of the articles.) If the
first and second fingers are taken hold of
! together, the Interpretation is 2.20 and 200;
for three fingers, it is 8, 80, and 800; for
four, 4, 40, and 400; and for the whole
hand. 5, so, and 500. If the little finger
only is taken, 600. 800 is meant, the third
alone 7, 10, and 700; the second s, 80,
500; the first finger taken hold of alone and
bent over signifies 9, 80, and 900, and if
the thumb is grasped 1000 is meant. If
the purchaser touches with the thumb the
middle Joint of the seller the sign signifies
u; if a line is drawn with the thumb from
the middle joint of the forefnger to the
knuckle it is XI; a line from the knuckle
toward the end of the finger is-L. A
touch of the whole nail of the forefingeI
is x Is, and if only the point of the nail is
touched it is understood to mean-15.
These few simple signs. which, of course,
admit of great number Of different COM
binations, comprise the whole of the Oren-
tai mercantile language, and appear to
completely satisfy the traders. 1t would
therefore, for the present, be unadvisabls
to propose change in these regions-PaI
Mall Gazette