Categories from Interglossa.

While researching constructed languages I have encountered a number of systems. One of particular note was Interglossa. One reason for this was the creator’s name was not unknown. Lancelot Hogben was author of the book “Mathematics for the Million”, a book that should probably be on the curriculum of all schools. It is also impressive that a book trying to promote international understanding and fraternity was published at the height of World War Two.

Interglossa has some interesting ideas, although I do not think many of them are in the current version of Diinlang.

In a previous post I remarked on the problem of finding suitable categories to assign syllables or mora to. Interglossa’s section on Generic Substantives does provide some useful suggestions in this direction.

“-pe”, meaning “person” is used to create agent noun type constructions. “aero-pe”, airman, “agri-pe”,  farmer and “ergo-pe”, worker. In Diinlang I have proposed that the third person pronouns “ze”, “zo” and “za” be used in this fashion.

“-re” is used for inanimates such as “ferro-re”, ironware, “pedi-re”, step and “reflecto-re”, mirror. In Diinlang I have proposed “it” be used as a suffix in similar fashion, although an alternative might be considered for less physical inanimates.

“-ca”, from the word “cameri” is used for room, chamber, cabin, hall or compartment. Since Diinlang does not use the letter “c” an alternative will need to be selected.

“-do” from “domi” is a house, building, tent or man-made erection. “dom” may be used for Diinlang.

“-fa” from “fascio” is a group, set, bunch, batch, heap or collection. This is a good example of the Greek/ Latin derivation of many of Interglossa’s words. In Diinlang a single syllable word will be used and there may be distinction between groups of objects and people and their coherency. For example, a team has more common purpose than a gang or mob.

“-fi” is a cord, filament, line, rope, string, thread or wire.

“-ru” is from “instrumenti”. Hogben notes that the antecedent of a -ru compound always points to function, making it an agent noun for inanimate objects.

“-li” comes from “lithi” and denotes a stone, rock or translucent jewel. The full word is used for non-transparent ornamental stones, hence “chloro-li” emerald, beryl and “chloro-lithi”, jade, malachite.

“-lo” from “loco” for place, region, territory, domain, locality.

“-ma” or “materia” for material, stuff, substance, including some liquids (suspensions/ solutions?).

“-me” from “mechani” for machine, apparatus, device, engine, mechanism. Hogben states the antecedent points either to function or power source. This word is used for motors and engines. This should probably be used to indicate more complex tools than “-ru”. In Diiblang this is very likely to be the syllable “mek”.

“-mo” from “mobili” for furniture or moveables.

“-te” or “texti” for fabric, cloth, textile, woven material, tissue, canvas, muslim, etc.

“-va” or “vassa” is a vessel, container, jug, mug, cup, bowl, pitcher. This seems a very useful catergory. “va-“ is used as a prefix to indicate tinned, canned or bottled goods. Hodben states that the meaning can be made more explict by using an antecedent point to the function or other suggestive characteristic rather than the object’s composition. Thus, the equivalent of “drinking vessel” is superior to “glass”. Hogben used “ora-va”, mouth-vessel.

“-ve” or “vesto” is covering, clothes, vesture, costume, -wear, suit, dress.

“-zo” or “zona” is ring, belt, hoop, zone, band. The distinct word “cycli” is used for circle and “sphera” for a ball or sphere. The word “zo” is already in use in Diinlang. The word “ring” already meets the requirements of Diinlang, being one syllable, CVn format and as a bonus recognizable to English and English second language (ESL) speakers. “zo/ zona” suggest that categories such as bar/pole and tube/pipe might be useful. The English word “QUAD” has a somewhat rectangular look. It is tempting to create words for circle or sphere using the letter “O”.