Which language should be spoken by the colonisers of Mars? English only seemingly appears to be the best language of
e.g. Gaelic, which is used only by 50,000 people or, even
communication on Mars. Firstly, we don’t know how long its
better, by Vilamovian, which is spoken only by 25 individuals.
hegemony on Earth is going to last. It surely must be a world
Specific language features can also be taken into considera-
language, that is a language which goes beyond the eth-
tion, such as, for example, the lack of perfect tense in Ame-
nic community which speaks it. The world spoke Greek for
rican-Indian language Hopi, which would make it possible
about 600 years, Latin for 1,700 years, French only for about
not to finish anything definitively.
150, and English has been spoken, so far, for as many years. Is American English going to survive as long as Latin? It is
Finally, there is a danger of never-ending disputes over the
uncertain when you become conscious of the death of great
criterion for the selection of the Martian language. Therefo-
languages of the past like Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Persian or
re, it would be best to decide on an auxiliary international
Quechua.
language, which does not belong to anyone. The most widespread one is Esperanto. Its basics were developed in 1887
Secondly, we can choose from as many as nearly 7,000 li-
by a Polish-Jewish doctor Ludwik Zamenhof. There is hope
ving languages, which we have at our disposal. Should the
that thanks to such a choice people on Mars will not share
number of people who speak the languages be decisive?
the fate of the builders of the Tower of Babel.
Then, Mandarin would be best as it has been used for 2,000 years and is now spoken by over a billion people. But, we
We should remember that the universal language – which
can equally well assume that the settlement of Mars will
the Universe knows – is the language of mathematics.
save the languages which are on the verge of extinction,
Ryszard Koziołek, Prof. PhD hab. Faculty of Philology Vice-Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice
64
S pac e I n va d e r s / W e Da r e to I n v i t e Yo u
