1/12/2025

Simple International Language

Brain storming with Artificial Intelligence.  I have long thought that a very simple ten or twenty world international language drawing from the world's largest languages would be helpful.  Here is the dialogue below:

____________


Dear Artificial Intelligence Copilot https://copilot.microsoft.com/

Write a plan to invent a very simple 10 to 20 word language so that all the world's people can communicate.

____________

Inventing a simple 20-word language to facilitate global communication is an intriguing and ambitious project! Here's a rough plan to get you started:

Step 1: Identify Core Concepts

Define the most essential concepts that must be included in the language. Focus on universal needs and basic interactions.

Example Core Concepts:

  • Greetings (Hello, Goodbye)

  • Affirmation/Negation (Yes, No)

  • Basic Needs (Food, Water, Help)

  • Directions (Left, Right, Up, Down)

  • Emotions (Happy, Sad)

  • Courtesy (Please, Thank you)

  • Query (What, Where)

Step 2: Create Words

Assign simple, easily pronounceable words to each core concept. Ensure that these words are distinct and avoid phonetic confusion.

Step 3: Develop Grammar Rules

Establish very basic grammar rules for combining words into meaningful phrases. The aim is to keep the language structure intuitive.

Step 4: Test for Clarity

Conduct tests with diverse groups of people to ensure that words are easily understandable and that the language can be learned quickly.

Step 5: Document and Distribute

Create a clear and accessible guide for the language and distribute it widely. Provide examples of how to use each word in context.

Step 6: Promote Adoption

Encourage the use of the language through various platforms and initiatives. Show its practicality in daily interactions.

Here's a very simplified example of a 20-word language:

  1. Hello

  2. Goodbye

  3. Yes

  4. No

  5. Food

  6. Water

  7. Help

  8. Left

  9. Right

  10. Up

  11. Down

  12. Happy

  13. Sad

  14. Please

  15. Thank you

  16. What

  17. Where

  18. Now

  19. Later

  20. Friend

Would you like to explore this further or discuss another fascinating topic?

_____________

Yes. Come up with the 20 word language by taking an easy to pronounce word from each of the world's major languages.

Creating a 20-word language using easy-to-pronounce words from major languages sounds like a delightful challenge! Here’s an eclectic mix that could cover the essential concepts we discussed:

  1. Hello - "Hola" (Spanish)

  2. Goodbye - "Ciao" (Italian)

  3. Yes - "Hai" (Japanese)

  4. No - "Non" (French)

  5. Food - "Makan" (Malay)

  6. Water - "Aqua" (Latin)

  7. Help - "Aide" (French)

  8. Left - "Links" (German)

  9. Right - "Destra" (Italian)

  10. Up - "Arriba" (Spanish)

  11. Down - "Sotto" (Italian)

  12. Happy - "Feliz" (Portuguese)

  13. Sad - "Gamu" (Swahili)

  14. Please - "Tolong" (Indonesian)

  15. Thank you - "Merci" (French)

  16. What - "Kya" (Hindi)

  17. Where - "Onde" (Portuguese)

  18. Now - "Jetzt" (German)

  19. Later - "Luego" (Spanish)

  20. Friend - "Amigo" (Spanish)

I've picked words that are fairly simple to pronounce and familiar to many. What do you think of this list? Feel free to tweak it as needed! 

_______________


Can the word for hello and goodby be one word?

Absolutely! Combining "hello" and "goodbye" into one word can simplify the language even further. Let's pick an easy-to-pronounce word that can serve both purposes. How about using "Ciao"? It's used for both greetings and farewells in Italian.

Here’s the updated 19-word language:

  1. Hello/Goodbye - "Ciao" (Italian)

  2. Yes - "Hai" (Japanese)

  3. No - "Non" (French)

  4. Food - "Makan" (Malay)

  5. Water - "Aqua" (Latin)

  6. Help - "Aide" (French)

  7. Left - "Links" (German)

  8. Right - "Destra" (Italian)

  9. Up - "Arriba" (Spanish)

  10. Down - "Sotto" (Italian)

  11. Happy - "Feliz" (Portuguese)

  12. Sad - "Gamu" (Swahili)

  13. Please - "Tolong" (Indonesian)

  14. Thank you - "Merci" (French)

  15. What - "Kya" (Hindi)

  16. Where - "Onde" (Portuguese)

  17. Now - "Jetzt" (German)

  18. Later - "Luego" (Spanish)

  19. Friend - "Amigo" (Spanish)


_________________

Dear Gemini, please come up with a simpler international language.

creating a simple international language is a fascinating concept, and AI can definitely be a valuable tool in this process!

Here's a breakdown of the conversation you had with your AI copilot, outlining the steps to invent a simple 20-word language, along with a sample list:

Steps to Invent a Simple 20-Word Language

  1. Identify Core Concepts: Define the essential ideas the language should convey, focusing on basic needs and interactions. Examples include greetings, affirmations/negations, essential items, directions, emotions, courtesy, and questions.

