Definition

1. Noun:
   • An artificial auxiliary language: "Interlingua" refers to a constructed language specifically designed to serve as a secondary, common language for international communication, particularly among speakers of different native languages.
   • A language based on common vocabulary: It is characterized by deriving its vocabulary primarily from words shared by English and the major Romance languages (such as French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese), making it relatively easy to learn for speakers of those languages.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Scholars developed Interlingua to facilitate communication between scientists from different countries.
  • Because its words are common to English and Romance languages, Interlingua is often comprehensible at first sight to many Europeans.

Advanced Usage

• As a proper noun: "Interlingua" is always capitalized, as it is the name of a specific constructed language project.
  • She is writing a paper on the history of Interlingua.

Variants and Related Words

• Interlinguistics (n): The study of interlanguages and international communication.
  • His field of research is interlinguistics.

Synonyms

• Auxiliary language: A language used for communication between groups having no native language in common.
• Constructed language (conlang): A language whose phonology, grammar, and vocabulary have been consciously devised.

Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• Esperanto: Another well-known constructed international auxiliary language.
• Lingua franca: A common language used for communication between speakers of different native languages, which can be natural (like English) or constructed (like Interlingua).

Noun

1. an artificial language proposed for use as an auxiliary international language; based on words common to English and the Romance languages