Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-15
A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.


Nj. Ssmenhof OF Gfodno, Russia,
who Is interested in the adoption Of IN
international language, has issued a
circular on the subject, the contents OF
which he desires to become widely
known. There csn be no doubt as TO
the need OF such language. People
already dream OF communication with
other planets, while, as Nj. Sameuhoi
points out, the members OF one human
family are rs yet incapable of commu-
nicating with one another, and on
this account avoid and hate each
| other.
Tho existence OF q universal Ian.
| guage, that 10 one by common consent
adopted for international purposes,
would save the student the vast labor
OF learning many languages, which
when mastered only bring him in
touch with email portion OF the
world. By one language known
everywhere he would be enabled to
draw at pleasure from the well-springs
OF cont, mporary literature and Conn
.municate with the various portions OF
the human family at pleasure. But
the question Is how to arrive at q DE-
clsion concerning what language /,
elevate to the position OF universality.
Is any OF the vernaculsr tongues suit.
able for the purpose? Or, would It
hA hat In nf a 4
Languages? Or, Is new language to
be invented? In order to obtain the
prevailing opinion upon these quos-
lions, M. Samenhof proposes to take a
vote and In his circular he explai Ms
the rules by which everyone Inter.
ssted in an International language can
take part in the voting. He says:
Everyone who wishes to participate
in the discussion and decision ON the
question of an international language is
requested to send notification Of the
TACT, in any Language, to l.. samenhof,
Grodno, Russia; and anyone desiring to
express his Ideas on, or motives for, The
adoption of this language or ihal, Is re-
guessed to send, in addition, an essay on
the subject. Such essay or article may
be written in any language.
All papers SO received, in whatever
spirit conceived or in the interests Of
Whatever party written, will be- printe
in book form, impartially and verba.
tim, with no comments whatever, and
this book will be sent to all those taking
part in this 'congress of minds" The
book will be published in three volumes
AS an appendix to the third and Las
volume a blank form will be printed
on which each person taking part in tn,
convention Will be requested TO send Il
! the editor Of the book replies to the fol
, lowing questions:
Az. DO you ind, af,er psrusing thi
universal expression OF opinion, i. @
. after thorough readipga of these vol
a ume., that Ozone OF the already existing
languages, natural, artificial, living o
, dead, should be adopted as the interna
tional language? Or that (2) none of tn
. already existing Languages eau serve 70
this purpose, and totally new languag,
must be created?
, 81. IL you answer question ~ in tn,
Affirmative, please state VIVA. Language
natural or artificial, living or dead yol
q would desire 10 select as the inlernationa
1 tongue.
ii you answer question (2) in the afIir
= NATIVE, 1t should not be forgotten Ina
! the final decision OF the demand will b,
, either impracticable or, at any rate, will
be postponed indefinitely. In this case
0 please state which OF the already exist
! ing tongues you would propose as u pro
visional language until such time as tn
final language shall be created, testeC
o and authorl asively sanctioned.
! Three months after the distribution Q
+, the voting blanks, the acceptance of vote
I will cease. All vo,es then received will
/ be published, and the language whic
has received the largest number of vote
Will be proclaimed as international
Q permanently or Professionally. accordin
Il AZ The msjorily of woes is cast in fave
OF question ~ or question (2l.
(: Inc idea is great aud novel. Wac
;, the vote shall have tsen taken, thoi
. who agl,ate the question OF an int
n national lar guage will know dsnnit