A UNIVERSAL TONGUE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2119, 13 October 1885, Page 2

A UNIVERSAL TONGUE.

After the lapse of couutless centuries a revy daring attempt has been made to correct the confusion caused by the Tower of Babel. A Russian philologist has seriously undertaken the construction of a univeral language. It is called " Yolapuk," and consists of 13,000 words taken from many tongues, but chiefly from the Latin and Saxon, English being more particularly laid under contribution. The main object of this new vehicle for interchanging ideas is to facilitate business and allow'commercial men in all countries to readily understand each other. When the use of Volapulc has become general, all business transactions will beconducted in it from London to Far Cathay ; it will be spoken on every Exchange iu the world ; tho traders of every raco will adopt it in buying and selling. Tho only grammar and dictionary of this medium at present published is in German, but we are promised speedy translations in English, French, and Italian. Many more will be wanted to introduce the work properly, and even then its ultimate success must bo very doubtful, Still, in an age which has popularised bicycle riding, the telephone, and the electric light, wo may get a single language for commercial use,— Home News,