Re: Really Intersistemal (was: INTERSYSTEMAL CONLANG)

 --- Joe wrote:

> I've always wondered why IALs are mostly Romance clones.  Romance is
> annoying.
I wouldn't put it that bluntly, but I understand your point. To a certain
degree I even agree with you.

All I can think of:
- in the Top 10 of World Languages, at least two are Romance (French and
  Spanish); two others (Portuguese and Italian) are spoken by a substantial
  amount of people as well, or have played a very important role in history;
- Latin can easily be considered the cradle language of western civilization,
  and don't forget that IALs are predominantly a matter of western
  civilization;
- English is just to weird to serve as the basis for an IAL. Besides, English
  is soaked with Romance influences and loans anyway;
- not only English, but a great number of other languages (including Slavic)
  are full of Latin/Romance loanwords;
- the Romance languages have a comparitively simple grammar.
- they seem to please a lot of people aesthetically.

Please note, that not every Romance-based conlang is a Euroclone. There are
very good examples very fine languages. And for what it is worth: yes,
Euroclones are undoubtedly boring. But bear in mind that they were conceived
for a purpose completely different than being exciting. I agree with Ray, that
Mr. Mitrovitch should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Now, I realize that IAL discussions are to be avoided, and I definitely don't
want to be expelled to AUXLANG. All I can say, is that I hope this reply
remained within the boundaries of the acceptable...

=====
"Originality is the art of concealing your source." - Franklin P. Jones

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