"So far as the advocates of a constructed international language are concerned, it is rather to be wondered at how much in common their proposals actually have, both in vocabulary and in general spirit of procedure"
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Edward Sapir, a popular linguist, is considering the shared attributes of constructed worldwide languages. In this quote, Sapir expresses a sense of surprise at the degree to which these languages, in spite of being developed individually by different advocates, share commonalities in both their vocabulary and their overarching methodologies.
First, attending to the "built worldwide language", Sapir is referring to languages like Esperanto, Ido, and others developed to promote global interaction by supplying a neutral linguistic ground. These languages intend to bridge linguistic barriers by offering a streamlined and efficient means of interaction that isn't tied to any particular nation or culture.
When Sapir notes, "it is rather to be wondered at how much in typical their proposals actually have", he suggests that it's rather unforeseen to find such harmony among these languages. This could come from the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of their developers, yet they have arrived at comparable services. This may suggest an intrinsic recognition of universal linguistic functions or maybe an adherence to typical principles of simpleness and functionality in language style.
In terms of "vocabulary", Sapir might be highlighting that these languages tend to draw from a comparable lexical pool, typically utilizing words typical to numerous major languages. This may reflect an effort to take full advantage of recognizability and ease of finding out for speakers worldwide.
Relating to the "general spirit of procedure", Sapir indicates a shared underlying approach or set of principles that guide these language creators. This might involve focusing on ease of usage, regularity, and neutrality, lining up with the goal to foster international understanding and cooperation without preferring any existing linguistic tradition.
In summary, Sapir is interested by the merging of independent efforts in the world of built global languages. This observation speaks with a shared vision among language designers, driven by the more comprehensive aspiration of assisting in global interaction.
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