Louis de Beaufront
Encyclopedia
Marquis Louis de Beaufront (3 October 1855 – 8 January 1935) was a major influence in the development of Ido
, an international auxiliary language
. Beaufront was initially an advocate of Esperanto
and was largely responsible for its early diffusion in western Europe
as well as one of its first French proponents.
Much of Beaufront's life is shrouded in mystery. He pretended to be the descendant of a French king and a doctor of theology
. Only after his death, it was determined that he was not really a marquis
and that his real name was "Louis Eugène Albert Chevreux". But his biographists admit that he played his role as an aristocrat in an absolutely convincing way.
Beaufront first discovered Esperanto in 1888 and in 1889 founded Société Pour la Propagation de l'Espéranto (SPPE). In 1900, he wrote the Commentaire sur la grammaire espéranto.
He was chosen to represent unmodified Esperanto
before the Committee of the Delegation for the Adoption of an International Auxiliary Language
, attending the meetings of the Delegation Committee in October, 1907. While ostensibly representing Esperanto
before the Committee, he was secretly secondary author after Louis Couturat
of the original Ido
project which impressed the Delegation Committee and led to the reform of Esperanto
by the Committee's Permanent Commission. Letters that are kept in the Department of Planned Languages and Esperanto Museum
in Vienna
show that he denied any co-authorship of Ido
. Beaufront remained a proponent of Ido
thereafter, and wrote the influential Ido
grammar Kompleta Gramatiko Detaloza, published in 1925.
He appears as a character in Joseph Skibell
's 2010 novel, A Curable Romantic.
Ido
Ido is a constructed language created with the goal of becoming a universal second language for speakers of different linguistic backgrounds as a language easier to learn than ethnic languages...
, an international auxiliary language
International auxiliary language
An international auxiliary language or interlanguage is a language meant for communication between people from different nations who do not share a common native language...
. Beaufront was initially an advocate of Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
and was largely responsible for its early diffusion in western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as well as one of its first French proponents.
Much of Beaufront's life is shrouded in mystery. He pretended to be the descendant of a French king and a doctor of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Only after his death, it was determined that he was not really a marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
and that his real name was "Louis Eugène Albert Chevreux". But his biographists admit that he played his role as an aristocrat in an absolutely convincing way.
Beaufront first discovered Esperanto in 1888 and in 1889 founded Société Pour la Propagation de l'Espéranto (SPPE). In 1900, he wrote the Commentaire sur la grammaire espéranto.
He was chosen to represent unmodified Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
before the Committee of the Delegation for the Adoption of an International Auxiliary Language
Delegation for the Adoption of an International Auxiliary Language
The Delegation for the Adoption of an International Auxiliary Language was a body of academics convened in the early part of the twentieth century to decide on the issue of the which international auxiliary language should be chosen for international use...
, attending the meetings of the Delegation Committee in October, 1907. While ostensibly representing Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
before the Committee, he was secretly secondary author after Louis Couturat
Louis Couturat
Louis Couturat was a French logician, mathematician, philosopher, and linguist.-Life:Born in Ris-Orangis, Essonne, France, he was educated in philosophy and mathematics at the École Normale Supérieure...
of the original Ido
Ido
Ido is a constructed language created with the goal of becoming a universal second language for speakers of different linguistic backgrounds as a language easier to learn than ethnic languages...
project which impressed the Delegation Committee and led to the reform of Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
by the Committee's Permanent Commission. Letters that are kept in the Department of Planned Languages and Esperanto Museum
Department of Planned Languages and Esperanto Museum
The Esperanto Museum in Vienna, Austria was founded in 1927 by Hofrat Hugo Steiner and was incorporated into the Austrian National Library as an independent collection in 1928. Today it is at the same time museum, library, documentation centre and archive...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
show that he denied any co-authorship of Ido
Ido
Ido is a constructed language created with the goal of becoming a universal second language for speakers of different linguistic backgrounds as a language easier to learn than ethnic languages...
. Beaufront remained a proponent of Ido
Ido
Ido is a constructed language created with the goal of becoming a universal second language for speakers of different linguistic backgrounds as a language easier to learn than ethnic languages...
thereafter, and wrote the influential Ido
Ido
Ido is a constructed language created with the goal of becoming a universal second language for speakers of different linguistic backgrounds as a language easier to learn than ethnic languages...
grammar Kompleta Gramatiko Detaloza, published in 1925.
He appears as a character in Joseph Skibell
Joseph Skibell
Joseph Skibell is a novelist and essayist living in Atlanta, Georgia.Skibell is the author of three novels, which use elements of history and fantasy:* A Blessing on the Moon * The English Disease...
's 2010 novel, A Curable Romantic.