TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Bold text is denoted by @at signs@. Some unusual letters and symbols are accurately represented with Unicode characters. (Some handheld devices may not support combining diacriticals such as the circumflex.) These are: consonants with a circumflex accent ĉ ĝ ĥ ĵ ŝ; letter c with an acute accent ć; the diphthong ou with macrons ōū (many platforms do not support the combining double macron); and the calculus integral symbol ∫. Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE AND SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE AND SCIENCE Considerations on the Introduction of an International Language into Science BY L. COUTURAT Formerly Professor at the University of Caen. O. JESPERSEN Professor at the University of Copenhagen. R. LORENZ Professor at the Federal Polytechnicum of Zürich. W. OSTWALD Professor emeritus of the University of Leipzig. L. PFAUNDLER Professor at the University of Graz. TRANSLATED BY F. G. DONNAN Professor at the University of Liverpool. LONDON CONSTABLE & COMPANY LIMITED 10 ORANGE STREET LEICESTER SQUARE W.C. 1910 BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO. LD., PRINTERS, LONDON AND TONBRIDGE PREFACE The question of a so-called world-language, or better expressed, an international auxiliary language, was during the now past Volapük period, and is still in the present Esperanto movement, so much in the hands of Utopians, fanatics and enthusiasts, that it is difficult to form an unbiassed opinion concerning it, although a good idea lies at its basis. Both the Volapükists and Esperantists confused the linguistic aspect of the question with so many side issues that, not only was it difficult to see the former in its true light, but also the leaders of the various movements were unable to guide them in the right direction. For this reason discussions concerning an international auxiliary language appeared with good reason to many people to be unpractical, impossible, or indeed even ridiculous. Matters have, however, changed since the _Délégation pour l'adoption d'une langue auxiliaire internationale_ has taken the matter up. This International Commission, with its headquarters in Paris, and consisting of literary and scientific men of eminent reputation, was entrusted with the task of investigating the general question of an international auxiliary language. The Delegation has, in the course of an activity extending over seven years, succeeded in showing that a sound idea lies at the root of the various movements for a universal language. Freed from all extraneous considerations, this idea involves the purely linguistic question of the introduction of an international auxiliary language. On the other hand, the Delegation has found that neither Volapük nor Esperanto have succeeded in solving the problem.