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