Members of the Committee of Six, named above, will serve as temporary officers of the International Language Association until its general election, by international ballot, now being planned and perfected.

THE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION

A Prospectus and Report
by Floyd Hardin

The Committee of Six, whose names appear on the page preceding, have undertaken to bring into existence the International Language Association.

It is the purpose of this. Prospectus and Report to set forth in general terms the aims and program of this new organization and to briefly recite the steps already taken and the agenda contemplated by the Committee of Six, to make the International Language Association live and function.

It would please me if you would carefully read these lines and give us what help you can in our difficult organizational work. I have faith to believe that you will want to do this. I have indicated below how you can be of immediate assistance.

Today is a great and fateful day in the history of the international language movement and in the whole field of human communication. The bell urgently tolls, calling all men who work in the  interlanguage area to forthwith unite their forces and boldly seize the present opportunity, which may not offer itself to us again with such promise within the next hundred years.

How the Idea Originated

The proposal to form an organization, neutral in its attitude, scientific in its approach, and international in scope, to sponsor the idea of an international auxiliary language in general and to engage in sundry pertinent activities, had its inception in a letter addressed to the writer by Professor Mario Pei of Columbia University in the City of New York. Writing under date of July 15, 1958, Mario Pei advocated the formation of such an organization, embodying precisely those principles and attitudes which have guided the International Language Review since its founding in the Fall of 1955.

I was in agreement with the suggestions advanced in Professor Pei’s letter and felt that the time was propitious for such an undertaking, since Mario Pei’s book, One Language for the World * had recently been published and widely distributed, both here and abroad.

A Unique Organization

It is an astonishing and almost unbelievable fact, that while there are a considerable number of sectarian groups in the world, working earnestly and sometimes fanatically to advance the fortunes of their particular international language system —

Nowhere in the world today does there exist an organization devoted to the propaganda of the international language movement in general and without sectarian commitments.

*One Language for the World and How to Achieve It; by Mario Pei; the Devin-Adair Company, 23 East 26th Street, New York 10, New York, U.S.A. (Price: $5.)

In my opinion, such an organization should now be functioning in high gear and, be prepared to meet possible overtures from UNESCO, various governments, and sundry bodies of scholars who in the near future will be obliged to meet this question of the language barrier in hand to hand conflict.

When will the interlinguists of the world pause in the peddling of their private wares and devote a modicum of their energies and talents to the integration of the international language movement at a perilous hour in human history?

We must create, strengthen and perfect, by a bold and daring effort and with a united front, an international language movement that scholars and academic bodies can contemplate without laughter. We must jump oft the sectarian merry-go-round and push our spades into the earth.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

In the first published issue of the International Language Review, we wrote, editorially, about the “Lost Kingdom of Vanarea, Sepulchre of Dreams,” and of the shovel which John Movieski invented—the shovel with the bright and shining blade. Even though there was gold in the hills, the Vanarean shovel was not used to dig it out; but was adorned with ribbons and worshipped as a symbol and promise of a new and delightful international brotherhood. . . Shovels and international languages are tools to dig with. Today, if ever, the interlinguists of the world must dig, and dig, and dig.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Perhaps, in its early stages, progress is dependent upon men who earnestly work in sectarian fields and give glow and promise to the many-colored facets of the human scene; but the promise of progress never becomes a reality until men of serious intent coordinate their efforts toward a high, creative end.

It is time for interlinguists to come out of their shells.
It is doubtless later than we think.
Whatever we propose to do, we must do NOW.

Preliminary Steps Taken by the Committee of Six

Even though we felt the compulsion of an urgency upon us, our Committee proceeded with caution. There was the temptation to get up in the morning and flex our muscles and launch the International Language Association before breakfast. This temptation we resisted because we felt that the aims and agenda of such an organization should not be privately determined by ourselves, but should be representative of those views and attitudes held and maintained by interlinguists all over the world. Added to this, was our sincere concern that the outlines, aims and program of the new organization should be determined by an unimpeachable democratic process and not by dictatorial fiat of our Committee.

