Single-language

[alpacinou]

Hello,

I am writing a story.

I am trying to find a world which means "a world in which only one language is spoken". Can I use "single-language world"?

As the empress of the Dortois, she aspires to have a single-language world in which only Doirtosian is spoken.

*Doirtosian is imaginary.

 

[Tarheel]

I think that works. However, I don't think it is a find but a creation.

 

[alpacinou]

So, there is no word already there?

 

[Tarheel]

I don't think so. (I could be wrong.)

 

[emsr2d2]

Monolingual?

 

[alpacinou]

Monolingual?

Isn't that about people who only speak one language?

 

[emsr2d2]

Isn't that about people who only speak one language?

The dictionary definitions I found all say that, but I also found things like "Japan is a monolingual country, because Japanese is the only official language". Of course, that doesn't mean that no one in Japan can speak a foreign language.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, but it could be applied to a group of people (in this case, the entire world).

(Cross posted.)

 

[alpacinou]

The dictionary definitions I found all say that, but I also found things like "Japan is a monolingual country, because Japanese is the only official language". Of course, that doesn't mean that no one in Japan can speak a foreign language.

Do you think this could potentially be odd for the folks who read my story?

As the empress of the Dortois, she aspires for a monolingual world in which only Doirtosian is spoken.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think it would be understood, but "aspires for" is not the right collocation.

 

[Tarheel]

Do you think this could potentially be odd for the folks who read my story?

As the empress of the Dortois, she aspires for a monolingual world in which only Doirtosian is spoken.

Perhaps:

She aspires to create a monolingual world ...

 

[alpacinou]

I think it would be understood, but "aspires for" is not the right collocation.

I see. In post #1 I used "aspires to have". Does it work?

As the empress of the Dortois, she aspires to have a monolingual world in which only Doirtosian is spoken.

What are my other options? Desire? Seek?

 

[Skrej]

There are many other options, but it depends whether we're supposed to view her in a positive or negative light. It's going to be difficult to cast any proponent of monoculturialism in a positive light to your readers (given the history of our own planet), but does the narrator support her efforts or oppose them? Choose a verb accordingly.

A few examples (of many possibilities):
She aspired to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (generally positive, could be somewhat neutral)
She strove to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (generally positive, could be somewhat neutral)
She plotted to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (negative)
She schemed to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (negative)
She hoped to create a monolingual Doirtosian society.(neutral to positive)
She desired a monolingual Doirtosian society.(neutral to positive)
She dreamed of a monolingual society where only Doirtosian was spoken. (positive)
She endeavored to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (generally positive)
She attempted to create a monolingual society where only Doirtosian was spoken. (neutral)
She conspired towards a monolingual Doirtosian society. (negative).
She sought a monolingual Doirtosian society. (mostly neutral)

 

[Skrej]

Incidentally, this is one thing that always annoys me in any kind of sci-fi space show or film. They spend all this time coming up with all these different alien planets and cultures, but then all the aliens on that planet almost always speak the same language. Only when multiple species inhabit the same planet, are there different languages, but then all members of species X seem to speak that same language.

Imagine if an alien discovered Earth, and the whole planet spoke Russian/English/Chinese/whatever language. Humans are all one species, so why do we speak roughly 6,700 some odd languages?

/rant

 

[alpacinou]

There are many other options, but it depends whether we're supposed to view her in a positive or negative light. It's going to be difficult to cast any proponent of monoculturialism in a positive light to your readers (given the history of our own planet), but does the narrator support her efforts or oppose them? Choose a verb accordingly.

A few examples (of many possibilities):
She aspired to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (generally positive, could be somewhat neutral)
She strove to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (generally positive, could be somewhat neutral)
She plotted to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (negative)
She schemed to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (negative)
She hoped to create a monolingual Doirtosian society.(neutral to positive)
She desired a monolingual Doirtosian society.(neutral to positive)
She dreamed of a monolingual society where only Doirtosian was spoken. (positive)
She endeavored to create a monolingual Doirtosian society. (generally positive)
She attempted to create a monolingual society where only Doirtosian was spoken. (neutral)
She conspired towards a monolingual Doirtosian society. (negative).
She sought a monolingual Doirtosian society. (mostly neutral)

And you certainly strive to make this forum a better place. Thanks.:up:

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I see. In post #1 I used "aspires to have". Does it work?

As the empress of the Dortois, she aspires to have a monolingual world in which only Doirtosian is spoken.

What are my other options? Desire? Seek?

The most obvious choice is wants:

- wants a
- wants to have a
- wants to create a
- wants to live in a

You could also say:

- hungers for a
- strives for a
- yearns for a
- longs for a
- dreams of a