  2. Create Words: Assign simple, pronounceable words to each core concept. Ensure these words are distinct and avoid sounding too similar.

  3. Develop Grammar Rules: Establish basic rules for combining words into meaningful sentences. The aim is for the language structure to be intuitive.

  4. Test for Clarity: Conduct tests with diverse groups of people to see if the words are understandable and the language can be learned quickly.

  5. Document and Distribute: Create a clear guide for the language and distribute it widely, including examples of how to use each word in context.

  6. Promote Adoption: Encourage the use of the language through various platforms and initiatives, demonstrating its practicality in everyday interactions.

Sample 20-Word Language

Here's an example of a 20-word language following these steps:

  • Hello/Goodbye: "Ciao" (Italian)
  • Yes: "Hai" (Japanese)
  • No: "Non" (French)
  • Food: "Makan" (Malay)
  • Water: "Aqua" (Latin)
  • Help: "Aide" (French)
  • Left: "Links" (German)
  • Right: "Destra" (Italian)
  • Up: "Arriba" (Spanish)
  • Down: "Sotto" (Italian)
  • Happy: "Feliz" (Portuguese)
  • Sad: "Gamu" (Swahili)
  • Please: "Tolong" (Indonesian)
  • Thank you: "Merci" (French)
  • What: "Kya" (Hindi)
  • Where: "Onde" (Portuguese)
  • Now: "Jetzt" (German)
  • Later: "Luego" (Spanish)
  • Friend: "Amigo" (Spanish)

This is just a starting point, and the specific words can be adjusted based on further refinement and testing.

Would you like to explore other creative uses of AI for language development, or perhaps delve into different language learning techniques?

__________

Please reduce the language down to one syllable words that all people can pronounce. And come up with a very simple spelling for these words

Okay, let's try to simplify the language even further using one-syllable words with simple spellings. Here's an attempt:

  • Hi (for "Hello/Goodbye")
  • Yes
  • No
  • Eat (for "Food")
  • Wa (for "Water")
  • Help
  • Left
  • Right
  • Up
  • Down
  • Happy
  • Sad
  • Please
  • Thank (for "Thank you")
  • What
  • Where
  • Now
  • Soon (for "Later")
  • Friend

This list uses common sounds and simple spellings, making it potentially easier to learn and pronounce for people from diverse language backgrounds.

Keep in mind that this is still a work in progress, and further testing and refinement would be necessary to determine its effectiveness in real-world communication.

Would you like to explore other ways to simplify this language, such as using visual symbols or gestures in conjunction with the words?

____________

Okay, let's reorder these words based on how often they might be used in everyday communication.  Here are the ten most important words.

  1. Hi (for "Hello/Goodbye") - Greetings are used very frequently.
  2. Yes - Essential for agreeing or confirming.
  3. No - Equally important for disagreeing or denying.
  4. What - A fundamental question word used constantly.
  5. Where - Another common question word, especially for asking for directions or locations.
  6. Please - Important for polite requests.
  7. Thank (for "Thank you") - Used to express gratitude frequently.
  8. Help - Essential for asking for assistance.
  9. Eat (for "Food") - A basic human need, so discussing it is common.
  10. Wa (for "Water") - Another essential need, often discussed.
_________________

Create a spreadsheet translating the ten words into the world's languages most widely spoken.

EnglishMandarin ChineseSpanishHindiArabicPortuguese
Hi您好 (Nǐ hăo)Holaनमस्ते (Namaste)مرحبا (Marhabaa)Olá
Yes是 (Shì)हाँ (Hā̃)نعم (Na'am)Sim
No不 (Bù)Noनहीं (Nahīñ)لا (Lā)Não
What什么 (Shénme)Quéक्या (Kyā)ماذا (Mādhā)O que
Where哪里 (Nǎlǐ)Dóndeकहाँ (Kahā̃)أين (Ayn)Onde
Please请 (Qǐng)Por favorकृपया (Kr̥pā)من فضلك (Min faḍlik)Por favor
Thank谢谢 (Xièxie)Graciasधन्यवाद (Dhanyavāda)شكرا (Shukran)Obrigado
Help帮助 (Bāngzhù)Ayudaमदद (Madad)مساعدة (Musāʿadah)Ajuda
Eat食物 (Shí wù)Comidaखाना (Khānā)طعام (Ṭaʿām)Comida
Wa水 (Shuǐ)Aguaपानी (Pānī)ماء (Māʼ)Água


I could not get the AI to come up with the simplest ten word language - probably takes some human intelligence to do that.

I think this simple ten word international language should draw on simple word from each of the worlds major languages.

The table shows three European languages. Probably get wider acceptance if we also take words.




According to most recent data, the ten most spoken languages in the world are: English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Standard Arabic, French, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, and Urdu.


 





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