It occurred to us that a sampling of opinion from interlinguists in the United States might be indicative of the opinions and wishes of interlinguists everywhere; — and so in August of 1958 we prepared a questionnaire and sent it out to some 56 interlinguists in this country.

Forty of these questionnaires were returned to us with comments and advice upon the eleven inquiries which each questionnaire contained.

These forty questionnaires were studied and their answers were carefully tabulated by Eugene B. Stephens and Lewis J. Grant, Jr., both of whom are on the staff of the International Language Review. We give below a short summary of their reports:

1. An overwhelming majority felt that such an organization should be formed.

2. Such an organization should be international in its membership and in its activities.

3. Most favored as a name for the organization was “The International Language Association.”

4. It was unanimously felt that such an organization must be altogether neutral. It must work for the good of the international language movement in general, without prejudice, for or against, any existing international language system.

A Simple, Forthright and Inoffensive Program

Included in the questionnaires returned to our Committee were many suggestions as to what certain activities the International Language Association might justly and profitably engage. Our Committee has carefully studied these suggestions and by reason of their implications has added to them; so that we can give you here a simple, clear and honest definition of the preliminary aims and agenda of the International Language Association.

A Program in which all Interlinguists may Unite

The present program of the International Language Association is two-fold. It is simple, clear and unambiguous:

(a) to propagandize to the general public, interlinguists, teachers of language, individual scholars, academic bodies, UNESCO and the governments of the world, the advantages which would undoubtedly accrue to them in the fields of science, culture, literature, art and common concourse among men, by the wide adoption and use of an international auxiliary language.

(b) to offer to the interlinguists of the world a variety of helpful services to facilitate their efforts and make their aims and their program more widely known.

Features of the Propaganda Program

Suggested activities in this area are:

To act as a neutral center of information and propaganda for the international language movement in general.

To publish an extensive Directory of international language systems and cite sources from which informative literature can be obtained.

To sponsor and undertake, over a period of years, an extensive mailing to interlinguists, teachers of the national idioms, Workers in the field of intercultural communication, individual scholars, academic bodies, UNESCO and the governments of the world—stressing the need for an international auxiliary language to facilitate and implement progress in all fields of human endeavor.

To make available an extensive bibliography on international language systems which have been proposed since the earliest times.

These and other services may be offered to the public at large through research efforts on the part of Committees, operating within the framework of the International Language Association, provided they do not constitute an open endorsement of any existing international language system.

What Services to Interlinguists are Contemplated ?

Among those services proposed through the questionnaires and suggested by our Committee are:

The operation of a Press Service, with periodical releases, so that the proposals of interlinguists may be made more widely known.

The operation of a Speakers Bureau, to provide interlinguists with complete text, stereoptican slides and other conveniences, when they have occasion to address gatherings on the subject of an international auxiliary language for all the world.

To provide, in the International Language Review, an open forum through which interlinguists may express their private opinions and attitudes.

To study, through a research Committee, and report to interlinguists and interlanguage organizations, those methods of propaganda which have proved most successful.

To make available for the use of all members, upon a cost plus basis, a master mailing list, now being compiled by our International Librarian, Mr. Anésio Lara, in São Paulo, Brazil.

To make available upon a cost plus basis, a photocopy service from the holdings of Anésio Lara in São Paulo, Brazil, who at the moment has the largest and most comprehensive library of books, brochures and miscellany pertaining to the international language movement, of any private collector in the world.

To make a thorough study, through one of its research Committees, of those grave difficulties which students and scholars have in transmitting moneys from one country to another in pursuance of idealistic or scholarly ends.

These and other services are proposed by the International Language Association to assist individual interlinguists and interlanguage organizations throughout the world.

Problems of our Committee and a Welcome Surprise

These first pioneering steps taken by members of our Committee to organize the International Language Association have been difficult for us. We are not men of means. We do not operate under any grant or gift of money. Accordingly, all preliminary expenses involved in this undertaking have had to be met by ourselves personally. This has not been easy for us.

