International Planned Languages

The author of this book, the German interlinguist and Esperanto researcher Detlev Blanke (1941-2016), has influenced the study of planned languages like no one else. It is to a large extent due to his lifelong scholarly devotion to this area of research that Interlinguistics and Esperanto Studies (Esperantology) have become serious subjects of study in the academic world. In his publications, Blanke gives an overview of the history of language creation. He describes the most important planned language systems and presents various systems of classification. A special focus is put on Esperanto initiated by L.L. Zamenhof in 1887. (Sabine Fiedler) For Blanke, a planned language was essentially a tool: if it worked it was worthy of study and use; if it failed to work, he was interested in why, though at the same time careful to avoid value judgments. Blanke himself spoke a planned language, namely Esperanto, and recognised this language and language projects like it as arising out of a coherent theoretical base and addressing a recognisable problem. Essentially independently of the sociolinguistic school in the west, Blanke had reached a similar conclusion: if a language phenomenon exists, it is worthy of scholarly examination in itself. Blanke was particularly interested in how planned languages related to ethnic languages, how the 'artificiality' of, say, Esperanto extended to, indeed was synonymous with, the 'artfulness' of ethnic language, and how planned language could solve taxonomic and terminological problems. (Humphrey Tonkin)

A collection of 11 papers, one in German, and an interview in French with Umberto Eco. The topics include the term planned language, Esperanto as a unique model for general linguistics, a dialogue between sociolinguistic sciences and Esperanto culture, the experience of Esperanto in developing a language for international law, and machine translation. No index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

This directory gives guidance in the complicated world of sociolinguistic and language planning organizations, giving structural information on regional, national, provincial and community level, both public and private. Each entry gives full details, including full addresses, phone/fax numbers, Director's name, and information on the organization’s activities, programs, publications, work in progress and plans for the future.

This directory gives guidance in the complicated world of sociolinguistic and language planning organizations, giving structural information on regional, national, provincial and community level, both public and private. Each entry gives full details, including full addresses, phone/fax numbers, Director's name, and information on the organization s activities, programs, publications, work in progress and plans for the future.

Readings in Language Studies, Volume 7: Intersections of Peace and Language Studies features international contributions that represent state-of-the-field reviews, multi-disciplinary perspectives, theory-driven syntheses of current scholarship, reports of new empirical research, reflections on pedagogical practices, and critical discussions of major topics centered on the intersection of language studies and peace. Consistent with the mission of ISLS, the collection of 13 chapters in this volume seeks to “bridge these arbitrary disciplinary territories and provide a forum for both theoretical and empirical research, from existing and emergent research methodologies, for exploring the relationships among language, power, discourses, and social practices.” Language and peace are in themselves incredibly complex concepts. They are simultaneously interpersonal in their function and effect as well as intimately personal in their experience. From everyday communication to the pragmatics of world diplomacy, from embracing a foreign culture to embarking upon a journey of self-awareness, language and peace are inseparably intertwined. To reveal their myriad interconnections, in local and global contexts, is a limitless task; nevertheless, we attempt to bring you a few glimpses from far corners of the world. It is also a linguistic and postcolonial mission of this society and the book series to publish the voices of non-native speakers of English. Decolonizing the academic enterprise is part of our commitment to diversity.

Esperanto, spoken by thousands of people across the world, is the most successful international language project. In this book, the French linguist and literary critic Pierre Janton describes the history of Esperanto since its invention in nineteenth-century Eastern Europe and offers a comprehensive linguistic description of the language. This book is the best general introduction to Esperanto and its role in the modern world. Rooted in the populism and internationalism of the late nineteenth century, Esperanto owes its origins in part to western European educational currents and in part to the cultural history of eastern European Jewry. It is a fascinating historical and sociological phenomenon as well as a remarkable linguistic system. The book contains a survey of today's movement for the promotion of Esperanto as an international language, and a description of the extensive literature in Esperanto, both original and translated. Janton also provides a survey of the other global language projects, explaining why Esperanto has prevailed.

TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS is a series of books that open new perspectives in our understanding of language. The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighbouring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS publishes monographs and outstanding dissertations as well as edited volumes, which provide the opportunity to address controversial topics from different empirical and theoretical viewpoints. High quality standards are ensured through anonymous reviewing.