An International Language—When?

Let it be said at the outset that an international language would be a boon to mankind; that it is feasible and possible of realization – on certain conditions. Even the most violent and outspoken adversaries of all interlinguistic schemes have conceded the value of an interlanguage, and their criticisms have been primarily directed against one or the other attempt at propagating some particular tongue. There are four basic plans for adoption of an international language: (1) an a priori philosophical language which has no vocabulary and grammar in the conventional sense, but which relies on abstract written or audible signs, based on a philosophical classification of all things and acts with which the human mind wishes and needs to concern itself; (2) the revival of a "dead" language, mainly Latin or Greek, probably modified; (3) a constructed language, like Volapük, Esperanto, Ido, Novial and scores of others; or (4) the extension of a current language, modified or unmodified, over the greater part of the world.