Some weeks ago we found ourselves almost at our wit’s end, when suddenly a good friend came to the rescue. I am speaking of Anésio Lara of São Paulo, Brazil. It is good news when I tell you that he has generously volunteered to pay all expenses of printed matter and mailing involved in our first extensive international mailing, now being prepared, which will bring into permanent existence, by democratic processes, the International Language Association.

Anésio Lara

Anésio Lara is known to interlinguists all over the world. —— Through recent purchases from the holdings of interlinguists in many lands and the acquisition of the complete library of IALA, his collection now comprises more than 4000 books, brochures and miscellaneous items pertaining to the international language movement. In his private life, Mr. Lara is a broker in sugar, cotton, coffee and other commodities in Brazil and has successfully conducted the affairs of “Escriptorio Suplicy”, founded in the year 1879.

Purposes of the First International Mailing

The forthcoming First International Mailing is designed to accomplish the following ends: To give permanent status to the International Language Association. To solicit membership in the organization. To elect permanent officers. To determine the permanent policies and long-range program of the organization. To stimulate interest in the international language movement in general by the wide distribution of a carefully compiled printed brochure. To accomplish these purposes, the First International Mailing will carry the following enclosures: (a) a printed brochure, setting forth the aims and program of the International Language Association together with a Directory of international language systems and miscellaneous information on the international language movement; (b) a membership application blank; (c) a ballot for the use of new members in electing permanent officers; (d) a check-list for the use of new members in determining the permanent policies and program of the organization.

Preparation of a Master Mailing List

The Committee of Six is now actively engaged in the preparation of the literature described above and in the compilation of an extensive mailing list of interlinguists, language students and teachers, individual scholars and scholastic organizations all over the world with a view to making this the largest and most fruitful world-wide mailing ever sent out in the long history of the international language movement. You are invited to assist us in compiling this mailing list by sending us, without delay, your list of names to go into the Master File. Through our photocopying department we expect to have in the hands of Anésio Lara, within the next 30 days a mailing list of over 10,000 names. Mr. Lara has recently advised us that he is prepared to put four stenographers at work on the First International Mailing.

How you can Become a Charter Member

Those who send in their membership fees prior to the First International Mailing will be listed as Charter Members of the International Language Association. Many have already done this and we here express to them our deep appreciation of their thoughtfulness and material help at this early and difficult stage in our undertaking. Remittances should be addressed to Terry T. Tilford, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Box 6, McCulloch Hall, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

The following classes of membership are available: Life memberships: $100. Patron Memberships: $50. Active membership in the United States: $5. Active membership in all other countries: $3.

Interlinguists and scholars in all lands are urgently asked to join forces with the Committee of Six without delay, so that the success of this great undertaking in the field of human communication may be assured.

G R E E T I N G S

to the

INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION

from interlinguists in many lands

“It was a great joy to have your letter of Feb. lst. . .dealing with the foundation of the International Language Association. . . . I will gladly join you in this very necessary new project. . . In one way, Floyd, I think you are the conscience of the international language movement . . . We now have a wonderful opportunity to pull together for the introduction of an international auxiliary language . . . You, acting as the conscience of us all, have pointed out the way. . .We must form  this new Association, knit it together strongly, and build it up with the support of linguists, interlinguists and laymen. . . I congratulate you and your associates most warmly on this new venture. I am with you absolutely.”

Tom Lang (England)

“I received your letter concerning the foundation of the International Language Association and I am unable to tell you my joy I in seeing it take form. Thus, at last, the dream of so many

practical and theoretical interlinguists comes true.”

Dr. Paul Mitrovich (Jugoslavia)

“I have yours of (recent date) containing particulars of the proposed International Language Association. You may be assured that I welcome this step on your part, and intend to give it active support.”

A. W. Anderson (Canada)

“Thank you for your letter about the International Language Association. I have sent the membership fee to Mr. Tilford. I am glad to see that something is being done . . .”

