A 1956 TELEVISION INTERVIEW

A 1956 TELEVISION INTERVIEW

A VISION of TODAY’S TELEVISION BREAK-THROUGH for INTERLINGUE.

An outstanding success for Interlingue was scored by Mr. W. R. Wallace when on the 10th October 1956 he appeared in “Personal Column” a commercial television feature for the Midlands. For four minutes he was seen on the screen advocating Interlingue. We give below his account, from memory, of what was said. We offer him our congratulations and warmest thanks for this magnificent success.

QUESTION: How new is Interlingue? Just when and where and how was it started?
ANSWER: It was first published in 1922 after more than 30 years’ study by its author, Edgar de Wahl.

Q: Since Esperanto already existed, what was the motive behind it?
A: The desire to produce a better international language.

Q: Does anyone make any profit from it?
A: No.

Q: Is there any political or nationalistic tie-up with it anywhere?
A: None whatsoever.

Q: In what way does it differ from Esperanto?
A: It is a much more natural language. That is to say it follows the grammatical laws of national languages, whereas Esperanto is artificial. For instance the Interlingue equivalent of “nation” is nation spelt as in English and pronounced in the European fashion. The Esperanto word is “nacio” which isn’t very different. But from this word “nation” we make many others such as “international”, “denationalize”, “denationalization” and so on. Now this is where Interlingue scores — the Interlingue word for “denationalization” is denationalisation” which is immediately recognizable to any European. The Esperanto equivalent on the other hand is malnaciigeco which bears no resemblance to any national tongue.

Q: Can it [Interlingue] be used for conversation?
A: Oh yes! One of our Swedish members recently spent his holidays in France. He speaks French, and on many occasions tried the experiment of starting a conversation in French and without warning switching into IL. [Interlingue] Although they didn’t know IL his hearers immediately understood him and answered, though, of course in French.

Q: How long would it take the average person to learn?
A: I can’t answer for the average person, but it took me 3-4 weeks to get a good working knowledge of it.

Q: Is it in everyday use anywhere in the world today?
A: Oh yes! it is used by its adepts in all parts of the civilized world.

Q: Is it intended that it should one day become the language of the world?
A: As a second language for all, yes. But it is not intended to replace national tongues.

Q: Is it being taught in any schools in any countries now?
A: Not as far as I know.

Q: Is it based on any existing language?
A: Not on any particular one, but upon the many thousands of words which are current in identical or similar forms in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese [and a few others.]

Q: If you had to cite any one thing, what would you say is most seriously wrong in the world today?
A: Well, that’s rather a tall order, but I should say that it is lack of understanding between the ordinary men and women of different nations. They have no way of getting to know one anothers’ ideas and desires and ways of life. When they go abroad, they don’t really get to know anything about the country they visit, because they can’t talk to one another.

After the interview the Interviewer said: “Well, I don’t think there’s any doubt that we have an urgent need of this international language. So why not learn it?” A Box number was given. During the interview the text on the IL propaganda envelope was shown on the screen for about 20 seconds.

Note: Now today, Interlingue has been used internationally on two live television programs. “Code Six Four“, a 50 minute live program done weekly. Now streamed on the internet via podcasts. Also, the new “International Memorandum” 25 minute live, every other week, program. “International Memorandum” presents complete lessons in Interlingue for the beginner. As the program develops it will turn into a world news program for all nations. Dvd’s of these programs are available for a small donation to cover expenses.

de International Memorandum
1956