The World Language Problem

Abstract

Antagonists in the ancient controversy over world multilingualism agree that a successful artificial language must overcome a coordination problem: to motivate learners when few speak the language. It is believed that a take-off point must be reached, after which the spread of such a language would be self-sustaining. This problem may also frustrate other linguistic and nonlinguistic innovations. The dynamics of recruitment and defection, however, render a take-off point analysis dubious. A simple model of artificial language evolution supports this doubt. Despite low learning cost, universal competence in an artificial language, if achieved, might be unstable. More generally, any degree of penetration by an artificial language, from 0% to 100% of the world population, might be stable. The results help interpret the fact that the artificial language movement is small yet stable, frustrated yet complacent, and convinced that language choice is a social dilemma that needs coordination to prevent a deficient outcome.