Re: Genders (was Re: Láadan and woman's speak_

Robert Hailman scripsit:

> Technologically advanced civilization begins to expand rapildy. Conquers
> areas that don't speak the language. Unable to integrate conquered areas
> into official language. No common language evolves, so the government
> decides to make one for government purposes, such as regional branches
> of government in areas with a non-official language majority. Soon the
> language is taught in schools. When a generation of people bilinguial in
> whatever language and this new language begin to run businesses and
> travel about the country, they find it is easier to communicate with
> business parters and local people in places they travel to, and begin to
> use it at home, since everyone there knows it as well. The next
> generation is brought up in a world where this new language is common
> place, and learn it. Eventually it becomes more common as a first
> language than the original regional languages. After a long time, the
> regional languages are lost. Bingo! Auxlang as a monther tounge.  Of
> course, this requires incredible government backing of the new language.
> Also, it could take a long time between creation of language and the
> teaching of it in school.
You forgot the last step:  "Empire falls.  Common tongue breaks up into
local varieties which eventually become separate languages with distinct
written and spoken conventions."

Otherwise, you are basically describing the Roman Empire.

--
John Cowan                                   cowan@ccil.org
        Yes, I know the message date is bogus.  I can't help it.
                --me, on far too many occasions