Re: Uglossia and Utopia

Sally Caves <scaves@...> wrote:

> My paper on conlanging was accepted at the Utopian Conference
> because it seemed to the programmers that it had something
> to do with the utopic... and yet my preoccupation is primarily
> art languages and not auxiliary languages.  It always will be.
Maybe the utopic (as in 'impossible to achieve') in conlangs
is that we secretely look forward to living in a world where
you can create at whim in a realm where innovation is forbidden
or very discouraged in our society, which is language. Wouldn't
you love to have a family of conlangers, conlanger neighbours
and so on?

> I have never been able to be as fascinated with auxlangs as
> I have with artlangs--understandably, I suppose, because
> making up a language that has no claims to bettering society
> or improving communications has been a major obsession of mine
> for almost as long as I've been alive.
I think communications can't be improved by inventing a language
or assembling it with pieces from others... That, of course, has
never been my intent. Exposure to many languages and worldviews,
maybe, could improve the way we understand each other.

> Is there any way, though, that
> any of you artlangers look upon your creation as "utopic" in the
> way this word has come to be used--as an improvement upon society,
> or upon language and expression?
Boudewijn said it already: the world needs more languages, and each
one improves it in a way, it makes it richer. Society won't benefit
from my creating languages, except maybe indirectly: I learn while
doing this, my expressive skills grow, I see things from different
angles -- that alone is someone that this world full of one-track-
minded people needs. But that is a side effect, and a minute one.

>=20
> And while I'm at it, I would like Irina's permission and that
> of those who contributed to the Starling Song Translation Relay
> Game to refer to, perhaps to reproduce, that amazing contest for my
> San Antonio audience.  I can withhold names if need be.  It would
> be an ideal introduction to the conlang interaction that I'm praising.
Mention my name and reproduce as much as you want to! Let us show
ourselves. Otherwise we can't complain when we're not understood.

> I would also like to start another Translation Relay Game if anybody
> is up for it, and if it hasn't been attempted too recently.  It would
> be a short poem; haven't quite decided on it yet.  Let me know privatel=
y
> if you would like to contribute again.  Or for the first time.
Count me in. I'll be waiting. (Have to go back to the dictionary
now... I'm sharpening my claws. ;)


--Pablo Flores
  http://draseleq.conlang.org/pablo-david/
  Hot be qogir -- t=F3lenvian rrin qat=E0rr=EDn anrrin.
  'There's no need for you to speak -- to hear, silence is best.'