Free word-building in Interlingua
Encyclopedia
Words can be included in Interlingua
in either of two ways: by establishing their internationality
or by deriving them using Interlingua words and affix
es. The second of these methods is often called free word-building.
Thus, in the Interlingua-English Dictionary
(IED), Alexander Gode
followed the principle that every word listed is accompanied by all of its clear compounds and derivatives, along with the word or words it is derived from. A reader skimming through the IED notices many entries followed by large groups of derived and compound words. A good example is the Interlingua word nation, which is followed by national, nationalismo, nationalista, nationalitate, nationalisar, international, internationalitate, and many other words.
Other words in the IED do not have derivatives listed. Gode saw these words as potential word families. Although all derived words in the IED are found in at least one control language, speakers may make free use of Interlingua roots and affixes. For example, jada (jade) can be used to form jadificar, (to jadify, make into jade, make look like jade), jadification, and so on. These word forms would be impermissible in English but would be good Interlingua.
explained in the Interlingua Grammar
that the basic principle of practical word-building is analogical. If a pattern can be found in the existing international vocabulary, new words can be formed according to that pattern. A meaning of the suffix -ista is person who practices the art or science of…. This suffix allows the derivation of biologista from biologia, physicista from physica, and so on. An Interlingua speaker can freely form saxophonista from saxophone and radiographista from radiographia by following the same pattern.
Any number of words could be formed by stringing roots and affixes together, but some would be more useful than others. For example, the English word rainer means a person who rains, but most people would be surprised that it is included in English dictionaries. The corresponding Interlingua word pluviator is unlikely to appear in a dictionary because of its lack of utility. Interlingua, like any traditional language, could build up large numbers of these words, but this would be undesirable.
Gode stressed the principle of clarity in free word-building. As Gode noted, the noun marinero (mariner) can be formed from the adjective marin, because its meaning is clear. The noun marina meaning navy cannot be formed, because its meaning would not be clear from the adjective and suffix that gave rise to it.
introduces words, and subsequent dictionaries include derivatives and compounds from those words. The developing vocabulary of Interlingua reflects its character as a living language, in practical use by a growing population of speakers.
Interlingua
Interlingua is an international auxiliary language , developed between 1937 and 1951 by the International Auxiliary Language Association...
in either of two ways: by establishing their internationality
Interlingua and eligibility of international words
Words can be included in Interlingua in either of two ways: through regular derivation using roots and affixes or by establishing their eligibility as international words...
or by deriving them using Interlingua words and affix
Affix
An affix is a morpheme that is attached to a word stem to form a new word. Affixes may be derivational, like English -ness and pre-, or inflectional, like English plural -s and past tense -ed. They are bound morphemes by definition; prefixes and suffixes may be separable affixes...
es. The second of these methods is often called free word-building.
Free derivation and compounding
While the national languages limit word-building by convention and usage, Interlingua has no such limits. Any derived word is admissible, as long as it is clear and useful.Thus, in the Interlingua-English Dictionary
Interlingua-English Dictionary
The Interlingua–English Dictionary , developed by the International Auxiliary Language Association under the direction of Alexander Gode and published by Storm Publishers in 1951, is the first Interlingua dictionary. The IED includes about 27,000 words drawn from about 10,000 roots. It also...
(IED), Alexander Gode
Alexander Gode
Alexander Gottfried Friedrich Gode-von Aesch or simply Alexander Gode was a German-American linguist, translator and the driving force behind the creation of the auxiliary language Interlingua.-Biography:Born to a German father and a Swiss mother, Gode studied at the University of Vienna and the...
followed the principle that every word listed is accompanied by all of its clear compounds and derivatives, along with the word or words it is derived from. A reader skimming through the IED notices many entries followed by large groups of derived and compound words. A good example is the Interlingua word nation, which is followed by national, nationalismo, nationalista, nationalitate, nationalisar, international, internationalitate, and many other words.
Other words in the IED do not have derivatives listed. Gode saw these words as potential word families. Although all derived words in the IED are found in at least one control language, speakers may make free use of Interlingua roots and affixes. For example, jada (jade) can be used to form jadificar, (to jadify, make into jade, make look like jade), jadification, and so on. These word forms would be impermissible in English but would be good Interlingua.
Word-building by analogy
Gode and Hugh E. BlairHugh E. Blair
Hugh Edward Blair was a recognized linguist and an able artist. He was the assistant of Alice Vanderbilt Morris, who founded the International Auxiliary Language Association, and the closest collaborator of Alexander Gode...
explained in the Interlingua Grammar
Interlingua: A Grammar of the International Language
Interlingua: A Grammar of the International Language, sometimes called the Interlingua Grammar, is the first grammar of Interlingua. Released in 1951 by the International Auxiliary Language Association , it remains an authoritative reference work for Interlingua speakers and students of...
that the basic principle of practical word-building is analogical. If a pattern can be found in the existing international vocabulary, new words can be formed according to that pattern. A meaning of the suffix -ista is person who practices the art or science of…. This suffix allows the derivation of biologista from biologia, physicista from physica, and so on. An Interlingua speaker can freely form saxophonista from saxophone and radiographista from radiographia by following the same pattern.
Usefulness and clarity
As noted above, the only limits to free word-building in Interlingua are clarity and usefulness. These concepts are touched upon here:Any number of words could be formed by stringing roots and affixes together, but some would be more useful than others. For example, the English word rainer means a person who rains, but most people would be surprised that it is included in English dictionaries. The corresponding Interlingua word pluviator is unlikely to appear in a dictionary because of its lack of utility. Interlingua, like any traditional language, could build up large numbers of these words, but this would be undesirable.
Gode stressed the principle of clarity in free word-building. As Gode noted, the noun marinero (mariner) can be formed from the adjective marin, because its meaning is clear. The noun marina meaning navy cannot be formed, because its meaning would not be clear from the adjective and suffix that gave rise to it.
A developing language
As the world's languages change, Interlingua changes with them. Each new Interlingua dictionaryInterlingua dictionaries
Interlingua dictionaries are notable for their comprehensiveness; they tend to be larger than for other auxiliary languages. Some of the larger dictionaries are presented here....
introduces words, and subsequent dictionaries include derivatives and compounds from those words. The developing vocabulary of Interlingua reflects its character as a living language, in practical use by a growing population of speakers.
External links
- World Building, in A Grammar of Interlingua by Alexander GodeAlexander GodeAlexander Gottfried Friedrich Gode-von Aesch or simply Alexander Gode was a German-American linguist, translator and the driving force behind the creation of the auxiliary language Interlingua.-Biography:Born to a German father and a Swiss mother, Gode studied at the University of Vienna and the...
and Hugh E. BlairHugh E. BlairHugh Edward Blair was a recognized linguist and an able artist. He was the assistant of Alice Vanderbilt Morris, who founded the International Auxiliary Language Association, and the closest collaborator of Alexander Gode...
, IALAInternational Auxiliary Language AssociationThe International Auxiliary Language Association was founded in 1924 to "promote widespread study, discussion and publicity of all questions involved in the establishment of an auxiliary language, together with research and experiment that may hasten such establishment in an intelligent manner and...
, 1951. - Formation de parolas in Interlingua, by Ingvar Stenström, Swedish Society for InterlinguaSwedish Society for InterlinguaThe Swedish Society for Interlingua , founded January 1, 1964, is an agency that operates in Sweden to publicize Interlingua and encourage its active use...
. (In Interlingua)