Call Number:

C1639

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

1 box

Language:

French and Artificial languages

Date:

1888-1892 (inclusive)

Creator:

Chancerel, Charles-Antoine

Form:

Dictionaries -- 19th century., Grammars -- 19th century., and Manuscripts -- 19th century.

Abstract:

Consists of manuscript grammar books and a dictionary documenting an artificial language called Oidapa (Oïdapa, Oīdapa) that was invented by French civil engineer Charles-Antoine Chancerel in the late 19th century.

Charles-Antoine Chancerel was a French civil engineer who invented an artificial language called Oidapa in the late 19th century.

This collection consists of four bound manuscripts documenting an artificial language called Oidapa (Oïdapa, Oīdapa) that was invented by French civil engineer Charles-Antoine Chancerel in the late 19th century. The manuscripts include a French-Oidapa dictionary containing a lexicon that spans over 300 pages, along with three grammar books describing Oidapa linguistics, characters, pronunciation, and grammar in French. The differences in the grammar books from 1888 and 1892 demonstrate how Chancerel's language grew more complex over time. Chancerel's introductory writings note that these texts are written to support students learning the language on their own without an instructor. They also describe Oidapa as both a cosmopolitan language ("langage cosmopolite") and an international language ("le sans nationalité"). This collection provides insight into a less well-known constructed language that emerged in Europe around the same time as popular international auxiliary languages such as L.L. Zamenhof's Esperanto and Johann Martin Schleyer's Volapük.

Arranged chronologically.