Communicationssprache

Overview

It was created by Joseph Schipfer and first published in 1839 in Wiesbaden.

This project is of historical interest for two reasons—first, it being based on French reflects the common view of the time that French is "a world language to some extent". It is also interesting to note that a mere forty years later, in 1879, Volapük took English for basis. Second, Schipfer's project reflects a new conscience of greater possibilities of the international communication which appeared by the invention of the railway and steam ship. He even recommended that his project be used on these "new means of voyage".

Grammar

Communicationssprache is based on (or a simplification of) French, making heavy use of its respelled vocabulary, which Schipfer considered to be nearly universal among the educated classes of the world of his time.

Some of its characteristics are:

No articles.

Invariable adjectives.

Comparatives in -ior and -iost.

Adverbs formed by adding -ly to adjectives.

Possessive pronouns in -a.

Infinitives in -er.

Nouns were declined.

Capitalization of nouns, as in German.

Examples

Pater Noster:

No Pera, wia ete Cielu ta Noma sanctiferii; ta Royoma Ais arrivii; ta volonta färerii com Cielu änsi Terru. Donne Ais noa Päno quotidien; pardonne Ais noa offansos, com pardonnas Aos offanding; non permette que succombias tantationi; mä delivre Aos malu.

Numbers from one to ten: