Re: Ygyde as an IAL

Joe, I think you do a good job breaking down the situation for us!

Joseph Fatula wrote:

> I come to the conlang list with a question:  Is Ygyde plausible?
Before I begin, standard disclaimer: I think the idea of an IAL is
interesting, but I am not an "active supporter" of the idea nor do I
have any IAL of my own to offer (and heaven know's I never will!).
IAL projects that have been offered in the past are interesting to
me in the same way that Ygyde is interesting to me: they are
conlangs, some of them are quite good - **as conlangs**.  When I
first discovered Esperanto and Solresol at - what? the age of nine?
- they were interesting to me as conlangs, and that's still how I
look at them.  In fact, I think they are quite artistic - but good
art does not necessarily a good auxlang make.  What makes a good
auxlang?  I don't know and I don't wanna know. :)  To cut it short:
I love conlangs - whatever their original or stated purpose - and
I'm not a defender or detractor of any language _as auxlang_.  I
certainly don't want to debate with anyone the merits or demerits of
the idea of auxlangs or auxlangs themselves etc. etc. etc. :)

Having said that:

It is my *personal* opinion - take it or leave it - that Ygyde (like
many other philosophical languages - is not plausible as an
auxlang.  I think philosophical languages are terribly interesting
and display a depth of intellect that blows me away *however* I
don't think an auxlang should be as complicated as most
philosophical languages are - some of them have grammars the size
and style of computer programming language manuals, and my enfeebled
mind never got past BASIC.

I think logical languages (like Lojban) and philosophical languages
(like Ygyde) are terribly interesting, I even see artistic
applications (Victor Medrano has at least one artlang that uses
logic-based grammar).  But does an auxlang need the elaborate system
of colour definition, for example?  Frankly, I just need a way to
say "redish" or "bluish."  I think such a system is unneeded in an
auxlang - but when I see a *conlang* that offers me the ability to
be so precise in just one word I have to stand back and say "wow!"

If Andrew came to me one day and showed me Ygyde as an
artistic-intellectual language I'd say "Don't change a thing, I love
it!"  I think the two fellows who worked on it are obviously
intelligent and creative.  But as an auxlang I think it may be too
smart for its own good.

I enjoy the exercise of intellect - it's inspiring to me as an
intellectual and an artist.  I think it could have artistic and
intellectual applications.  Surrealism would be deadly with a tool
such as Ygyde.  Look at Solresol for example: a language entirely
musical - outrageous!  Auxlang?  I dunno...

No hard feelings, love you all... ;)

My two Eurocents,
Eamon

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