Sture Fjordland (Sweden)

“I was very happy to hear of the formation of the International Language Association, to which I immediately sent my subscription.”

V. Joachim Costigan (Australia)

“Con eminent interesse e simpatie yo anc ha aprendet li nova del fundation del ‘International Language Association’. Yo saluta sincermen anc ti iniciative, proque secun mi opinion un tal organisme responde a un urgent necessita, specialmen in li situation hodial.”

Kurt Hamburger (Switzerland)

“Your announcement that the ‘International Language Association’ has been established, has given me much pleasure and I gladly enroll as an active member.”

S. M. Auerbach (England)

“I have had from Mr. Pope your circular regarding the ‘International Language Association’. . . I congratulate you on your activity in so quickly forming this organization. . .”

W. R. Wallace (England)

“I am heartily in sympathy with your proposed new organization to work for the international language in the same spirit as you are doing with your splendid International Language Review.”

Hugh E. Blair (USA)

“A World Language Organization, scientific and neutral, ought to be formed, if truly unbiased as to time and space (i.e., if it is not bound to any regional or temporal prejudice).”

Dr. Wolfgang John Weilgart (USA)

“Me plezure saveskas la formacado di ‘International Language Association’, e me fervore deziras ad olu kompleta suceso. Mi sendas mea kotizo ad Sioro Terry T. Tilford. Me sendas a vu listo di uli qui darfas interesar su a ta societo.”

Dr. M. Monnerot-Dumaine (France)

“I am pleased to see that the International Language Association has begun. . .Your approach to the international language problem is surely the best. Better progress can be made when the largest number of minds can contribute to the general good.”

George J. Wuest, S.J. (USA)

“I have received your letter concerning your undertaking for bringing into existence the ‘International Language Association’'. I agree with you. With your permission I will dedicate my action to the matter and ask you to appoint me your representative for Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany.”

Dott. Francesco Salvadori (Italy)

“Your recent mailing concerning the International Language Association is indeed exciting news. I have been deeply interested in this cause for some ten years.”

Ralph C. Lee (USA)

"Yesterday I received your letter containing the proposal to found the 'International Language Association'. I am extremely pleased about this and have already sent my application for membership to Terry T. Tilford. This Association. has my full approval."

Professor Hermann Olberg (Innsbruck, Austria)

“Rentrant de voyage, j’ai trouve votre lettre relative à l ’International Language Association’, et vous prie de trouver inclus ma modest contribution. . .”

Rend-Pierre Beziers (France)

“My blessing on the new Society‑‑my hope and prayer for some sixty years.”

Professor Albert Guérard (USA)

“I am very much impressed by the fact that after so much effort the International Language Association has finally been established.”

Gerd Fraenkel (USA)

“I am enclosing $5. for active membership in the International Language Association. The goal of the ILA is highly laudable . . .

Barnett Russell M.D. (USA)

“Gratias . . . Senior Tilford ha jam recipite mi contribution al International Lingua Association.”

Joseph Hoellrigl (USA)

“In principle,Ghe idea of founding an International Language Association, devoted to the development of the science of interlinguistics and to the propagation of the idea of a universal language is good.”

Anésio Lara (Brazil)

“Yes” — (endorsing the ILA) — “but don’t let it get side-tracked in a little side-eddy, like IALA. Let practical experience and results determine choice, rather than theorizing and hair-splitting.”

Armin F. Doneis, Sr. (USA)

“Yes” — (endorsing the ILA) — “I think it would be a splendid idea.

Leo J. Sys (USA)

“Yes” — (endorsing the ILA) — “The organization must, however, be scientific and professional in its approach to problems submitted.”

Edward F. James (USA)

“Yes, definitely.” — (endorsing the ILA) — “It is long overdue.”

Professor Rudolf Carnap (USA)

In addition to the names given on the two preceding pages, the interlinguists named below have also endorsed the formation of the International Language Association. Some of them are also charter members.