Categories of constructed international languages

This article presents a categorization of international auxiliary languages based on the number and distribution of their source languages. In the constructed language hobbyist jargon, it is customary to call language categories as langs. So constructed languages are called conlangs and international auxiliary language are called auxlangs in short. The categories presented here follow the same naming convention: onelang, kinlang, zonelang, eurolang & worldlang.

A-Priori and A-Posteriori Languages

A constructed language whose vocabulary is not based on any existing language is called an a-priori language. An a-posteriori language is the opposite, it is based on one or more existing languages.

A language that combines both a-priori and a-posteriori features is called a mixed language. For example Volapük and Lojban are mixed languages.

A-posteriori languages are divided into the subcategories, which are presented below.

Onelang

A onelang has one predominant source language, which is typically a natural language. There are onelangs that are based on Latin (f.ex. Latino sine Flexione and Master Language) and English (f.ex. BASIC English) among others.

Kinlang

A kinlang is based on several genetically related languages (a family of languages). There are kinlangs that are based on the Romance languages (f.ex. Lingua Franca Nova and Romanova), Germanic languages (f.ex. Folkspraak), Slavic languages (f.ex. Slovianski), and Uralic languages (Budinos and Samboka).

Zonelang

A zonelang has several geographically related source languages. Some examples of zonelangs are Afrihili, Interlingua and Esperanto.

A prominent subcategory of zonelangs is the group of eurolangs, which includes constructed languages that are based on languages of European origin. Some of the more popular auxlangs, such as Esperanto, Ido and Interlingua, are eurolangs.

Worldlang

Worldlangs use several unrelated source languages from around the world, typically including at least some of the most widely spoken languages today.

List of Worldlangs

Publication year Language name(s) Author(s) Current status Link to more information
2012 Pandunia Pandunia Academy Active Pandunia site
2011 Angos Ben Wood, United States Active Angos website
2010 Paqatyl Jorge de Oliveira a.k.a. Kjor Olfaa, Brazil Active Paqatyl website and forum
2010 Vollanjo Niyameddin Kebirov, Azerbaijan Active -
2008 Ardano Zeinelabidin Elhassi, Libya Active Ardano site
2007 Sanua Risto Kupsala, Finland Discontinued Language description
2007 Sambahsa-mundialect Olivier Simon, France Active Sambahsa-mundialect wiki
2006 Lingwa de Planeta (LdP, Lidepla) Dmitri Ivanov, Russia Active Lingwa de Planeta site
2005 Neo Patwa Jens Wilkinson, Japan Discontinued Neo Patwa site
2003 Sasxsek Dana Nutter, USA Discontinued Sasxsek site
2002 Unish Institute for Universal Language, South Korea Re-activated Journal of Universal Language issues 2-1, 3-2 & 4-1
2001 Toki Pona Sonja Elen Kisa, Canada Active Toki Pona site
2000 Big Six Danny Wier, USA Discontinued A message in Conlang mailing list archive
1999 Acadon Leo Moser, USA Active Acadon site and blog
1997 Noxilo Mizuta Sentaro, Japan Active Noxilo site
1996 Ceqli (Tceqli, Txeqli) Rex May, USA Active Ceqli site
1996 Dunia Ed Robertson, Scotland Discontinued Description in LangMaker.com
1995 Vorlin Rick Harrison, USA Discontinued Vorlin site
1993 Jigwa Jigwadx Jungdwei (Jigwa Central Team) Discontinued A draft of Jigwa
1974 Lusane Luis Sainz Lopez-Negrete, Mexico Discontinued A message in Auxlang list

Written and compiled by: Risto Kupsala
Last update: 2014-09-25