In the process of planning a language for a new society that has just been given birth, it is important to know the background of the people who are to use the language. The background information ought to consist of particular data that identifies well with the characteristics of each group thus defining what specific form of language would best fit their needs especially in relation to how they are supposed to adjust to it in the long run. In the case given, a practically new society is born and it is dependent on a past that specifically identifies the basic characteristics of the people who are to use the new format of language to be created.
Steppistan, located between the territories of Iran and Russia has just been freed from bondage and is now entering a new era of being a new country. Consisting of five linguistic groups, the Arals, the Bakus, the Caspians, the Dushans and the Esmailis, this new born nation is facing the challenge of finding or creating a common language that would be able to characterize their being as a nation put together within one aim of being in a peaceful state with each other amidst the vast diversity of their background. The first four groups come from a relatively Russian decent while the Esmailis come from an Iranian background. Considerably though there are some common elements in both the Russian and the Iranian languages especially that they coexist in closely defined societies even before the cultural mix-up is developed between these social entities.
Hence, to create the language for this new nation, here are some elements that should be given particular consideration to:
- The political background characterizing the people to whom the language is dedicated to
As noted earlier, Steppistan was just freed from political bondage. Four among the groups of people residing in the area have been used to the Russian system while the last one has been more dependent on the Iranian way of governance. It is then expected that as the nation begins anew, a huge consideration on taking from both backgrounds of political procedures of governance could be expected.
- The social makeup of the groups involved including their cultural background
The Arals, Bakus, Caspians and Dushans have evoived under the specifications of the Russian system of living. For instance, the Arals are very specific when it comes to children getting the education they need from formal institutions until the fifth grade. This means that most of the members of this group are well taught with the basic knowledge. Their learning process is presented under Aral languages. The Bakus on the other hand have a long history of dispute against the Arals due to historical accounts. When it comes to language makeup, the group considers their language as their identity hence do not want to embrace the possibility of borrowing language from other groups in any form. Although they are not as educated as the Arals, the Bakus group is specifically noted for their creativity and literary expressionism.
The Caspians, among all groups concerned, are the ones considered as the more modern society. They are also highly educated and more liberal in nature. Having the only University in the region, the Caspian’s home city is considered as the new capital of the Steppistan nation. The Dushans on the other hand are more prone to accepting diversity as a part of their general culture. Being so, they are also open to language ramifications as they are the ones who experience direct connection with outsiders as they trade with them freely.
The Esmailis group has embraced a more Iranian pattern of cultural background compared to the first four groups which are considered as the amalgamation of the Armanian, Turkish and Russian backgrounds. They are also highly cultural in nature; specifically championing their literary works to be among their most priced cultural possessions.
Culture and politics, as presented herein are two specific elements of great concern for the creation of a single language that will hold this new nation together. Relatively, based from the background check considered, the five groups expected to reside together and be noted as one country have particular differences and have specific issues that may create tension among themselves. The Esmailis, being Iranian in origin, are at some point at the brink of being socially discriminated if they are not given the chance to be considered as one with the other groups; in this case, the creation of a common national language for all five groups is highly necessary.
Given the idea that the Bakus and Arals are the most culturally attached individuals, a huge value of the new language shall come from their language. This will balance the fact that Arals, being educated, would be able to adjust accordingly, while the members of the Bakus group could settle for something that is close enough to the language they are using at present. The Caspians and Dushans are also to adjust to the language, although parts of the phoneme of the new language are also to come from their original tongue. The Esmailis language should be considered accordingly as it would mean more than just a set of new words to speak on but it that of an identifiable common element that they could share with their new countrymen as part of the Steppistan nation.
The creation of a hybrid language for this new nation is considered to serve as a device of unity. Hence, when making it, it is important to make sure that every group involved has a relative share into the language. This will make it easier for all groups to come together and agree on the said language. It will take time for the people to adjust, but if they are given the picture that such adjustment is necessary for the establishment of their nation as unified unit, then it would be easier for them to accept the consequences of being under new common governance.
The characteristics of the new language should be accounted towards that of its origins. It is important that this form of speech be able to bridge the current gap that the Bakus and Arals have. It should also unite these more Russian groups towards the Iranian group and contain the possibility of developing issues of discrimination among them. The use of common consonant and vowels that are most often spoken within five languages could be the beginning of the plan. Identifying how these letters are pronounced by each group would help define the common elements that all five languages posses. Taking into account the seven approaches [nasal, plosive, affricate, fricative, trill, lateral and approximant] to mouthing consonants and vowels under the definition of the five languages being put together, the creation of new sounds and phonemic patterns could be given attention to. It is important to create an inventory of sounds and how particular words common to all five groups’ languages could be put into a grounded pattern that would identify the foundations from which the new language would spur from.
True, language is an important element to nation building. The capacity of a nation to understand one another amidst the diversity of cultures, traditions and historical backgrounds that its people may have, becomes a key towards national unity. With the new reputation of a new nation that Steppistan is to be based upon, it is necessary to point out that language is going to take a great turn in making sure that all five groups put together would be able to unite especially for the sake of progressing as one nation.
References:
Mallory, J. P.; Adams, Douglas Q. (2006). The Oxford introduction to Proto-Indo-European and the Proto-Indo-European world. Oxford University Press.
Carleton, T.R. (1991). Introduction to the Phonological History of the Slavic Languages. Columbus, Ohio: Slavica Press.
Comrie, Bernard; Corbett, Greville. G. (2002). "Introduction". In Comrie, Bernard; Corbett, Greville. G. The Slavonic Languages. London: Routledge. pp. 1–19.
