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From: gldhsm@mail.bris.ac.uk (DHS. Moncrieff)
Subject: Re: Single European language: *NOT* European english
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Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:04:15 GMT
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Coming into thread an a "non-expert", I have a simple question:

Why invent a language when loads already exist and have had the problems
with them worked out, to some degree or another?

Languages are "living constructs", and evolve with time.  Hence American
English has differences from Austrailian English, the same for German,
Swiss German and Austrian German (even though Duden is supposed to stop
this kind of thing (?)).  So, if you construct a language which has no
irregular verbs, exceptions to rules or whatever; the language will
develop them naturally if the number of speakers of the language exceed
whatever size is necessary to "enforce" uniform useage.  So I can't see
any point in bothering really.

Learning an esoteric language such as "Eo" will surely be more difficult
than learning a major language (assuming similar alphabets).  THere's less
back up for it, most bookshops won't have anything on it thats of any
tangible use to a beginner who's learning on their own.

And I do wonder at the motives of these people who teach "Eo" backing it
so much.  I may be cynical, but could there be some financial motivation
behind it???


Duncs
