Lunatic Lovers of Language: Imaginary Languages and Their Inventors

Rating:
Summary: Informative, but not always clear
Review: This is an interesting academic survey of one of my favourite subjects: the invention of private languages: whether to adorn science fiction and fantasy, or for personal use. While the book touches on such creations as Esperanto, meant to be used and useful, this is not its chief focus. There is also a helpful overview of languages invented in works of fiction, such as Jack Vance's -The Languages of Pao- and Samuel Delaney's -Babel-17-.

Its most admirable and useful feature is its convenient synopsis of the basic grammar and morphology of the Martian and other languages created by Helene Smith, as publicised by Theodore Flournoy in -From India to the Planet Mars-. The analysis of the syntax and the sound systems of her creations is intriguing, and should be read by any author wishing to create a fictional language of her own.

The book also discusses at great length the theories of Nicholas Marr, a linguist who had some influence on Stalin, and who hypothesised the natural evolution of a common language for the future. The extensive treatment of Marr seems less in keeping with the subject annnounced in the title. Marr did have some curious notions on the reconstruction of the languages of the past, but the main thrust of his theory seems empirical rather than imaginary.

A more serious flaw is in the writing style, which shows traits of the worst of contemporary academia. It goes beyond being merely formal or pedantic: that much is forgivable, for it is, after all, an academic book. The problems, instead, reflect the failings of the times. Puns are occasionally treated as containing great insights. When the author occasionally gets sidetracked into sexual or political topics, she deploys the tactic of vaguely radical obscurity. Fortunately, these digressions are not frequent.

This book is not for everyone, but for those happy few who are interested in the subject of invented languages, it may well be worth a look.